Dropping the main into stack pack - always some remains up.

[EvilRabbit]

Here is my process:
1. Head directly into wind so no pressure on the main
2. Ensure the main halyard is not going to get hooked up into anything
3. Open clutch and let the main drop freely

This is on our 40' cat. However, I always end up with the last +-1/4 of the main main staying up. This means having to climb up and manually jiggle the last 1/4 into the stack pack.

Is this common?

[magicmoments]

Me too. But better this year with new longer black sail slugs.

[Cheechako]

Just not enough weight in the top of the sail to make it come down. It did the same thing with Harken roller cars on my Cat.

[UNCIVILIZED]

It's a pretty common problem, & in fact was just brought up by someone else... again. So most of the explanation of what's causing it & the fixes are in this thread. Good luck! http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2187489

[builder dan]

spray your lugs with dry lube makes a huge difference

[Privilege]

The instructor on my sailing course was dropping the main by just letting it go and watching it fly down. After that, I tried it successfully a couple of times but it scares the living bezasus out of me. Is there any advantage to doing this or is it safer to lower the main gently? (I've got a 53' fully battened main).

[nigel1]

As said, a downhaul works a treat, I have one rigged between the head board and the third reef cringle which helps to get the last stubborn bit of mainsail down.

Couple of other points, make sure the mast track is really clean.
As others have pointed out, dry lube on the slugs assists
One thing which made a big difference to mine was to change out the old 14mm polyester halyard with a 10mm dyneema halyard. The dyneema is more slippery, so less friction, and less weight opposing sail coming down.

You said "open clutch" and let the main drop. This could damage the halyard, I think it is better to take the weight of the halyard onto a winch, then open the clutch before releasing the halyard.

[exMaggieDrum]

One of the biggest helps you can do is to upgrade your track and/or slides. You don't say if you have done this or not but they really help. They may not solve your problem completely but they will even help pulling down the last bit if needed. Far easier to haul the main too.

[jjt5795]

A downhaul works great and is cheap.

[sailon46]

When this occurred with my Beneteau 51.5 I used MacLube in the track of the mast and the sail slides and everything since then is sliding down in the stack pack.
Ernie on the Mary Jane

[Smokeys Kitchen]

We have an older main and older halyard which was difficult to raise or lower. Meaning it was very sticky even after a good fresh water wash and some McLube. We installed a Tides Marine Strong Track along with the new sail slugs and now the main goes up easy, my wife (5'4" 110#) jumping it; and then drops like a rock all the way into the stak pak. Absolutely great addition.

[Kiwi.]

Originally Posted by nigel1

As said, a downhaul works a treat, I have one rigged between the head board and the third reef cringle which helps to get the last stubborn bit of mainsail down.

Couple of other points, make sure the mast track is really clean.
As others have pointed out, dry lube on the slugs assists
One thing which made a big difference to mine was to change out the old 14mm polyester halyard with a 10mm dyneema halyard. The dyneema is more slippery, so less friction, and less weight opposing sail coming down.

You said "open clutch" and let the main drop. This could damage the halyard, I think it is better to take the weight of the halyard onto a winch, then open the clutch before releasing the halyard.

Nigel's got it right. By using Dyneema I was able to do away with my Cunningham (less stretch) and use the turning block and cleat for a downhaul which I attached to the top slide position. I found that position better than to the headboard as the headboard would just fold over and jam.

[barnakiel]

Yes. It is normal.

You can improve by filming the process then play it back in slo mo and look at which cars or slugs give you trouble. Most often it is just one and then it stops the other ones right above and you end up with a 'jam'.

It may be a track issue (at the joints), or the slugs/cars are not clean or not sprayed, etc. Very often a good wash down and then re-spraying the gear helps in the short run.

At times playing with boom height just before the drop helps too.


Cheers,
b.

[EvilRabbit]

Originally Posted by builder dan

spray your lugs with dry lube makes a huge difference

Bought some McLube OneDrop and Sailkote today and test that out tomorrow

[David Mark]

On our stack pack there is a zipper to close it ,worked great ,except for the rain water collects and then runs down and has made the sail dirty. I wish I had some advanced knowledge to prevent this from happening . So that's my two bits for something to watch out for .