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Old 26-04-2018, 15:40   #16
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

We used to have Battcars, previous boat, lost some balls, found that for that particular, high aspect main, the slides worked well, not quite so little friction as the balls, but not bad at all, compared to regular lugs in a track.

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Old 26-04-2018, 16:01   #17
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

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Originally Posted by robert sailor View Post
Bat cars might be what you heard.
Agree, bat cars most likely what you heard. Used with full battens.

Silicone spray on the slides and the mast track makes a HUGE difference. It also helps to head directly into the wind both for raising and lowering the main. There is no reason the effort required to raise the main be much more than overcoming the weight of the sail, until the last little bit, which usually adds the weight of the boom to the equation, and introduces a bit of stretch into the halyard and sail to keep things taught.
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Old 27-04-2018, 17:50   #18
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Re: hoistisng a mainsail more easily

Have the tides system on our Tartan 37. Can pull by hand to within a few feet of full hoist. And drops in seconds. Between that and roller furling headsail it’s easy p-z...
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Old 28-04-2018, 06:41   #19
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

Bat cars are good.

I used green scotch brite affixed to halyard and downhaul to clean the mast track - use small pieces and secure well so as not to lose them. Used dish soap and hauled up and down.

Worn slugs was also a contributor.

At each raising I would squirt dish soap into the track above the cars.

Helped a ton. Washes away in squalls.
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Old 28-04-2018, 06:49   #20
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

I'm no longer a believer in full batten mainsails, havent been for years. I much prefer the two top battens full and the rest just long battens. Ive found that they have most of the advantages of full battened mains and less disadvantages.
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Old 28-04-2018, 07:56   #21
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bean Counter View Post
Get an electric halyard winch and McLube your mainsail track
Which McLube ? (we have the same boat!)

I was advised to put nothing on my mainsail track (as its a Sand-magnet) other than some dishwashing soap squirted down the cars, then hose it out when cleaning.

Also, I've taken to taking all weight with the topping lift, then releasing it when sail is up. (rather than having the raising take a bit of weight at the end). Made it easier to get the sail all the way up quickly without breaking something. Does mean having to let the topping lift off after raising / taking it up before dropping each time. (Which IMO is best practice, but I see ppl not doing it, even instructors i've had).

NOTE: If you have a double halyard, make very sure it isn't twisted, That will for sure jam up the top, won't raise all the way, plus it is more friction going up. Took me an hour today to get a Jam out of mine after I didn't notice some well meaning souls who used it to go up the mast the other day for radar maintenance, didn't take the twist out of the halyard when re-attaching the block to the sail head. Thankfully discovered at dock doing pre-trip checks rather than on first raising at Sea !.
(Lesson learnt: CHECK Contractor work more Closely).



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Old 24-01-2021, 06:34   #22
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

I would like to install a batt-car system but need to know budget cost. Boat is a 33' heavy cruiser. I can't seem to find costs on a web search. Anyone purchased a system recently or knows the cost of a system?
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Old 24-01-2021, 06:42   #23
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

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I would like to install a batt-car system but need to know budget cost. Boat is a 33' heavy cruiser. I can't seem to find costs on a web search. Anyone purchased a system recently or knows the cost of a system?
You might want to consider a Strong Track or the Dutchman equivalent. Great friction reduction at a fraction of the cost of batt-car systems. Much easier to install too. I have the Strong Track product and it works well.
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Old 24-01-2021, 06:46   #24
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

I do not have a current price for it, but that you can easily enquire at Rutgerson.

Try the Rutgerson system. It runs in the normal mast groove and does not need an extra expensive track.
We are using it since a couple of years and are happy with it. It's not allowing to raise/lower the sail when there is full wind filling the sails. But that is something one should avoid anyway.

Secondly we have a double halyard which is fixed at the masthead, runs through a block at the mainsail head, back up the mast over a sheave at the top and back down. Double the pulling length, but half the pulling force.

Good luck.
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Old 24-01-2021, 06:47   #25
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

I'm open to any system that works. At 70 years+ my wife and I are tired of fighting the headsail. Do you have any idea of cost of either system?
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Old 24-01-2021, 06:50   #26
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Re: hoistisng a mainsail more easily

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kentb View Post
Have the tides system on our Tartan 37. Can pull by hand to within a few feet of full hoist. And drops in seconds. Between that and roller furling headsail it’s easy p-z...
Another vote for the Tides.
It was less than half of the name brand systems like Bat-car.
I can hoist my full batten main by hand and it drops right down when I release the halyard.

Really easy install as well

Pieter
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Old 24-01-2021, 06:52   #27
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

I was hoping someone could provide budget costs of various systems
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Old 24-01-2021, 07:06   #28
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Re: hoisting a mainsail more easily

That's really dependent on the sailsize and so on.
If the OP is really interested, he/she can jot down the names of the 4-5 systems mentioned here and call the manufacturer.
It's literally 5 phonecalls or emails away. That should be an easy task. Takes less than half an hour.
Quote:
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I was hoping someone could provide budget costs of various systems
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