Why don't they......

[Heath68]

Hi all,

I am not terribly knowledgeable about sailing but am trying to learn what i can before getting a fairly large cat (45-51) to retire early on.

It strikes me that the trend is for all lines to lead to the helm, but here's my question, why, on have a line at all for the mainsail?

Why don't they have a lightweight chain going up and down inside the mast connected to a motor at the bottom? It just seems to be obvious to me.

So i must be missing something and would appreciate any answers.

Fair winds

Heath

[44'cruisingcat]

To get the same strength a chain would be much heavier, in exactly the area you don't want weight.

[jt11791]

What problem are you solving by using chain? Added cost and complexity, for what gain? If you have a problem with a rope halyard at sea, you could potentially replace it with any other rope line you happen to have. Likewise for the winch, it can do other jobs beside hoisting the mainsail. Finally, metal parts (chains) don't hold up well in the marine environment. Seems like asking for trouble.

[boatman61]

And.. the banging inside the mast would drive you nutz.

[Wotname]

^^ to say nothing about trying to repair it when the chain or motor broke (especially at sea)!

[Cherod]

Originally Posted by Heath68

Hi all,

I am not terribly knowledgeable about sailing but am trying to learn what i can before getting a fairly large cat (45-51) to retire early on.

It strikes me that the trend is for all lines to lead to the helm, but here's my question, why, on have a line at all for the mainsail?

Why don't they have a lightweight chain going up and down inside the mast connected to a motor at the bottom? It just seems to be obvious to me.

So i must be missing something and would appreciate any answers.

Fair winds

Heath

And you can have an electric winch in the cockpit , or as I do , rig / block the main halyard throo the electric windlass for easy mainsail hoist , job done .

[Heath68]

I suppose I was thinking it'd last longer, be more reliable and would be one less line in what can be a very busy area, particularly on cats where many if not all lines go to one point.

[SV Bacchus]

On a 45 to 51 foot cat the terms lightweight and mainsail simply don't go together.

Sailboats have been around a long time and if there was a better way to do something, it has probably been done. Sure, parts and procedures do evolve but a chain inside a mast is a bad idea.

[dfelsent]

Always worth asking these questions. It’s how we learn. For the same tensile strength chain will be far heavier than modern line. It will be noisy inside the mast, difficult to inspect, and prone to corrosion. It will be larger in cross section and likely damage other halyards and internal mast wiring.
If you mean roller chain (like a bicycle) it is very expensive in stainless at the sizes you would need. If you mean anchor chain style it will be high friction and heavy.

Those are a few reasons that come to mind. But ...

Keep asking and thinking!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

Keep asking and thinking!

Who said, "The only dumb question is the one you don't ask." which I think is true about 95% of the time.

[Heath68]

I was asking as it didn't need to be a metal chain, plastic might work, or a long bolt up through the centre of the mast with a motor at the bottom turning it... Ok it was just a thought... I had this other about a central dagger board on the nacelle but I think I should leave it to the experts lol. Thanks fellas

[ozskipper]

There was a time that stainless wire rope used to be used on many halyards on yachts. Especially on racing yachts where the stretch in rope would affect sail shape, thus performance.
But with the creation of Spectra and kevlar ropes etc, there is minimal stretch but still a very long life span. In fact, I would argue they out live the stainless wire of the past.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Heath68

I was asking as it didn't need to be a metal chain, plastic might work, or a long bolt up through the centre of the mast with a motor at the bottom turning it...

You know that you can get electric or hydraulic winches for a boat and use those on the main halyard. By the way, one thing that I haven't seen mentioned in the discussion, hoisting (as opposed to rollup) mains have slides in a track that occasionally jam or stick. With a motor hoisting the main you have to be careful not to rip the luff apart if a jam happens.

Originally Posted by Heath68

I had this other about a central dagger board on the nacelle but I think I should leave it to the experts lol. Thanks fellas

Not sure about the meaning of nacelle in your context. Are you referring maybe to an appendage on the bottom of the boat, like a semi keel, to house the daggerboard or a housing inside the boat for the same purpose? Actually both of these are used on boats and offer some significant advantages, mainly reduced draft with the board up but improved windward performance with the board down.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by skipmac

You know that you can get electric or hydraulic winches for a boat and use those on the main halyard. By the way, one thing that I haven't seen mentioned in the discussion, hoisting (as opposed to rollup) mains have slides in a track that occasionally jam or stick. With a motor hoisting the main you have to be careful not to rip the luff apart if a jam happens.





Not sure about the meaning of nacelle in your context. Are you referring maybe to an appendage on the bottom of the boat, like a semi keel, to house the daggerboard or a housing inside the boat for the same purpose? Actually both of these are used on boats and offer some significant advantages, mainly reduced draft with the board up but improved windward performance with the board down.

I think she was referring to the ammas as nacelle's.
But that would mean looking at trimarans and not cats.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by boatman61

And.. the banging inside the mast would drive you nutz.

THIS ^^^^^^^^ Times infinity!!!