Well I guess you know the Previous Owner rigged the main on the
Spinnaker hoist rather than climb the mast and retrieve the main
halyard. You could use the
Genoa halyard as the main hoist and the line to the spinnaker block as backup, and retrieve the main halyard. Some one suggested dropping the mast and doing it right....good advice. I never saw the top casting on the 27 but the shivs on our 29 did not have oilite bearings from the factory. We took them out and retrofitted the bearings, replaced the shivs since they were fitted with wire tracks. We went to high tech halyards and canned the wire as it without the bearings had a tendency to jump the grove and jam in the casting. (We couldn't convince Mom to take a trip to the top with a screwdriver to correct the problem, the younger members of the crew had a tendency to drop the screwdriver thereby causing a mass exodus by the deckhands). While the mast is down, check the spreader fittings and the overall rig. Mast replacement is greater cost than the boat is worth, just so you understand. We fitted topmast lights (anchor, running, steaming, strob and deck) all with led etc. Check the mast step and pillow block ( I think yours steps through the
deck and on a piece of oak that has a tendency to
rot with
water down the inside of the mast, maybe not. Check the
furler assembly at the top to make sure you get a good hoist such that it does not bind. The new main and
genoa halyards are internal to the mast and the cost of high tech lines are worth it. All said and done sit back and tip a Molson or Labatts and thank George Hinterhoeller for building a quality product.