Old Mast question

My backup mast is the old style with the small sail feed area without the
feeder thimble. Are there any issues with hoisting using this mast?

Thanks.

there is no thimble on my 82 mast,no issues on my end.Just make sure sail track is clean and I spray sailkote on the sail once a month,I also feed the sail up with both hands from in front of the mast when i get to the last couple of panels,I can raise it by myself no problem.
shawn
82 h18 #8211
div3

What is the thimble you folks are talking about. I have a hard time getting my sail all the way up. This winter I bought an Aussie ring for the sail head thinking it might help with the last couple of inches (I have only once got the ring on the hook in two summers of sailing with the old OEM ring, and that was when I had a young strong ox as crew and he raised the sail). Besides that I find it hard to raise the sail for the last quarter of the hoist. I do lubricate the slot and sail.

Adrio,
Is your mast solid or comp-tip? I would guess comp-tip from your description of when it pinches. Do you feed the sail into the track while the halyard is being pulled? Do you lube the track on the tip and have you checked its condition? Lay the boat on its side and raise the sail, when it sticks find out why and remedy. My guess is a comp-tip combined with poor technique is your problem.

also, the sail feed or thimble is not necessary but a nice addition.

My sail is not a comp tip. It is an all aluminum mast. I have no doubt my technique is poor and given the location I sail from I have to raise and lower the sail while under way (it is hard enough to paddle an H18 with the sail down). does anyone have a picture of this thimble thing on the boat?

Make sure you are absolutely bow to the wind when you're hoisting.

I'm guessing the"thimble" people are talking about is a stainless guide that sits in the middle of the luff opening at the back of the mast. The picture in the pdf doesen't have one. It's purpose I presume is to help prevent the luff of the sail from getting jammed in the top of the opening by guiding it deeper into the track.

While I'm not going to alter my mast I think it's kind of a nuisance. The battens seem to catch on it when raising and if I loosen then downhaul alot on a downwind the sail sometimes gets stuck above it and has to be guided through to re-tighten it.

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient

Many sailors have evolved (or de-volved) to not using the sail feeder. The feeder is actually way more trouble than it's worth. Just use the plain cut-out opening in the sail track. Make sure the track and bolt rope are both clean and possibly use a small amount of DRY lubricant (McLube is good stuff). Also make sure the halyard sheaves at the top and bottom of the mast run free (my old H20 wore a flat spot in the bottom sheave so it wouldn't spin- made things more difficult). Last, have to boat pointed directly into the wind with one person guiding the sail in the track and the other hoisting the halyard (wrapping the halyard around a pair of plyers makes a quick handle).

sm