Hoisting main single handed

[CarpeDiem 31]

Would like to do some single handed sailing but not sure how to hoist the main...

 

AP into the wind is a no brainer and I generally do that two handed.

 

Winch and clutch is on the cabin top.

 

Sail is to heavy to hand haul it from the cock pit through the clutch.

Winching it from the cock pit... while I am ok with that for shaking out a reef when it needs to be done .. It seems mighty exhausting for something I want to be a pleasant experience.

Electric winch is unbelievably expensive (I could buy a new main)

 

Which leaves pulling it up from the base of the mast...

 

Thought about hanging a drogue out the back to pull the slack line through the clutch whilst motoring at 5 knots..

 

Thought about adding a v jammer to the mast to hold the line in place between hauls, but hate the idea of drilling holes in the rig

 

Have already tried tying a knot after hoisting it at the mast but that took three of us to fix.

 

Tried a prussic that worked but was reslly fiddly.

 

I own a couple of jumars which I feel might be a goer, but I am likely to chew my halyard

 

Any other ideas? I feel I am missing something obvious

[Kick Ass 25]

Do you have a 2:1 halyard?

[splat 38]

Get drill to winch adapter bit and use drill?

[CarpeDiem 31]

Do you have a 2:1 halyard?

No. We have the halyard and the tylaska shackle but have been told the crane needs a modification.

[CarpeDiem 31]

Get drill to winch adapter bit and use drill?

I like this idea. Thanks.

[Dr Dave 5]

You could also convert the halyard winch to electric 

Its a big help when short handed on big rigs

Cheers

Dave

[Clipper 200]

I often hoist my main at the mast, tie a slipknot when up and it stops against slot in the mast. Then go back to cockpit, pull tail through and winch knot out and last half m of halyard up. Thats on Gale Force, so pretty much the same size.

[Tamure 411]

My setup is external exit about 2.5m up the mast-turning block at mast step-along cabintop to clutch and winch. What I do is this, run the halyard around the winch and back 180 to the base of the mast. Pull the main up- hold with one hand and then pull the slack in the tail with the other. Only 180 around the winch, no wraps sometimes I put the tail over my shoulder. 

 

Get the boat head to wind to start with put plenty of slack in the controls, cunningham,vang outhaul and the sheet. I used to used the TP to hold it head to wind but now I just give myself plenty of searoom and let the boat do whatever it wants.

[Young Entertainer 12]

last one i did i just went out, anchored, hoisted main and jib with the tail round the winch and then back to the cockpit and pushed the up button on the anchor,  seemed to work remarkably well,  and I stayed in the same place the whole time

[Black Panther 705]

I have an extra cleat on the mast pull it up. One wrap on the cleat. Pull the slack out and put it on the winch leaving just enough slack to take it off the cleat. Then back to winch and tension.

 

A rope clutch would be a bit more efficient but not enough to stir me into action.

 

I do this for the jib and foresail. Main halyard winch is at the mast.