Minor spring refit/ sails and gizmos

[Kilgore]

New sails finally: 135 Genny with foam luff and 4 batten main, fixed foot with regular reef points. With the new main, I could add a vang and then a boomkicker. The latter required disassembling and disabling the springloaded gooseneck for the roller boom (the kicker's tension would pop it aft, free from it's lock).

To round it out I threw on a Sail Jockey and a pair of Barton Winchers. I may 'spring' for the genoa track cleats to bring my slip's springlines forward (currently using the winches and jib cleats). I think the go-to piece is the Garhauer, but my tracks measure less than 1".

One hitch: somewhere during the install, the topping lift pulley at the masthead seized and I can't get the line to move. I'll have to tie off both ends at the mast for now, since I don't plan on going aloft.

Thoughts on moving the main halyard winch from the mast to the cabin roof to get the line to the cockpit?

[mgphl52]

First, It's not difficult at all to lower the mast on a CD25. I even did it alone once (but I was 20 years younger then...). With two people to help, it's quite easy. And far simpler than going aloft!

The only Cape Dorys I've owned with halyards to the cockpit were my Typhoon weekenders. They made perfect sense on the Ty but I personally would not want them on anything bigger, unless they were originally designed that way. My primary reason is the extra turns and blocks increase friction and raise the effort need to hoist the sails. Another advantage to having the main halyard at the mast is the ability to test the luff tension and adjust as needed while you're there.