I finally upgraded from a Hobie 16 to Taipan with self tacker & SPI
Tha main has no halyard just a ring on the head that locks on a hook. I have no problem gettig the main up the track except for the last 4-5" and then getting it locked The ring is held vertical with some bungee

Any tips on using this system ?

Or should I just put a halyard on .. If so how?

I think most of the A cats use a similar set up, so you may want to post the question on the A cat forum which is below this one.

I have seen some of them use their tiller extension to help -push up- the last bit of sail up the track but it shouldn't be too difficult to add a halyard, all you need is a turning block at the top of the mast.

If you bought the push up sail with the boat the ring should be set just right to clip on, I wouldn't change it to halyard. If the last 5 inches are hard perhaps spray the bolt rope with something non staining like Lanox or Inox to let it slide a bit better, then just push it up until it locks on. To get it down, push the sail up a bit, pull your mast rotator whichever way you need to rotate it away from the ring and down she comes. It may take some tuning of the bungee if its not locking on easily perhaps post a pic of your system.

You may not be using the "special words".
All of the sailors I have seen use this system have a few "special words" that they say softly at this part of the process. The longer the process takes, the louder and more forceful the "special words" get.
The "special words" appear to soak into the sail and after a while less of them are required. Obviously, when you get a new main a lot more "special words" are required especially for the first few attempts.

If the boat hasen't been used for a while the sail track can get a build up of sand, spiderwebs and snails which all make it tiring to push the main up. You can drag a scouring pad up the mast slot with soapy water to clean it. If you run out of puff pushing the sail up ensure you have the sail dead down wind when shes going up and when you want a rest pull the mast rotator to stop the sail going down. It is fiddly to get right but then it is perfect

....... I think I have a simular technique with halyards.

Just had a great laugh at that Peter! Thanks!

9 times out of 10, I can get my main to hook on first go without too much drama, the last 100mm or so takes a stretch to push it up because I at full arms reach.

I have a piece of that evo foam (comes in 600mm x 600mm squares and interloacks for soft foam flooring. The piece is approx 20mm long and 12mm thick and wide. It is squashed in under the shackle between it and the sail, this holds the ring upright but still able to spring back when it hits the hook. Before I push up the sail, I make sure the is as close to centred as I can and I have the top of the ring about 6mm from the back of the mast track, this is about right for when the ring hits the hook and springs back to lock in place. If it won't push up or is difficult, spray a run of silicone spray the full length of mast before you put the mast up. It can help. Have the boat/mast pointing dead into the wind it makes a lot easier, if the wind is swinging a bit, I find it easier to stop and wait for it to settle for a second, on my old sail i did the tiller extension thing, but hated doing it and won't do it anymore with my new main, it worries me too much.

more prebend makes the hooking harder; less makes it easier, fwiw; I have a photo somewhere of the foam under the hook Farmer is describing and can dig it up if needed.

Here's a thought, start your main up as far as you can, then flip the boat onto it's side and walk it up the rest of the way to hook it to the ring.

Thanks for the help guys
Sounds like a combination of luck & tweaking the foam/bungee position
Will keep at it...!

At some stage I have to build the nerve to put the SPI on ..More questions to follow but at least I am a strong swimmer!