Better sail shape on a reefed mainsail - F21
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:05 am
I came across this video today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUJ_eQU6z5Q and as I have Rockin in the front yard for the winter decided to implement a detachable outhaul that can be used on any clew cringle, when reefed, as per the video. My current outhaul is at the mast so to make this practical I needed to replace and extend the current outhaul line and bring it back to the cockpit.
The first problem was removing the 4:1 tackle in the boom to measure the line length required. This was achieved by undoing a bolt through the boom on which the forward block is attached, not easy due to stainless/aluminium corrosion. Then the tackle could be pulled out from the aft end of the boom. Note that I used two tracer lines to get it back in. One on the block and one on the tail, as the exit in different holes in the boom. The rear of the tackle is attached to a wire line and D shackle normally fixed to the main clew.
To bring the line back to the cockpit I added a spinlock jammer, a new fairlead and a block on the kicker deadeye. The final sheave is fixed in the forward end of the boom and from there the line goes down to the mast base and back. I decided to route the line diagonally beneath the other four lines from forward, because I already have 5 jammers on each side of the cockpit and space is tight (the 5th jammer is for lowering the keel).
Total cost £21, £4 for the hook and £17 for a 10m offcut of 8mm line, the other parts I had in my bin. I'll post back when I have tested this out next season.
The first problem was removing the 4:1 tackle in the boom to measure the line length required. This was achieved by undoing a bolt through the boom on which the forward block is attached, not easy due to stainless/aluminium corrosion. Then the tackle could be pulled out from the aft end of the boom. Note that I used two tracer lines to get it back in. One on the block and one on the tail, as the exit in different holes in the boom. The rear of the tackle is attached to a wire line and D shackle normally fixed to the main clew.
To bring the line back to the cockpit I added a spinlock jammer, a new fairlead and a block on the kicker deadeye. The final sheave is fixed in the forward end of the boom and from there the line goes down to the mast base and back. I decided to route the line diagonally beneath the other four lines from forward, because I already have 5 jammers on each side of the cockpit and space is tight (the 5th jammer is for lowering the keel).
Total cost £21, £4 for the hook and £17 for a 10m offcut of 8mm line, the other parts I had in my bin. I'll post back when I have tested this out next season.