Mainsail Out-Haul Control

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thinwater
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Mainsail Out-Haul Control

Post by thinwater »

The stock set-up on my boat is a single purchase cable that runs from clew to a boomend sheve, then back forward (cable to 3/8" line splice inside the boom) to an exit on the starboard side about 3' aft of the gooseneck. The line is tensioned using a mast-mounted winch and there is a a small cleat. While it works, it is sticky, the sail is hard to stretch and generally I don't fool with it. But now I have a loose footed main on order.

I've used loose foot sails on 2 prior boats and adjusted them frequently. A flattened foot backwinds less and is considerably faster up wind. Sometimes it can delay reefing a little while or completely. Even more fullness is available broad reaching. However--there is always an "however"--when the outhaul on a loosefooted sail is released it moves instantly. There is no way I'm going to be able to take the line from the winch and around the cleat before it moves. I'm thinking of mounting a cluch on the side of the boom within easy reach of the mast winch.

Those of you that have loose footed mains, how do you control the outhaul?
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Dan White
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Re: Mainsail Out-Haul Control

Post by Dan White »

I have a loose-footed main from Dave Calvert. On those very few times I mess with the outhaul, I step on the bitter end before I loosen the jammer that is in the boom. Then I am able to use my other foot to step on the line closer to the jammer to tighten it. Probably looks like the proverbial monkey and a football, but it works.
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thinwater
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Re: Mainsail Out-Haul Control

Post by thinwater »

So there are 3 jammers in your boom (2 reefs and outhaul)? I have only 2, though there are 3 sheaves at the boom end.
Writing full time since 2014.
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Book Store. http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2017/ ... store.html
Dan White
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Re: Mainsail Out-Haul Control

Post by Dan White »

No. There is only one jammer in my boom. The reef jammers are on the cabin top, just forward of the the mainsheet winch, so I can reach them from the cockpit.
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