Clew Outhaul for Loosies

[Tim Diebert]

I posted this link on Florins thread, but figured I would chuck it up here for anyone who might find it handy.

http://www.timtone.com/tt/ttphotos/PhotosSailingClewOuthaul.htm

[Dave R1]

Thanks for that, Tim. That's a great idea.

Question on your topping lift. With it lead so far aft do you find the gaff gets hung up on the wrong side of it? Mine was lead that far back but it drove me nuts every time I hoisted the main. I moved it in to about the half way point on the boom where the forward main sheet block is and now I don't have any problems at all.

[Tim Diebert]

.....well I'll be damned. I do have a huge hassle with the lift getting hung up on the gaff when hoisting...but have gotten used to it. I automatically look skyward when hoisting to make sure I clear the lift. Moving it aft is one of those, "DOAH!!....why didn't I think of that?".

So simple and yet will make life so much easier. Thanks Dave. Good one.

...just thinking....it might not be quite as solid when trying to keep the furled sail/gaff/boom in place whilst motoring as what I have now....but it costs nothing to experiment. Cool. Thanks.

[Dave R1]

Glad if it helps. I asume you mean "move it forward", not aft.

My topping lift is belayed to a horn cleat near the bottom of the mast on the starboard side. You can see it in this picture:

It goes up through a cheek block on the mast and then down under the boom,

back up to a cheek block on the port side and down to a block on the cabin roof and back to the cockpit.

Probably more line than I really need but I have found it handy to have a second point of access to the lift on occasion.

I did a stupid thing and lead the peak and throat halyards to opposite sides of the cabin hatch. I didn't want to have three cleats on the same side and it was easier to lead the lines down opposite sides of the mast. The problem is they are a bit hard to use while looking up at the sail. I have to reach under the boom to get one of them.

In one of my really nerdy over engineer moments I had this idea of leading those lines to a couple of electric winches in the forepeak and then I could have switches back in the cockpit to control them. Oh well, now I'm used to the set up so its no trouble.

[Tim Diebert]

Great. Thanks Dave.

Lots of fancy hardware right there lad.

Very nice, I have hardware envy.

All my lines are Home Despot specials and all but two of my blocks are hardware store or Duckworks specials. I quite like the Duckworks ones....I will be getting more.

I just thought of something else...is your main Loose footed? I am thinking that if the lift is attached mid boom...it will (even if slack) interfer with the sail shape when bellyed out...on one tack.

I also just realized we have the opposite setup...all your halyards go back to the cockpit...whilst my halyards are belayed at the base of the mast and the topping lift is back to the cockpit...well, I can reach it from the cockpit. I find it quite handy.

I have found that hoisting sail requires my presence on the foredeck anyway...so keep the halyards there. That may change one day.

I also hope to treat myself to some nice line one day as well. For now I am happy to be the junk yard mutt.

[Dave R1]

For a junkyard mutt, you've got a pretty nice setup.

Actually I have all my lines lead back to the cockpit and I can hoist the sail from there.

Starboard Side: Throat Halyard (L) and Jib Halyard ®

Port Side: Topping Lift (L) and Peak Halyard ®

The red line is the standard jib sheet although I've now got a jib club ready to go on the boat.

As to the sail and topping lift, the sail isn't loosefooted though I might try it to see how it works. The topping lift only runs beneath the boom but isn't attached. It can be slacked off from the cockpit so it doesn't affect sail shape.