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Downhaul question

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John J.
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/19/2005 : 18:11:11

I am in the midst of more projects than I should have started,one of which is leading the main halyard to the cockpit with a cabin winch and a clutch. I'm hoping that with the leverage of the winch, I'll be able to raise the main with the luff good and tight and not have to concern myself with adjusting the downhaul. The purpose of the upgrade is to minimize the trips up to the mast as I'm hoping to do some single handing this year. Will this set-up accomplish this ?

1987 C 27
#6387

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2005 : 19:06:45

John - if you install a triple winch on either side of the cabin top you can bring all the necessary lines back to the cockpit - 3 halyards, vang, cunningham and reefing line.
It's expensive initially, but well worth it for ease and comfort in single-handing.
Derek

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deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2005 : 23:38:21

John--If you haven't already done so, I'd suggest checking in Tech Tips the entries from "Not yet" that contain many good ideas on leading everything aft and setting up for single handing.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2005 : 08:59:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John J.
 I am in the midst of more projects than I should have started,one of which is leading the main halyard to the cockpit with a cabin winch and a clutch. I'm hoping that with the leverage of the winch, I'll be able to raise the main with the luff good and tight and not have to concern myself with adjusting the downhaul. The purpose of the upgrade is to minimize the trips up to the mast as I'm hoping to do some single handing this year. Will this set-up accomplish this ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes...

I've eliminated the boom downhaul by essentially fixing my gooseneck so it doesn't move.

Next, I eliminated the cunningham by using a short piece of line that is permanently tied to a starboard side mast cleat. This line then goes up through the cunningham cringle then down to a port side mast where it is permanently tied off. Its length is such that when I raise the main by hand there is no tension on the cunningham, but when I start winching the main halyard, the cunningham takes the load rather than the gooseneck.

As a singlehanded sailor myself, keeping things easy is a way of life.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2005 : 20:10:33

Don - do you have a picture of your setup?

Do you use a hook in the cunningham cringle?

thanx

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 08:29:06

Don,

What do you do downwind or in light air when you want to ease the cunningham or take it off entirely?

dw

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 21:45:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Duane Wolff
 Don,

What do you do downwind or in light air when you want to ease the cunningham or take it off entirely?

dw
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Simply easing the main halyard eases the tension along the luff of the mains'l from headboard to boom.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2005 : 21:48:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 Don - do you have a picture of your setup?

Do you use a hook in the cunningham cringle?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'll work on a picture...

As for using a cunningham hook, I don't use one with my current setup.

I didn't like the P.O.'s original cunningham setup (hook and mast base block) because it pulled on the cunningham grommet at an angle which I thought put too much un-natural stress on the sail.

Edited by - dlucier on 06/01/2005 09:10:05

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