The traveler bites MK1 and another question

[Deepsouth42]

Greetings all
After 10 months of rebuilding the Yanmar 1GM10 and several installations and removals, the replacement of the shaft seal (damaged due to incorrect line up of the engine) I finally had it up and running.Thanks largely to expert assistance in the line-up of the engine on it's mounts.

So off I go for a solo shake down and learn that filling the head-sail with wind in a moderate sea while attempting to goose wing can lead up to a sudden rounding up and gybe.

While all the unfolded fairly rapidly I hung on to the useful little rail that the sheet is attached to.

My brain sent a message to my hand suggesting that this comfortable grip be released hand said 'what' and then ouch!

At the back of the cockpit there is another traveler that the bloke i bought the boat from was unsure of what it was for.

Close inspection of the boom shows old rivet holes at the stern end. So i propose to attach the main sheet there.

I wonder why this arrangement was changed so my question is;

Is there any reason why the main sheet cannot be attached to the end of the boom?

The other question is does anyone have a set-up that enables the main sail to be fully taken down from the cockpit and if so how?
(I have two reefs and lazy jacks so can reduce the sail but not fully lower it without going to the mast)

Link to the clip on youtube below


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Mva4UE1Hg&list=UU5EDFhuYR-VpcwLIzpOI0lw&index=4&feature=plcp

[storm petrel]

I do not think there is any reason you could not fix the mainsheet to the end of the boom except that it would take space from the cockpit. As to the danger of the traveller - I have a very solid grap handle 33cm long by 32mm dia between the traveller and the top of the main hatch that I use as a brace when things get silly. Perhaps you should fit something similar to avoid the temptation of using the traveller rail. I can't help you with the main as I always drop mine from the mast.

How is your hand? I usually set a preventer when sailing wing on wing

Cheers,
Mark
Storm Petrel

[Deepsouth42]

Thanks hand is OK-just a little nip from Neptune to remind me who is boss.

That is a good suggestion for a handle near the traveler I will put it on the job list.

How did you set up the preventer=from the bow and back on the outside of the shrouds to a handy spot at the stern?

I am still interested to hear from anyone who has arranged their rig to allow the dropping of all sail without leaving the cockpit (the foresail is on a furler)

thanks again

tom

[Tales]

Hi Tom,

I have not used one but many singlehanded racers use a downhaul.

It's just a line which goes from the tack through the cringle at the head of the sail and back down to the tack again, then back to where you want.

Can be fairly light line which runs easily (6mm). This will help when you raise the sail as well.

Boom end traveller on a TH main will give you much less controll.

All the best,

Tom

[bearmcnally]

Hi Tom, Yes you can,This is how the original Mk 1's where done ?

Re your thumb ? I guess you won't do that again !

Cheers Bear

[Miker]

With the addition of a downhaul, I could probably drop the main without leaving the cockpit.

I have lazy jacks, a running topping lift cleated behind the main traveller and a zipped boom bag. Usually when I let the halyard go, I just need to grab the leech a bit and help it into the bag, which I can do from the cockpit, but it's easier to stack the sail into the boom bag if you're on the cabin top.

The zipped boom bag is the single best luxury item I've ever bought for the boat, that and an electric galley water tap.

[storm petrel]

Tom,
I pass the preventer line (6mm) through a stainless steel loop that I have attached to the front of the jib sheet car traveller rail and then back to the cockpit where I fix it to a cleat. It would be better to take it to the bow but I have never had a problem taking it to the front of the jib car rail. If you set one up be sure to rig it so you can release it quickly in an emergency.

Cheers,
Mark
Storm Petrel

[Shaun]

Greetings all

The other question is does anyone have a set-up that enables the main sail to be fully taken down from the cockpit and if so how?

Convert to a Chinese junk rig

With such a short TH boom, connecting the mainsheet to somewhere near the transom, will mean the mainsheet will "sweep" the cockpit, possibility of getting "swept" OB or thrown against the lifelines (as can happen with my rig if you forget about the lines coming across the cockpit during a tack or gybe.

Unhook the boom vang at mast base and connect it to a staunchion base to use as a preventer?

cheers

[storm petrel]

Shaun,

Bill used to do this but I think it is safer to keep the vang on and rig a separate line for the preventer, especially in gusty conditions.

Cheers,
Mark

[bornfreee]

you only really need the vang when running Mark as you would know the big problem with using the vang as a preventor by hooking it on the stauntion is the angle of the pull on the boom it worked great for years but i must have had a weakened boom and she folded in a big blow, by far the best angle is from the bow to the end of the boom an expensive lesson