H34 Deck Item??
- Thread starter mnmpizza
- Start date
The only thing I could see was that all the slotted screws nearly lined up. That was put there by a very detailed individual. Wait, even the Philips screws on the toe rail are lined up. Who does that? Now I have to check mine.
It's a track for the spinnaker pole's foreguy. You could also use it to rig a foreguy for a whisker pole, but that's not as critical a control as it is for a Spinnker pole. Another use for it could be an anchor point for a boom preventer system.
The track allows you to move the car directly below the center of the pole for end for end jibes or readjust for other uses such as the boom preventer, or perhaps a good angle for the whisker pole. If you use a dip pole gybing system you would want the car all the way forward, closer to the end of the pole.
Over the years I've modified the fore guy to a 2:1 purchase so I don't need to use the winch....it has a snapshackle at the deck end that allows me to easily disconnect from the track and move to the bow fitting so I can use it as an adjustable tack line for the asymetrical.
Oh, another thing... I have a tall (or daisy) stay sail … not too common on modern boats... but I have used the track to tack it down mid deck when reaching with the asym or genoa... Not always worth the effort but it looks kinda cool.
The track allows you to move the car directly below the center of the pole for end for end jibes or readjust for other uses such as the boom preventer, or perhaps a good angle for the whisker pole. If you use a dip pole gybing system you would want the car all the way forward, closer to the end of the pole.
Over the years I've modified the fore guy to a 2:1 purchase so I don't need to use the winch....it has a snapshackle at the deck end that allows me to easily disconnect from the track and move to the bow fitting so I can use it as an adjustable tack line for the asymetrical.
Oh, another thing... I have a tall (or daisy) stay sail … not too common on modern boats... but I have used the track to tack it down mid deck when reaching with the asym or genoa... Not always worth the effort but it looks kinda cool.
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I would find it unlikely if screws were used at all on the fore deck track.... probably not the toe rail either. Bolts with oversize washers or a backing plate is more probable.
Probably a removable spin pole downhaul rig. Attached is the downhaul point on my boat, done by previous owner. I use it mostly to hold the halyards away from the mast when not sailing.. I also have a light wire luff sail that can be set as a staysail from the pad eye. It works fine for its intended function of downhaul as well! May have made it so that the blocks and lines all easily demounted to unclutter the foredeck.
It's use is clearly to discourage crew from going barefoot. If it's a track for Spin downhaul it's overkill. I can't imagine needing that much travel for what is most likely a one spinnaker cruising boat.
As I think about it maybe it is meant as a toe stop for crew working on the deck in front of the mast.
As I think about it maybe it is meant as a toe stop for crew working on the deck in front of the mast.
Once you put a nut on it.... it becomes a bolt. Unfortunately you didn't specify.... and that implies the fasteners were screwed into the decking rather than bolted down. The reason it is relatively easy to line up the slots is obvious... the outside worker holds the bolt/screw in place while the other wrenches down the nut from inside.
Anyway, I was just trying to clarify (rather than criticize).. in case some reader thought you could use self tapping screws to fasten a track to the deck... My apologies for the nit picking, .
Damn. I'll never be able to look at sail track again with assessing the orientation of the fasteners. The gauntlet has been thrown down.
Sorry, got busy and didn’t get email alerts for all those replies??
Anywhoo... I certainly learned a few things from all the posts. I’m thinking it has something to do with the spin down haul.
I had also considered it would be used to rig a stay sail, but wasn’t sure how exactly??
Thanks for your thoughts! Shannon
Anywhoo... I certainly learned a few things from all the posts. I’m thinking it has something to do with the spin down haul.
I had also considered it would be used to rig a stay sail, but wasn’t sure how exactly??
Thanks for your thoughts! Shannon
Shannon... regarding the staysail hook up.... mine, like most, has a wire sewn into the luff of the sail do you don't need to rig an inner forestay like you would with a storm jib... There will be a snap shackle at the tack which you use to secure the sail wherever you desire. You could have a padeye fixed to the deck, for instance. In some cases you might not want the sail tacked on the center line, but perhaps clipped down to the windward side toe rail.... or farther forward near the forestay... it all depends on what the sailor is trying to accomplish. Another decision is where you would want the sheets blocked. I've used a snatch block attached to the boom... to a bail or even the end... for broad reaching with a spinnaker. My staysail is pretty high aspect (i.e. tall and skinny) so I usually clip a block to a position a couple fee forward of the genoa lead on the toe rail.
Over time, I've found the stay sail most effective in very light air. I tack it mid forward on the foredeck track, block it as mentioned before and sag the luff a bit, allowing for a better entry, since it's not attached to a fore stay. The sail cloth weight is 3.5 oz and the high aspect shape allows the light air flow to stay attached to great effect. It's very cool to see it perform in a 2-5 kt breeze.
But...…… that said.... I've become lazy in my 70's and find I just don't want to go to the trouble unless I have a bunch of eager beavers who want to run all over the boat... heh, heh... so I usually just fire up the motor, drop the headsail and power on home...
some time it just isn't worth the effort... so the sail stays in the bag... but at least you know you have some options. good luck.