I have a 1982 Catalina 30 and would like to run my main halyard back to the cockpit so my wife can better manage it but my cabin top winch is to close to my dodger to put a rope clamp on in front of winch . Any suggestions
Deck Layout
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This has been discussed many times in previous threads. Check the older posts for running lines aft. Many voices on the pros & cons. I kinda like having the direct torque of the winch on the mast to give U real leverage when raising a big mainsail. Also the friction of the added blocks running aft makes raising harder. My old boat was set up with all lines led aft. U still have to go up top to remove the sailcover, remove the sail ties, cannect the main halyard to the head of the sail, & flake the sail when lowering from above. So really what is the advantage of all the bother to running lines aft? More hype then help. Just my 2 cents worth.
Having a 2 year old on board - the lines being lead aft allows me to keep an eye on the boy and work the sails at the same time.. i wouldn't be able to go out otherwise..
Yeah, we sail with a 4 year old & 8 year old kids, & have done so since they were babies. I would never go out alone, without my wife or someone as a 1st mate to assist me in coming in & leaving the slip, and in running the jib while tacking. My kids are not old enough to help yet. But U understand the point I made that U still have to go up on the cabin top for removing the sail cover, the sail ties, and connecting the main halyard. Unless U have some type of fancy stack pack, which I believe U still have to unzip from above. Also no real sailor would just drop their sail by releasing the halyard & not properly flake the sail on the boom for storage. Leaving it flopping around could damage the sail & is bad seamanship. I guess this is why the older, & richer guys buy "leasurefurl" mainsail booms, or the dreadful in mast furling which hurts performance. While those look covenient, I bet they're a bitch to fix if/ when they jam while in the mast or boom pocket. I've had enough roller furlers jamb on me over the years that I don't want any more "improvements." To each their own, I reckon.
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