Don, I seem to remember that you once purchased the Garhauer E-Z Glide genoa cars that are adjusted from the cockpit with lines. How helpful did you find them to be in improving sail control? Were your cars on the toerail track?
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Great addition!
Hi Robert - I added those E-Z Glide cars from Garhauer on my Catalina 36 and really enjoyed the ability to control genoa shape on the fly. I find that if an adjustment is easy to use you'll be much more likely to actually use it. How many people are out on the side deck notching their genoa cars that aren't easily adjusted with the lines if you're not racing? It's much easier to experiment with different settings in different windspeeds and on different points of sail. The only downside is it clutters the side decks a bit with the extra lines but I feel it can be well worth it. Have fun! Trevor
Hi Robert - I added those E-Z Glide cars from Garhauer on my Catalina 36 and really enjoyed the ability to control genoa shape on the fly. I find that if an adjustment is easy to use you'll be much more likely to actually use it. How many people are out on the side deck notching their genoa cars that aren't easily adjusted with the lines if you're not racing? It's much easier to experiment with different settings in different windspeeds and on different points of sail. The only downside is it clutters the side decks a bit with the extra lines but I feel it can be well worth it. Have fun! Trevor
Garhauer EZ Glide
Robert: If a mate has a mast head rig boat (jib is the engine) I don't see how they could get by without them. It is very difficult to adjust the pin type fairleads - you have to step on the jib sheet - and it is just a pain. Humans do what is easy and don't do what is difficult. That is why probably 60% of the boats I've been on have the fairleads rusted in place. That means they are like the broken clock that is right twice a day. The settings they are stuck on are right for some point of sail and wind condition and wrong for all other situations. With the adjustable system you can DIAL IN the correct setting and you can also use them to "power up" coming out of a tack. My system was located on the outside track. If you decide to buy the Garhauer system here are a couple of tips that might be helpful. When you call ask for Guido or Mark (don't talk to anyone else)and tell them I told you to call. When the cars are delivered they are on a shipping track. Resist the temptation at home to remove the cars from the track to play with them because the ball bearing will fall out and go all over the place. When you get to the boat simply place the shipping track against your existing track (after you reome the existing track end stop)and slide the car off the shipping track. There is a jamb cleat setup that you can add to the stationary end car. Maybe they include that now as part of the package but if they don't you should get it. They are expensive little buggers but worth it. Otherwise, you have to buy separate jamb cleats and dril holes to install them. Next, you need a way to move the car aft. Lots of guys use bungee cords but I've never figured out how they expect them to work other than hold the car in place. What I did was install a small block on the back of the slidding car so I could pull it backwards. It also allowed me to hold the car in the correct position. Why would I want to be able to move the car aft? The reason is that when the sail comes over on a tack the car will automatically seek some position. In theory you would think that position is the correct spot but it isn't. The correct location is generally slightly aft and without a way to move the car aft your stuck. With the Garhauer adjustable system dialing in your telltales is a snap. You can actually see them shaping up as you move the car. Robert, I know you will be happy with the Garhauer adjustable system. They could make a nice XMAS present. I asked my wife for them but she got me something else so I went and purchased them myself!!!
Robert: If a mate has a mast head rig boat (jib is the engine) I don't see how they could get by without them. It is very difficult to adjust the pin type fairleads - you have to step on the jib sheet - and it is just a pain. Humans do what is easy and don't do what is difficult. That is why probably 60% of the boats I've been on have the fairleads rusted in place. That means they are like the broken clock that is right twice a day. The settings they are stuck on are right for some point of sail and wind condition and wrong for all other situations. With the adjustable system you can DIAL IN the correct setting and you can also use them to "power up" coming out of a tack. My system was located on the outside track. If you decide to buy the Garhauer system here are a couple of tips that might be helpful. When you call ask for Guido or Mark (don't talk to anyone else)and tell them I told you to call. When the cars are delivered they are on a shipping track. Resist the temptation at home to remove the cars from the track to play with them because the ball bearing will fall out and go all over the place. When you get to the boat simply place the shipping track against your existing track (after you reome the existing track end stop)and slide the car off the shipping track. There is a jamb cleat setup that you can add to the stationary end car. Maybe they include that now as part of the package but if they don't you should get it. They are expensive little buggers but worth it. Otherwise, you have to buy separate jamb cleats and dril holes to install them. Next, you need a way to move the car aft. Lots of guys use bungee cords but I've never figured out how they expect them to work other than hold the car in place. What I did was install a small block on the back of the slidding car so I could pull it backwards. It also allowed me to hold the car in the correct position. Why would I want to be able to move the car aft? The reason is that when the sail comes over on a tack the car will automatically seek some position. In theory you would think that position is the correct spot but it isn't. The correct location is generally slightly aft and without a way to move the car aft your stuck. With the Garhauer adjustable system dialing in your telltales is a snap. You can actually see them shaping up as you move the car. Robert, I know you will be happy with the Garhauer adjustable system. They could make a nice XMAS present. I asked my wife for them but she got me something else so I went and purchased them myself!!!
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Alan: What a great idea - wish I had thought of it. I never did like the extra line with the aft control system I had but I put up with it because I wanted to control the fairlead car like a mini traveler.
Alan: What a great idea - wish I had thought of it. I never did like the extra line with the aft control system I had but I put up with it because I wanted to control the fairlead car like a mini traveler.
A picture or drawing?
I admit to having trouble visualizing written descriptions of how things are rigged. So, unfortunately I'm having trouble "seeing" either the setup Don is describing or the one Alan is describing. Is the block that controls the car mounted on the track fore or aft of the car itself? Can either of you give a bit more description of how the system is set up? A picture or drawing would be ideal, but I recognize you may not have time.
I admit to having trouble visualizing written descriptions of how things are rigged. So, unfortunately I'm having trouble "seeing" either the setup Don is describing or the one Alan is describing. Is the block that controls the car mounted on the track fore or aft of the car itself? Can either of you give a bit more description of how the system is set up? A picture or drawing would be ideal, but I recognize you may not have time.
Outstanding!
Thanks Moody!!! Your picture makes it all perfectly clear. I'm sold on this system, and I am going to buy it. I really like the way this is rigged.
Thanks Moody!!! Your picture makes it all perfectly clear. I'm sold on this system, and I am going to buy it. I really like the way this is rigged.
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