Cheap Recommendations
- Thread starter thubbard84
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New blocks
If you have an older boat, you'd be amazed at the difference that 100 bucks worth of Garhauer Marine blocks will make. You won't be able to redo the entire boat, but you'll still have a major improvement. The single least expensive major upgrade I have made was to replace the Torlon balls in my Harken traveler. It made a balky traveler slide like new.
If you have an older boat, you'd be amazed at the difference that 100 bucks worth of Garhauer Marine blocks will make. You won't be able to redo the entire boat, but you'll still have a major improvement. The single least expensive major upgrade I have made was to replace the Torlon balls in my Harken traveler. It made a balky traveler slide like new.
Tim on April IV - I've gotta ask
Have you used that reef in heavy winds yet? Not that I don't think that those blocks are good ideas (they are - I have them too) Its just that the reefing line on you clew (leech cringle) only goes horizontally ? When there are heavy winds doesn't that mainsail just lift way off the boom? The main pull of your reefing lines on your mainsail should be mostly up and down not left and right. And the longer the distance to the end of the boom the worse it will be. I would think that the shape of the reefed mainsail would be much less than ideal As a minimum, shouldn't you have one side of that clew reefing line go straight down vertically and then wrapped around the boom? Most boats I see have a metal grommet at the foot of the mainsail right 'vertically' below the clew reef points to allow at least some vector of pulling a reefed mainsail "down" where it works better.
Have you used that reef in heavy winds yet? Not that I don't think that those blocks are good ideas (they are - I have them too) Its just that the reefing line on you clew (leech cringle) only goes horizontally ? When there are heavy winds doesn't that mainsail just lift way off the boom? The main pull of your reefing lines on your mainsail should be mostly up and down not left and right. And the longer the distance to the end of the boom the worse it will be. I would think that the shape of the reefed mainsail would be much less than ideal As a minimum, shouldn't you have one side of that clew reefing line go straight down vertically and then wrapped around the boom? Most boats I see have a metal grommet at the foot of the mainsail right 'vertically' below the clew reef points to allow at least some vector of pulling a reefed mainsail "down" where it works better.
Tim on April IV - I've gotta ask (w/Pic)
Have you used that reef in heavy winds yet? Not that I don't think that those blocks are good ideas (they are - I have them too) Its just that the reefing line on you clew (leech cringle) only goes horizontally ? When there are heavy winds doesn't that mainsail just lift way off the boom? The main pull of your reefing lines on your mainsail should be mostly up and down not left and right. And the longer the distance to the end of the boom the worse it will be. I would think that the shape of the reefed mainsail would be much less than ideal As a minimum, shouldn't you have one side of that clew reefing line go straight down vertically and then wrapped around the boom? Most boats I see have a metal grommet at the foot of the mainsail right 'vertically' below the clew reef points to allow at least some vector of pulling a reefed mainsail "down" where it works better.
Have you used that reef in heavy winds yet? Not that I don't think that those blocks are good ideas (they are - I have them too) Its just that the reefing line on you clew (leech cringle) only goes horizontally ? When there are heavy winds doesn't that mainsail just lift way off the boom? The main pull of your reefing lines on your mainsail should be mostly up and down not left and right. And the longer the distance to the end of the boom the worse it will be. I would think that the shape of the reefed mainsail would be much less than ideal As a minimum, shouldn't you have one side of that clew reefing line go straight down vertically and then wrapped around the boom? Most boats I see have a metal grommet at the foot of the mainsail right 'vertically' below the clew reef points to allow at least some vector of pulling a reefed mainsail "down" where it works better.
Tom S. - You're probably right
Tom S. - your're probably right, there should be/could be something keeping the clew closer to the boom. While I haven't been out in a huge blow with this setup, the angles are virtually identical to the factory rigging arrangement - which I have had out in a couple of big blows. The clew does rise up some, but actually, that gives me a little more twist in the main - which isn't a real bad thing in that situation. Someone else asked about the loads on those blocks - the catalog specs (granted I didn't size them based on loads) show a MWL (max working load) of somewhere just over 1000 lbs. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Tom S. - your're probably right, there should be/could be something keeping the clew closer to the boom. While I haven't been out in a huge blow with this setup, the angles are virtually identical to the factory rigging arrangement - which I have had out in a couple of big blows. The clew does rise up some, but actually, that gives me a little more twist in the main - which isn't a real bad thing in that situation. Someone else asked about the loads on those blocks - the catalog specs (granted I didn't size them based on loads) show a MWL (max working load) of somewhere just over 1000 lbs. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Upgrades
Magma Grill: $75 Charcoal: $5 Steaks: $10 12-pack: $10 Oh crap, Ice: $1.50 A little over budget, typical.
Magma Grill: $75 Charcoal: $5 Steaks: $10 12-pack: $10 Oh crap, Ice: $1.50 A little over budget, typical.
...This is a "MUST DO" for a sailboat !!!
Its disappointing to see so many real NICE Sailboats without a displayed USA FLAG...sigh ! Nice Flag: $4.95, Nicer: $9.95 !! The rear mast stay is a perfect site display...and it sure does enhance a boat appearance, no matter the condition of the BOAT.
Its disappointing to see so many real NICE Sailboats without a displayed USA FLAG...sigh ! Nice Flag: $4.95, Nicer: $9.95 !! The rear mast stay is a perfect site display...and it sure does enhance a boat appearance, no matter the condition of the BOAT.
I agree!
I second that one! And....there is no sales tax on the purchase of an American Flag! (my grandfather taught me that one) Rob
I second that one! And....there is no sales tax on the purchase of an American Flag! (my grandfather taught me that one) Rob
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