Fully adjustable Jib Car control mod

Gene S

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Nov 29, 2015
181
Delphia 37 Tacoma
I am going to bookmark this. My cars are about impossible to move forward under tention. Aft not too bad. I have to adjust the windard one while on the opposite tack.
 
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
We got the Garhauer EZ Glide cars, and all the docs suggested a bungee or pull line to drag the car aft. The sail seems to pull the car back just fine.
 

TommmD

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Jul 22, 2014
49
Hunter Legend 355 Portsmouth, RI
Winches work to pull them forward - I have the Garhauers too & love em - but I need a boot to get them back. No bungi yet, thats coming soon i think. Not thrilled about tying a knot in it that will take a knife to undo or adjust, to say nothing of what that will look like.
 

jerry

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Jun 9, 2004
64
Catalina 320 500 Stockton, Mo.
Just got my Garhauer EZ glide on week before last. I have a recessed track in the deck and had to pull the 1st 2 screws up (they were no problem) to get the car on. I tied a line to pull it back, but decided I didn't need one yet and took it off. It comes back on it's own just fine (of course it is still new). Works great with my big 155 jenny. (I know, its too big will go smaller next time) Great addition to sail trim. Thanks to this forum for all the great info.
jerry
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,191
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
If the sheet angles up from the lead block to the winch too steeply, it will inhibit the backward movement of the car. You would definitely need a rope handle on the car to move it aft... or you can try to keep the line angle low... with a second block on the track, or perhaps a foot or cheek block on the coaming to guide the sheet to the winch... heck... you may not need any of that stuff.. since you don't really have any purchase on the control line... there will be very little friction to inhibit the rear movement. On your simple system, a rear pulling bungee cord will help the lifting sail pull the car backward no problem. If you decide to add some purchase to system.. the plunger pin hole might be modified to hold a single block with a becket.... then by adding a double cheek up front you could have a 3:1 system. But as it is, I think it's a pretty cool upgrade... you will find yourself trimming that headsail a lot more because of the added convenience.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
I was planning on doing this to my 235 before I sold it.

Bungies for sure will help draw the sheet back when it's open. But if it does not come back on its own, simply pulling up and down on the sheet in front of the winch will do the trick.

Towable cars, easily one of the most important trim adjustments you can make, in particular for high aspects jibs. All modern high performance boats come with them standard.
 
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