Gerr Downhaul System

[davenlynn]

Anyone out there familiar with the Gerr Downhaul System? I ran into it while surfing and found it on the widgetsailor.com site. Looks like a heck of an idea, especially as I'm not as steady on the deck as I once was. Seems to make a lot of sense and it's not any trouble to set up. To make it even simpler I was considering a downhaul from the top of the headsail, through the sail snapons and run through a snatchblock and back to the cockpit.
Any thoughts on this?

Dave

 

[Mike B1026]

I made one when I was without a furling sail. I didn't try running it through the clew of the sail though like some diagrams show. I think it works better if you don't attach the line all the way to the top though. It can cause the sail to "bunch up" when lowering, at least that's what I found. (The wind is trying to push the sail up and you are trying to pull it down) Use a light line and alternate it around each hank.

It helped till I got a replacement furling sail and got back to using the roller furling.

 

[davenlynn]

Thanks, Mike. A furling headsail in not in the immediate future, which is why I thought this might be a good idea. I appreciate your input.

Dave

 

[Hollyweirdos]

I tried this on mine. I went through the clew as well. I didn't like how much friction there was on the set up. As it got closer to the deck, it was straining everything in the loop. To be clear, this is the system that starts at the top of the jib, down to a block in the middle, to the clew, back to another block and down to the tack. From there back to the cockpit.

 

[davenlynn]

Thanks for your input, Hollywood. I was kinda wondering about that. I think I'll try the simplest way first, using Mike's idea of running the downhaul only halfway (or so) up the forestay. That should be a winner, and like they say, keep it simple.

Dave

 

[Stu Jackson]

The easiest for you is a simple jib downhaul. Trick: go on port tack, heave to, headsail is backed, use downhaul to drop sail right on deck; hanks are positioned to essentially fold the sail right on the deck.

Used it on our Catalina 25. Got the idea from Pat Royce's Sailing Illustrated book. Serach that here and I've posted a page from the book many times, just not on this computer, sorry.