Hunter 31-2 Mainsheet Routing

[StephenD]

I bought a hunter 31, and I thought the mainsheet was supposed to be double ended and controllable from the helm station OR the coach roof. However, mine terminates at the boom and is only controllable from the coach roof. The owner's manual shows it as not double ended, like mine. Does anyone out there have one that's rigged with dual ended control of the mainsheet, and was it an after-purchase modification or did the factory make some of them like that? I'd really rather have control of main sheeting from the helm rather than having to climb back and forth repeatedly.

 

[jssailem]

It could be a creative idea. It would require more space to have lines running in two directions. Do you have the space on your deck?
What are your thoughts about friction? What would be your procedure to quickly drop the sail if there was a jamb?

With a single line you have the line hidden when the sail is up. To have a double ended line you would have the down haul flapping in the wind against the mast as you sail. This might be why they are not popular.

But if it is something you can accept, there is no reason you cannot do it.

 

[Hello Below]

You do not mention the year of your Hunter 31. If it was built between 1983 - 1987, this thread may help.
1985 hunter 31 main sheet

 

[StephenD]

I have a 2009 Hunter 31-2. My real question is whether they came from the factory with dual ended mainsheets?

 

[jssailem]

dual ended mainsheets

Trying to understand your words.
Dual Ended...
Do you mean:

1. 
   
2. 

Or that the line ran continuously like furler lines are sometimes rigged.

 

[StephenD]

As an example: on the hunter 33 one end of the mainsheet is routed from the traveller block through the boom, down to the mast base and back to a stop block near the companionway. The other end of the mainsheet is routed from the traveller across and down the traveller arch where its easily accessible to the helmstation.
I'm trying to figure out if mine was originally rigged that way and a PO reconfigured.

 

[StephenD]

I guess I'll have to invent a solution

 

[NoExit]

Just came across your post now. I have the same model, I think (2007 H31). I bought mine used, and the mainsheet was not controllable on both ends. It's only controllable from beside the companionway, and in all but the lightest winds it requires a winch and handle to bring in the main as there's only a 2:1 purchase on this set-up like this (if that).

This diagram below is from the original manual. It says "duel ended" in the Hunter manual (including the typo), but it's only controllable from the one end near the companionway and away from the helm station.

This is how the boom/traveller end looks on mine currently: I'm not sure that even provides 2:1 purchase.

I'm about to try it with this setup below off the traveller, only I'm going to use a fiddle block with a cam cleat at the traveller end so I can control the mainsheet from the helm when I'm single-handed. I'll move the single block on the boom to the boom bail nearer the end of the boom, and add a single block with a becket where the single boom block is currently.

(This diagram is from a Juneau, but the setup is similar, only the mainsheet on the Hunter is through the boom, and the traveller on the Hunter is on the arch above the cockpit, not on the cabintop at the companionway.)

I think only tall people (I'm 6'4") will be able to control the main from the traveller end, as the traveller is on the arch high above the cockpit, above even my head, but well withing reach, although cleating it may be a challenge. When the traveller is all the way up or down, I'll likely have to stand on the bench to reach it, or centre the traveller first, even at my height.

I'll need to get a longer mainsheet too. I figure about 90 feet instead of the current 60 feet to allow for the 4:1 purchase this will provide instead of the current purchase, which is 2:1 max (and maybe not). I'm hoping that's enough purchase to be able to bring the mainsheet in by hand. If not, I'll add more dual and triple blocks to increase the purchase further.

If anyone else has experience with a setup like this on their H31-2 or another boat, please weigh in.