Hello, I'm going to be putting on a better outhaul system on my boat, and I was wondering if I could get some input from you folks out there, on which you prefer; an internal setup, or an external? I would like to hear the pros and cons of both setup types. Thank you, Jay
internal or external outhaul, which do you prefer
- Thread starter Jay20651
- Start date
- Status
Pros and cons.....
Internal Pro ... line is more protected from weather and UV. Pro ... componnents less vulnerable to be 'snagged' (ie.: during reefing, etc.) Pro ... less chance for impact of hard part to impact on boom, etc. Con .... components hard to inspect and replace Con ... require turning blocks, etc. to 'enter and exit' boom. External . Pro. easily inspected and replaced. Con ... UV damage of lines Con ... usually interefere with reefing bunts. Con ... parts more easily impact with boom, usually with more deformation/wear of boom surfaces then internal mounted. Easily destroyed anodized/painted/varnished exterior boom surfaces
Internal Pro ... line is more protected from weather and UV. Pro ... componnents less vulnerable to be 'snagged' (ie.: during reefing, etc.) Pro ... less chance for impact of hard part to impact on boom, etc. Con .... components hard to inspect and replace Con ... require turning blocks, etc. to 'enter and exit' boom. External . Pro. easily inspected and replaced. Con ... UV damage of lines Con ... usually interefere with reefing bunts. Con ... parts more easily impact with boom, usually with more deformation/wear of boom surfaces then internal mounted. Easily destroyed anodized/painted/varnished exterior boom surfaces
Stu's first option ...
works for me. We have a 27' boat, 11+' boom, 165 sf main sail. If your boom is already rigged for an internal outhaul, it makes the most sense. It is hard to know what you consider "better" when we don't know where you are starting.
works for me. We have a 27' boat, 11+' boom, 165 sf main sail. If your boom is already rigged for an internal outhaul, it makes the most sense. It is hard to know what you consider "better" when we don't know where you are starting.
External
Changed mine over the winter to external. It was internal but it seemed I was always fooling around at both ends of the boom to get the thing to work properly, so I decided to put everything where it is easily accessable. I'll be sailing with a new loose footed main this year so I think the outhaul is going to be important. They have some excellent diagrams in the Harken cataloge. I picked the one I wanted and just followed the instructions.
Changed mine over the winter to external. It was internal but it seemed I was always fooling around at both ends of the boom to get the thing to work properly, so I decided to put everything where it is easily accessable. I'll be sailing with a new loose footed main this year so I think the outhaul is going to be important. They have some excellent diagrams in the Harken cataloge. I picked the one I wanted and just followed the instructions.
- Status