It Floats and Sails

[John From Maine]

Well I finally got my estimated to be a 1973-ish Widgeon launched and my grand daughters loved sailing it. I followed along in my 17ft power boat and all went well. I was quite pleased with how nice it looked sailing along and how well it handled. My one grand daughter is an accomplished Opti sailor and took to the Widgeon with ease. I'll post a few more pictures later as I have a few questions on how best to tie off the main sail's outhaul. There is only a ring in the end of the boom. Should I tie a knot in the end or should I install a cleat on the boom? There is also a separate line attached to the centerboard well cap, just forward of the main sheets cam-cleat and I can't figure out what its used for. Perhaps the prior owner used it for something? A picture would be a better way to show this unknown line/purpose.
Happy sailing - John

 

[Benny17441]

With the boom swinging close overhead I would not add much to it. Sweet sailer.

 

[shemandr]

The line on the centerboard well cap may be to restrain it from going overboard or getting lost.

 

[Brian S]

That outhaul is not rigged correctly. You could tie the outhaul to the cringle, run down under the boom, and back up through the cringle and then aft. This would serve to hold the clew down to the boom, while also allowing the loop to slide on the boom, tightening the bottom half of the sail to depower. As it is now, the clew is lifting, and allowing poor leech tension control. Then again, those sails have probably seen better days... I'm also assuming that at the boom end, there is a turning block that allows the outhaul to run forward on the boom to a cleat, allowing for outhaul adjustment. Or something. For example, my Force 5 runs the outhaul all the way forward thorough the boom, and down at the gooseneck, to a control line station with cleats for outhaul, vang, and Cunningham, adjustable from either side of the boat.

Perhaps Sunbird has some rigging instructions for the Widgeon? Or maybe that has already been posted before?

If the Widgeon has a pivoting centerboard, that line on the CB cap is probably a preventer. With the CB deployed, that line would prevent the board going into the trunk in event of a capsize and/or turtle.

 

[John From Maine]

Here are 2 additional pix that might better clarify my questions. In the 1st pix you can see the end of the boom. The line is the main sheet that goes to 2 pulleys on the rear transom and them back to the pulley on the end of the boom, them goes further forward along the boom to another pulley and then to the cam-cleat on the centerboard cap. What is the correct way to connect the main sail out-haul? I have been looping it thru the eye at the top of the boom's end and pulling it tight and tying it off around the boom. If I were to add a cleat along the side of the boom I could then tie off the out-haul. In the 2nd pix is the centerboard cap. On the right side are the 2 lines that raise or lower the centerboard. On the left side is the main sheet cam-cleat. My question is what is/was or might be the purpose of the line just to the right of the main sheet cam-cleat. I can't see how this line could have any connection or function with the centerboard since it already has 2 line to raise and lower the board. It connects to the centerboard cap via a swivel pulley and a bail to which a 3/8" dia 6 foot line is attached. There is nothing on the end of this line. The line in the pix is going upward only because I have the line looped over the boom and mast during storage. If this line were to be looped over the boom and back to the pulley the boom (and the main sheet) would not be able to be let out more than 2 1/2 feet from the centerline of the boat. And since there is no cleat to tie the end off I would have to always hand hold the line. So I can't see where that would be of any benefit. The tiller doesn't reach long enough for this to be a place to tie off the tiller along the boats centerline.
Any suggestions or ideas on the purpose of this line would be appreciated. Happy Sailing - John


Happy

 

[Dave Groshong]

You can purchase a Widgeon manual at this link:

http://iheartodays.com/manuals.html

 

[Sunbird22358]

The boom originally had a cleat at about the midpoint to tie off the outhaul, original setup was the line ran from the sail clew through the top eye on the end of the boom and forward to the cleat. I'm not sure what that line on the CB trunk is for either, But, the diagram that I've posted DOES answer that! AHA!! There is a block missing on the CB downhaul.
I have created an expanded version of the original O'DAY owners Manual for the Widgeon, expanded to cover the full 1964-2004 production run and with many added diagrams (both ones that I made from my own Widgeon and several that I got from Rudy at D&R Marine). Contact me for more info and I'll private message ordering info. (Includes drawings of both the CB rigging and a better outhaul rig) I decided to include a CB drawing from my manual and a pic of a 1985 Widgeon to show the location of the outhaul cleat that may be missing on your boat, it also shows about how the outhaul should be adjusted for most sailing conditions, heavier winds tighter to flatten sail, normally there should be a little slack as shown. Mainsheet was rigged different on these later models than on your vintage Widgeon.