Mainsheet/outhaul question

[wildblue164]

I'm new to the forum and the C22. I just moved to within walking distance of a marina in FL, so picked up a 1976 hull #6276. I wanted a sailboat with a large support network and one I could take with me when I move again. I searched for quite a while, lots of boats, some needed a lot of work, some were a long drive away, some had a bad hull but all the toys, and then I found mine. Far from perfect, but solid hull, close drive to pickup, basic boat with no frills, but it sails! I just got her in the water with front row parking at the marina. So here is the newbie question, go easy.

See in the attached pic how the PO had the "outhaul" attached from the clew to the mainsheet. After searching the net, I'm trying to determine the correct rigging. What it looks like is I should have the mainsheet connected to the lower eye strap and attach the clew to the upper eye strap with an "outhaul". A real outhaul is on the future list, but right now it is below the cut line.

So if what I suggested is the correct rigging, I assume I need some sort of tang or eye bolt to the boom to connect the pig tail. I know all the negatives of a pig tail, I just want to get sailing while I try to decide between a boom kicker or topping lift since mine has a pop top. I may just take the boom on and off each time until I get a topping lift or kicker.

 

[Chris Patterson]

What I'd do, if I didn't want to get all wrapped up about it, is eliminate what you have for an outhaul. Put a shackle on both of those loops. The top one would hold onto the pigtail, while simultaneously holding a small block, (with smaller line), for the outhaul. The line doesn't need to be that big for the outhaul, you can only stretch the foot so far. Pull it back tight and forget it. The "go fasters" on here will disagree on this, with a hundred different ways to tend an outhaul for an extra half a knot, and so be it.
The bottom shackle can hold the mainsheet. That's it. The end.

 

[Joe]

I'm not a "go faster" but I do think being able to depower your mainsail is important if you like sailing upright..... What I would do is get rid of the rope and remove the lower eyestrap, so you can attach the mainsheet to the boom by strapping a small shackle to the boom with a couple wraps of polyester webbing.... or even a 2 or 3 loops of 1/4 or 5/16 line... this would distribute the mainsheet's forces properly.. whether it's downward or side to side. Rotate the eyestrap 90 deg, then wrap your webbing in front of it to discourage the attachment from backsliding. Now you can rig a simple 2:1 outhaul with some 1/8" line. Anchor one single mini block with becket to the eyestrap(tie it on with a couple loops of the 1/8 line, so the mainsheet web strap passes underneath.) The outhaul control line ties to the becket, runs through the clew, then back through the block then forward to small clam cleat with fairlead mounted 1/3 or 1/2 way along the boom. Should be able to do all this for under 25 bucks. You can use 3/16 line instead of the 1/8 if it doesn't seem bulky.... but I would not go larger.

 

[wildblue164]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. The boom is fairly new with zero holes from old hardware, so I just wanted to get it sailing safely before I start drilling and adding any mods to the boat.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Well, you could always hang a bail on the bottom. They're very cheap, and you could leave the outhaul the way it is..

 

[CaptDon01]

Maybe more work than you want to do, but I stole this idea from someone for a simple but useful outhaul. It uses a boom goose-neck casting on the end with a turning block taking the outhaul inside the boom.

Don

 

[Barnacle Bill]

The outhaul and mainsheet are two different pieces of equipment with two different jobs. The outhaul is a line at the trailing edge of your boom that stretches the foot of your mainsail (bottom) or loosens it. By stretching it tighter you raise the draft of the sail up and by loosening it you lower the draft. This is similar to the halyard which will bring the draft forward in your sail or aft if you loosen it. The outhaul should go from the clew (trailing edge corner) of the sail, to an eye at the trailing edge of the mast (this is the simplest and least desireable option because the only adjustment you have is to tighten the line and rety the know). A better solution is to run the line from the clew through a block (pulley) attached at the trailing edge of the boom and then run the line forward to a cleat that is reachable at the mast. Better yet, double the purchase by putting a block on the clew, run the line from one side of the boom at the end tied to an eyestrap, then through the block at the clew, back to a block on the other side of the mast - then to the cleat.
The mainsheet trims the mainsail with a block and tackle (4:1 on your boat) attached to the boom. The mainsheet also adjusts the twist in the leech of your sail.

 

[Ken]

Wild,
You a fortunate to live very close to one of the more active Catalina22 fleets in the nation. Fleet 77. They meet over at Fort Waltin beach yacht club, you up there website and make contact. They also host one if the best and longest running week long cruises, sailing over to Bear Point/Pirates cove then back. (Northern Gulf Coast Cruise, look up website cruise is in May)

They will also be hosting this years National regatta in June also sailing out of FWBYC. Some very good folks make up Fleet 77 and the wealth of knowledge spans all the way back to the beginning of the C22. You'll find folks like Beati Purcell who was there at the beginning. Just wanted to let you know you couldn't be in a better place with your boat. Good luck..

Since you will in all likelyhood be using a Bimini on your boat you should consider putting the out haul on the inside of the boom.

 

[SailAway1]

The website link below was created by the owner of "Christopher-Jin". It may have been posted on this forum before but I thought it was worth posting again. It has many different projects that would be good for new (and old) C22 owners. One of which is a simple outhaul setup that I plan to do before launching again in the spring.
Greg
http://www.catalina22experiment.com/

 

[HillbillyWanderer]

I have been watching this thread very close for last two days. Like the owner who started the thread I realized last fall I had no idea how to tie the main sheet off. Knew I needed to do something but had no idea other than just tie it off. Gotta say I know a lot more about the outhaul and mainsheet. Also how to attach them and general idea of how they work on a sail boat. Just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone for offering their opinions to us wannabe sailors.

 

[dave_ren]

Chris and Don have it right. The padeye on top is for an outhaul block and the pigtail (may need a small shackle or quick link to accommodate both). The padeye on the bottom of the boom is where to attache your mainsheet block.

You can do a simple 2:1 outhaul with a bullet block attached on the top padeye and led forward to a clam cleat installed to the the side of the boom. I struggled with the "perfect outhaul" dilemma for several years before finally settling on the 4:1 package from Catalina Direct. Couldn't be happier!!!

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=490&ParentCat=29

Other than this site, CD is the mecca for new C22 sailors. Just beware that the allure of all those ready-made packages are sure to put a dent in your wallet, as they did mine.

 

[agprice22]

Meee tooo! I got the CD 4:1 outhaul kit, and it works great. I wonder if anyone has an opinion on leading the outhaul line aft?


Andrew

 

[SailAway1]

Those of you who installed the CD 4:1 outhaul kit - do you also have the CD topping lift? If so, was there enough room on the end of the boom to mount everything?

Greg

 

[Ken]

My out haul is inside the boom, line ends at the gooseneck with a block, a continuous line then runs to each side back to the cockpit allowing adjustment from the high side.... I should add that I almost singlehand.

 

[wildblue164]

Ken- thanks for the Fleet 77 info, I plan on attending their monthly meeting tomorrow night. Concerning the bimini, the captain (wife) and first mate (son) put that at the top of the list.

 

[dave_ren]

Those of you who installed the CD 4:1 outhaul kit - do you also have the CD topping lift? If so, was there enough room on the end of the boom to mount everything?

Greg

Nope, boomkicker. I don't see why you couldn't install both. Both the CD 4:1 outhaul and topping lift have a padeye on one side and a cheek block on the other. I think all you need to do is in install one padeye and one cheek block on each side of the boom. Install the padeyes aft of the blocks with enough room so the lines don't chafe (more of a problem for the placement of the outhaul padeye because of the angle to double block on the mainsail clew.) I'd install the outhaul first and place the outhaul cheek block as far aft as possible and the topping lift cheek block a little farther forward to prevent chafing. That should do the trick for about 1/3 the cost of a boomkicker. That said, I really like the boomkicker.

Once the blocks are in place, run both lines forward to cleats near the middle of the boom or all the way to the mast and back to the cabintop if you want all lines led aft (more $$$). If you have a little more $$ to blow on the lines led aft option, add a block to the end of the outhaul line once it drops from the boom and cascade the line to double the purchase to 8:1 - see green line in attached photo (not my boat) which is cascading an internal outhaul. Now you are ready to race or at least trim the outhaul with no effort!!!

 

[SailAway1]

Thanks Dave, that's really good advice. I didn't want to spring for the CD outhaul kit before knowing everything would fit.

Greg