Re: genoa rig
Andre: I have a 1966 Mariner that I purchased this past July. It came with a genoa jib and deck rigging installed by a former owner. Essentially, he added tracks with adjustable spring-loaded pulleys ouside of the cockpit splashboard with winches about two feet aft of the cabin. He also installed cleats on top of the wood splashboards aft of the winches which have caused the wood to come loose from the cabin wall. I have been running the jib sheets outside of the stays back to the added pulleys, then back up inside the stays to the standard pulley and jamcleat on top of the cabin. This works fine for me, but when tacking I have to withdraw all of the sheet from the rigging or it will get jammed. I do not use the winch or the cleats on top of the splashboard. I find the winch unnessesary and the cleats to be damaging to the woodwork. I should think that you could rig a similar system, with the winch and cleats mounted on blocks secured to the deck and raised to the level of the top of the splashboard. You should not rely on the splashboard to support any tackle. I generally sail solo and do not race. To really tighten the genoa I simply head into the wind enough to luff the sail and haul on the sheet. I find that the genoa is too big in anything more than a moderate wind (Unless I am running downwind for a long stretch). It tends to overpower the boat. It surely is a godsend on light wind days, though. I use it about half of the time that I sail. I hope this is useful, if only as a caveat. I believe that the Oday Rhodes 19 has the same hull and rigging as the Mariner, so you may be able to get some information from someone with one of those boats. Many sailing schools use the Rhodes 19. Perhaps there is one near you. I get many ideas by lurking around local boatyards (especially talking to old-timers). Happy sailing! -Scott Gurney
