Mystery: where does the "donut" go?

[Jim Dort]

While sailing, my outhaul separated from the main's clew, and I lost a "donut" when it did so. When the sail was repaired and rehung, a new donut was put on, but I am unsure if it was put on in the correct place.



I have attached two photos showing the new white donut. Does it go (1) ahead (forward of) the block, or (2) back (aft of) the block? The photos show it in the first position, ahead/forward of the block.

Second, what is the intended purpose of the "donut"?

 

[sailingdog]

I'm kind of surprised that you don't have a slug for the boom track near the clew of the sail. Generally, those donuts are used to prevent a splice from entering a block and being damaged—they're usually line-stoppers when used on a line.

That block also looks awfully far forward for use with an outhaul.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I suspect that donut is there to prevent chafe. Without a stop, the outhaul block is apparently able to move that far fwd on the boom and could easily chafe the clew on the block. You really should move the outhaul aft and put a stopper in the boom track.

 

[David10790]

Furling Main?

It looks to me like this is a furling main and that the block moves down the boom as the outhaul is used to unfurl the mainsail. I think the donut should be aft of the block to provide a better angle going in to the block in the boom when the sail is all the way out. That being said I don't have one on my Beneteau furling main and have never seen one on an outhaul before.

 

[Scott B]

That's the correct position for the donut. I believe it's to prevent the clew from jamming into the block.

 

[Scott B]

It has an outhaul car, look in the second picture. It has two holes and slides on top of the boom as the sail is hauled out.

I'm kind of surprised that you don't have a slug for the boom track near the clew of the sail. Generally, those donuts are used to prevent a splice from entering a block and being damaged—they're usually line-stoppers when used on a line.

That block also looks awfully far forward for use with an outhaul.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

It has an outhaul car, look in the second picture. It has two holes and slides on top of the boom as the sail is hauled out.

That is precisely the problem we tried to point out - that without stops, the car is free to move with the clew unrestricted on the boom including right up to the clew where it serves little purpose and has no leverage.

I've seen many mast furlers without stops as that is the way many manufacturers supply them to new boat owners, however, lots of folks don't realize the lack of stops can cause problems which are easily easily avoided with these $5 parts. They also make it much easier to furl the sail when the stop is placed in the proper position.

 

[sailingdog]

My point is that most outhaul cars I've seen are fixed on the aft end of the boom. If the car is free to slide, there is little point to having a block on the sail, since you won't get a two-to-one purchase out of it, since the car will just slide up to the clew and then you're back to just a single line.

Also, there should be something holding the clew DOWN to the boom IMHO, whether it is a strap going around the boom through a cringle on the mainsail or a slug attached to the foot of it.

It has an outhaul car, look in the second picture. It has two holes and slides on top of the boom as the sail is hauled out.

 

[Scott B]

Are you saying stop the car at the aft end of the boom? What would keep the clew from rising up as the main is furled. With the sliding car the tension between the outhaul and the furling keeps the clew down on the boom.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Are you saying stop the car at the aft end of the boom? What would keep the clew from rising up as the main is furled. With the sliding car the tension between the outhaul and the furling keeps the clew down on the boom.

Not at the aft end. The block should be allowed to slide along the boom but not all the way fwd as it appears in the pictures - this is what can cause bad wraps as well as chafe on the sail clew. A stop should be placed somewhere along the boom fwd of mid-boom to control this block and keep it properly placed while still allowing some, but not unrestricted, movement.

 

[Scott B]

All the Hunters with Selden booms, that I've seen, have a stop at the same location as the pic. above. I can't say I've noticed the clew wearing on the donut, but may not have noticed this while out sailing..... more things to look at.