Outhaul Replacement Answer
Ron, I just replaced the outhaul on my '89 Hunter 33.5 that has a z-spar boom. I found that I needed two pieces of 5/16" diameter low stretch line. (The maximum line diameter may be smaller for your boat, than on the 33.5. I would not recommend trying to increase the size over the installed line - larger line may not pass through the internal blocks.) One piece of line needs to be approximately 4X the length of the boom (a little less if the line is not led aft to the cockpit) and one piece no more than equal to 3/4 the length of the boom. The second shorter piece needs to be spliced to a shackle for attaching the clew of the mainsail. There are two blocks inside the boom, one is attached internally at the gooseneck, the other moves forward and aft within the boom. (Obviously, there are also exit blocks at the gooseneck and at the aft end of the boom). To replace the line, I released the bitter end of the line and pulled the line attached to the clew of the mainsailout of the back of the boom. You will need to attach a smaller messenger line to the bitter end of the outhaul before you pull it inside the boom. (I did this by using some whipping twine and a needle and sewing the two lines together end to end. Knots or additional thickness caused by tape will not allow the lines to pass through the small internal blocks.) Eventually, you will pull the a smalll block with two beckets on it out of the back of the boom. At that time you will be able to tie the new lines to the beckets on that block and by using the old line as a messenger, thread your new line through the internal block at the gooseneck, back through the "mobile" block that you tied the lines to earlier; and then, using the original messenger line, run the bitter end of the new line out through the exit block at the gooseneck of the boom. I hope this isn't too confusing. You can get this done without taking the the boom apart at the gooseneck, without removing the boom from the mast, and without removing the mainsail; unless, your boom is different than the one on my old 33.5.

Once you realize what is going on inside the boom, this is really a pretty easy job. Don't hesitate to e-mail me if you want to discuss further. Good Luck,Roncaptainronb@earthlink.netS/V Counterpoint