Outhaul tension for cruising

higgs · Aug 29, 2009

The outhaul is a vital part of sail trim for the racer and the cruiser. In heavier air you want to flatten the main by tensioning the outhaul. This takes the bag our of the main and helps the boat to stay upright.

Ideally you want a setup so you can tension the outhaul under load. Lackng that, one can head up and pull in the outhaul while the main luffs.

Either way, you want to flatten the main to reduce heeling as the wind kicks up.

Ted · Aug 29, 2009

Outhaul tension

Having no purchase on your outhaul will make it nearly impossible to adjust tension in the foot while the main is loaded. My 29 has a 2:1 internal purchase lead to a small winch with a 8:1 power ratio. I can easily adjust the foot tension while the main is fully loaded. You will want to adjust the outhaul (more tension) as the wind increases in strength. It will flatten the lower third of the main. Proper sail trim whether racing or cruising is good for speed and balance. The amount of time you spend making adjustments depends on the consistency of the wind speed and the willingness of the skipper to make the effort.

Stu Jackson · Aug 29, 2009

Hermit, the purists will say yes, but us "real" Catalina experts will tell you that the internal Catalina outhaul arrangement has been problematic for years. Your external arrangement is actually something others have done and I'm considering doing it too in lieu of taking the boom apart and fixing the internal. I've sailed with the outhaul in one place for the last 11 years. Don't believe the BS. I have also sailed on a very competitive C34 racer whose outhaul makes me gasp! In and out smoothly and affects sail shape.

Basically, you're way ahead of yourself. Learn to sail first, deal with the "details" as you go along.

kloudie1 · Aug 30, 2009

Simple Outhaul

Scott, My outhaul runs over a sheave at the back of the boom then internally to the front then over a sheave and out on the bottom to a small cleat. It doesn't have mechanical advantage but I can "sweat" it in under load by pulling down on the horizontal length at the front of the boom while tensioning and snubbing on the cleat. Simple and it works. Not a racing option, but it works . You can see the cleat and outhaul line at the front of the boom in this shot.

Timo42 · Aug 30, 2009

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This is the setup I use, I don't know about substituting staset for wire without going up a couple sizes though, I am using 1/4" on my 22'. Check this for some ideas on how to set up the running rigging. http://www.mauriprosailing.com/Harken/harken-trimming-systems.htm
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s sauer · Aug 30, 2009

Hermit,
You may be able to find an outhaul 'car' which has a turning block fittted to a slug that rides the slot in the boom and that would double your purchase. Not being able to adjust the outhaul would seem to require a tight outhaul at all times so the bottom of the sail is flat when it needs to be. Go up a couple sizes on the line; at least 5/16 to 3/8 for peace of mind and to be easier on your hands. Look atth esize of your reefing lines as a guide.

BrianW · Aug 30, 2009

Hermit, first I want to say that nobody can ever fault you for not doing your homework in getting your boat ready to sail. I've learned a lot from your posts and especially the responses from the very experienced folks on this forum. I agree that getting some purchase on your outhaul will be necessary for you to get the most out of you main.... BUT do not let the lack of it keep you from sailing! Set it before you raise the main and enjoy sailing! Purchase the purchase later. BrianW

NC-C320 · Aug 30, 2009

Outhaul Possibility

Hermit,

On my C320, the outhaul was internal to the boom. It was 3:1 with 3/8" polyester line terminated at goose neck end of boom with an in-boom stopper. This system jammed up internally and from other reports of similar situations, getting the boom end casting off at the mast end sometimes was problematic. So I elected to put on an external system consisting of Ronstan Series 40 blocks (Stong, compact, relatively cheap, and available) and 3/8" double braided polyester (StaSet type). To the outhaul cringle of the sail, I shackled a Series 40 double block. To the boom end, I shackled a Series 40 single block with becket. The outhaul line starts at the becket, to the double block, back to sheave of single block, back to the double block, back to a sheave mounted on end of boom (already part of boom arangement), through the boom, and out the boom at mast end through a sheave/stopper arrangement (already in boom/a spare channel). The line is long enough so I can take it to a cabin top winch if needed, otherwise it's secured to a mast cleat. If you don't have the internal/through boom possibility, you could add a termination cleat at the outboard end of the boom. This arrangement gives 4:1 advantage. Initially, I rigged if for 3:1, but decided 4:1 was better. On my boat, there isn't much room between the outhaul cringle and boom end, so it was important to use blocks with compact dimensions. Perhaps this arrangement would work for you.

jibes138 · Aug 30, 2009

I read about a guy who sailed the east coast for years using blue tarps he pulled out of dumpsters in boatyards for sails. So unless you are racing for real don't worry about it. Lash the sail to the boom and go sailing. You don't need much purchase in my opinion to tighten the foot.
Secondly, I read the article from the guy on the theory of lift and I'm wondering how tightening the foot in heavy air effects the lift of the sail. Just wondering if all we've been told is in fact true.

Scott T-Bird · Aug 30, 2009

Out haul can be a back burner item ...

I like the sail adjustment and use it often but it certainly isn't necessary. Just find a way to pull it reasonably flat for upwind sailing and you are good to go. Today, even though we had a few downwind reaches when it would have been worth making the sail fuller, I just looked at my wife and decided ... 'nope, I'm not going to mention it, she looks to comfortable to disturb!'

I'd find a way to get your headsails up. If you have a foil on the head stay, you should be able to hoist your sails even without using the furler. If you have a masthead rig, you will find that the boat is a dog with just a main sail up. I can't stand sailing our boat without a head sail, it is like a slug. We can sail with just the genny up and have great performance, but with just the main sail, it is just too tediously slow.

sailaway78 · Aug 30, 2009

If you want to

Hermit,
If you want to screw with it, and want the absolute max boat speed possible, then you need all the adjustment you can get. If on the other hand, you want to get out and enjoy sailing, don't want to work your butt off, and aren't conderned with the last 1/4 or 1/2 knot of boat speed, then get it close and leave it alone. I know you younger guys like to go as fast as you can possibly go, and are willing to work at it. If you fit into that catagorie, go for it.

newly anonymous · Aug 30, 2009

a lot depends on your main

Hermit Scott said:
Is an outhaul an essential adjsutment for a main sail? or something Frank Butler added to the C30 so he could add 'racer' to the term cruiser?

Some mainsails are more dependent on outhaul trim than others. For example, outhaul tension is far more critical for a loose-footed main. The ability to flatten the sail via such things as a cunningham and an outhaul helps an older sail point higher upwind. On a dacron main you can actually move the draft forward via a combination of outhaul and halyard tension.

Some cruisers might advise you not to bother to learn the intricacies of sail trim. These tend to be the ones who turn on the iron genny every time the wind velocity drops below 8 knots or builds over 20 knots. The outhaul will help you deal better with less-than-ideal conditions.

Alan · Aug 30, 2009

Some 'sailors' learn about sail trim and others never do. There is no such thing as 'racing trim' or 'cruising trim'. Trim is either right or it's wrong. Learning how to sail means knowing how to adjust your sails for the conditions. Choosing not to make the proper adjustments isn't cruising it's just plain lazy. Not knowing how to trim means you need to learn. After you learn how you will realize that all those strings affect the sails ability to do its job.
Listening to some people makes it sound like sailing is an arduous onerous job. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most sail trim adjustments are quick and easy and only take seconds to accomplish. If I wanted to dwindle my time away not making any trim adjustments I'd have bought a power boat. Just turn the key and go. But I enjoy 'sailing' and I try to do the best job I know how of trimming my sails correctly. That is, after all, what it's all about.

jibes138 · Aug 31, 2009

not a case of lazy or not lazy

This is a case of go sailing or delay sailing until every little element of the boat is in perfect working order. I have seen people dismasted in the southern ocean, rig up an emergency rig to sail back home, and never worry about whether they have an adjustable outhaul. If you want to take it to the limit why not put in an active control system with feedback because every single second of sailing is in changing conditions therefore for optimum efficiency the outhaul should be modulated to ensure maximum speed. The point is it is a great adjustment to have, but should not be the limiting factor in going sailing or not. Ability to reef and match headsail size to the conditions has a much greater impact on keeping the boat properly heeled and powered up for the conditions than any effect from an outhaul. I'd look at it as Macro versus Micro. The outhaul might be considered a micro adjustment whereas reefing capability might be a macro. How about bending the mast? This also flattens the main but not all boats have this capability, should we all stop sailing until we get it?

bffatcat · Aug 31, 2009

outhaul

Hermit
some guys like to tinker, and constantly adjust some dont. I agree with stu jackson. I had a boat I raced for years and never moved the outhaul. just tie a piece of line on the clew for now drag it back/ put some tention on it and tie it off at the end of the boom. If you want to fiddle you can make an external block setup later. As far as the dead furler goes you dont need a furler that works to hoist a jib. Just hoist the sail up the track when you start and take
it down when your through. Use the furler track like a hank on sail.

sailaway78 · Aug 31, 2009

I have to wonder how many

I don't want to start a flame war or insult anyone, but I was a little turned off by a couple of the remarks made in this post. So I just have to ask. Those who are saying that the only way to sail is with the exact and proper sail trim at all times, have done offshore work, of say, at least three days or more, single or short handed. There is a major difference between this, and a weekend spent anchored up in the evening with a sundowner. If you want to experience real sailing, head out by yourself across a major body of water, single handing, and don't take to task those who do, and don't give a rats a%^ about exact and proper sail trim.

Roger Long · Aug 31, 2009

Nice N Easy said:
If you want to experience real sailing, head out by yourself across a major body of water, single handing, and don't take to task those who do, and don't give a rats a%^ about exact and proper sail trim.

I touched the outhaul exactly zero times on this trip:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/2009August.htm

I do try to adjust it at least once a season when I put the sail on.

Proper sail shape certainly does make a difference in speed in racing and the psychological effect of knowing you are at maximum efficiency can contribute to the enjoyment of cruising. I'm in the camp though that doesn't think getting there a minute or two sooner is worth getting up to fiddle.

Outhaul tension for cruising

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