Has anyone rebuilt their outhaul? I decided to purchase a new end cap and gooseneck and was unable to remove the parts. Despite repeated soaking of the screw heads with liquid wrench. All I managed to do is either strip or break off the screw heads. I am now on the hard for the winter and I have removed the boom to work on it over the winter. At this point I plan on replacing everything. I also find a ton of water indside the boom after a heavy rain. Should I drill weep holes, or will that weaken the entire boom? This is my winter project, and want to do it right. Any advice would be appreciated.
Outhaul
- Thread starter chief14326
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I am sure that others have had the same problem. Tell us what model your boat is and who manufactured the boom.
Hello.
I rebuilt mine. cat 30 1988. Basically replaced the internal blocks (pullys) and line and modified it slightly when re-bolting the stern end to reduce friction when there is tension on the pully. It will be self evident to you. The new blocks were a better quality than original and not too expensive. I also replaced the line with a length long enough to rig back to cockpit at a later date. When removing make sure you first tie a line to the existing block so you can pull the block back inside on reassembly. Mine works slick now. Good luck and have fun with it!
I rebuilt mine. cat 30 1988. Basically replaced the internal blocks (pullys) and line and modified it slightly when re-bolting the stern end to reduce friction when there is tension on the pully. It will be self evident to you. The new blocks were a better quality than original and not too expensive. I also replaced the line with a length long enough to rig back to cockpit at a later date. When removing make sure you first tie a line to the existing block so you can pull the block back inside on reassembly. Mine works slick now. Good luck and have fun with it!
How about all of the water that seems to acumulate inside. How do you prevent it or just drop the Topping Lift every once in a while to drain.
Not sure. I haven't noticed that water accumulates in mine. I do slack off the topping lift under sail but even then haven't noticed water draining as a result.
Mine has never worked
Great post!! This is something I have thought about off and on for 7 years. Mine has never worked, it is an 85C30 and I got it in 2001, I have had the stern end off looking in there but couldn't really see much or free it up. I guess now that I am on the hard I should bring it in the shop and do what Catalina guy has done. I have never had water in it as far as I can remember.
Now I have a project to think about. I will post what I find.
Great post!! This is something I have thought about off and on for 7 years. Mine has never worked, it is an 85C30 and I got it in 2001, I have had the stern end off looking in there but couldn't really see much or free it up. I guess now that I am on the hard I should bring it in the shop and do what Catalina guy has done. I have never had water in it as far as I can remember.
Now I have a project to think about. I will post what I find.
There is an easier way, which is also more efficient. The internal outhaul is a poor design in the first place for a couple of reasons one of which is the alum slug slug that rides in the bolt rope slot. If you look closely at it you'll see the pulling motion is downward, which causes the slug to dig into the boom thus greatly increasing the friction making it difficult to pull aft.
My solution was to install 2 small Harken triple blocks, which are expensive little buggers but they work great. One is attached to the clew cringle and the other to the topping lift tang at the end of the boom. The mechanical advantage is very good. I could probably pull the cringle out if I wanted to. The new outhaul line goes into a small turning block and then goes up to a cleat about where the original line exits the mast. You could probably use the existing jamb cleat but i did not want to mess with it.
The outhaul is one of the most important sail trim controls for the mainsail and sadly most are frozen in some position due to the crappy internal system. What happens is the frozen setting is right for one point of sail and wind condition and wrong for all others.
There is a better way than my mod and that is to add a small track and car system but that involves cutting the sail at the clew. It would work great in a loose footed application.
My solution was to install 2 small Harken triple blocks, which are expensive little buggers but they work great. One is attached to the clew cringle and the other to the topping lift tang at the end of the boom. The mechanical advantage is very good. I could probably pull the cringle out if I wanted to. The new outhaul line goes into a small turning block and then goes up to a cleat about where the original line exits the mast. You could probably use the existing jamb cleat but i did not want to mess with it.
The outhaul is one of the most important sail trim controls for the mainsail and sadly most are frozen in some position due to the crappy internal system. What happens is the frozen setting is right for one point of sail and wind condition and wrong for all others.
There is a better way than my mod and that is to add a small track and car system but that involves cutting the sail at the clew. It would work great in a loose footed application.
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