Self tending?

Sailm8 · Jun 13, 2015

Kind of pricey but might help: http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|118|2358547|2358554&id=2553334

thinwater · Jun 13, 2015

The idea of adapting your boat to your realities is brilliant. More people should do this.

Specific to self-tending jibs, my boat has both a large genoa and a self tending jib. The self tender is very labor efficient, no question about it. A few thoughts:

You will reef the main first, since the smaller jib will already have shifted the balance.
There will be less power, of course.
The jib shape off the wind tends to suck. The lead angle is all wrong and it twists off too much. Assuming the track is long enough, it's not so bad.

Either sailing alone or with a sore elbow it can be very nice. Also nice during the windy season.

---

I would also try other gloves that give more grip. Try Atlas Fit work gloves (rubber coated work gloves). Trim the finger tips with scissors (the coating will prevent fraying). They don't last as long as leather gloves, but the grip is much better, which is what matters to you. I have used them during periods of similar injury with good success. Some very competitive dingy sailors swear by them.

justsomeguy · Jun 13, 2015

BobM said:
Continue to struggle with chronic tennis elbow. My efforts to strengthen my arms have helped but any time I have to grasp a small diameter object like a line or screwdriver I am at risk for a season ending re injury. I lost last season that way due to badly stuck water pump screws. I close to hanging it up for good, but one thought is to buy a new job, perhaps a 90, which would've easier to handle than my 135, and perhaps even set it up to self tend. Thoughts?

Rest is best for tendonitis. Ice and compression bands help ease pain, but mask the pain of the injury, thus you push too hard, reinjuring.

woodster · Jun 13, 2015

as hokey as this may sound ...get you some cowhide welding gloves the ones with the gauntlet cuffs ..they are very thick and will make your grip a lot meatier

gettinthere · Jun 14, 2015

Would an electric winch help?
Cranking on winches aggravates our elbow tho not nearly as bad. Electric winches are expensive so we bought the new second generation Winchrite. It works very well on our 42' boat. VERY happy with the purchase.

Anonymous 121765 · Jun 14, 2015

Bob,

I do not know the type of injury you have but if it's like mine was, read this.

As an avid tennis player, I too dealt with pain & difficulties due to tennis elbow. I'd not use my arm for any grabbing & puling for a week. When the pain lessoned somewhat, I would go out & play tennis. Then another week of pain. I didn't opt for any surgery for my condition but, did find a simple device that cured it for me.

There are plenty of elbow sleeves on the market. Medical supply stores may have some with internal ribs. My last one was an ACE that was a two attachment. You have one end that wraps around the arm above the elbow & one end that wraps around the forearm where the injured tendon is located. It also allows for easy bending of the elbow. Don't need to make the top part real tight just enough to keep it in place. This two ended style is what you should try.

There are numerous makers of this. I did try the one piece that only wraps around below the elbow but is just squeezing in one small area & restricts blood flow.

There are no blood vessels in tendons that's why they take long to heal. The one piece long all-compression supports don't work, as they also inhibit blood flow thru the whole area & make your elbow weaker when worn for a period of time.

Use the it when your having to do physical activities & gripping. I have lent my supports to friends & they have helped cure them. Try to find the type with internal rib. It's been 20 years since I first injured it & at times I feel still feel it & on comes the brace. Wear it on & off thru the day, not constantly if you can.

Here's a site for medical information pal:

http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/tennis-elbow

CR

wflowe2 · Jun 14, 2015

Cortisone shot fixed mine years ago and it still feels fine.

Bob J. · Jun 14, 2015

Bob,
Have you been to PT? When we had the farm I had wicked tennis elbow from slaughtering 2000 free range broilers a year. I couldn't even pick up a gallon of milk one handed let alone a bottle of jack

You're doing something on a daily basis to exasperate this condition, continual repetitive motion. It ain't sailing because you're in MA so your boat's out of the water 6 months of the year. You need to figure out what it is that's causing this & go see a PT.

Far as refitting you boat for a self tending jib, can't help with that but if you need a winch ***** so you can go sailing until you figure it out, send me a PM. I know where Winthrop is.

Bob

bigpapaporsche · Jun 15, 2015

I feel your pain!

My shoulder is starting to give me problems and I think its from pulling on the 150% Genoa. I am not unfurling it all the way now. My next boat will definitely has a Self Tacking Jib and an Asymmetrical Spinnaker on a Furler. I've read that Sailboat designers are thinking along the same lines, i.e. "ease of sail handling."

gettinthere · Jun 15, 2015

My understanding is that you can't leave an asym up all the time, UV will eat the nylon.

I will soon have a code zero on a continuous line furler for light air that I can leave up for extended periods. But they still take some effort to furl.

I'll repeat, we love the new, second gen Winch rite. Perfect for what ails ya.

gettinthere · Jun 16, 2015

Then stop pulling lines!

Wrap those lines on a winch and crank

justsomeguy · Jun 16, 2015

gettinthere said:
Then stop pulling lines!

Wrap those lines on a winch and crank

Anonymous 121765 · Jun 17, 2015

Bob,

Just a thought and it may sound foolish but, have you thought about wearing thick winter style gloves with a non skid grip when pulling your sheets?

I assume it is the furling that you are referring to. I don't know your style of furling but, here's a thought. I always let out the main & have it blanket my 135 as I roll off around 135° downwind. The headsail now blanketed is soft & furling should be easier on your elbow.

I don't like a tightly wrapped headsail anyhow. I only furl into the wind when I have to, then back at the dock I'll unfurl & redo the wraps softer when conditions allow. I may have to wait a day or so to redo my furl in light conditions. I find that moisture trapped has a path for drying lessoning the chance of mildew especially, if you get ample rain in your area. Oh, and don't forget to try the gloves.

CR

slaume · Jun 17, 2015

I work a lot with my hands and have always found heavy gloves to be counter productive when trying to grip something. They may make the grip larger but you have to grip tighter to hold onto something. Un padded gloves with a very grippy surface are always a better choice. Larger diameter sheets would be a better way to increase the grip size. Do you have self tailing winches?

How is your computer station set up? Bad ergonomics with the key board and the mouse can cause all sorts of problems if you spend as much time at the computer as I do. It doesn't sound like sailing caused this problem, Steve.

bigpapaporsche · Jul 20, 2015

Here the answer to my shoulder injury problem! My next boat came sooner than I expected. Fortunately for me, my wife pointed the boat out to me first, which set the stage, i.e. easy for me to buy it! Its a 1988 Seaward 23 with a Self -Tending Jib, bought it right and because of this type of sail! This sail type was standard equipment on these boats back in the day, but nobody seems to know how to rig them to be Self -Tending anymore. It has a very large Batten, about 2 inches wide located near the foot of the sail. I am trading down from a 2006 Capri 22, which is the equivalent of driving a 911 Porsche, to driving a Mini Van, should be exciting, but easier on my shoulder.