Surfing the Hunter site I ran across this jib "jackline" system. Are any of you familiar with it? I'm thinking of puting this in place on my '93 and specifically want to know details on the three rings that are attached together on the forestay. What are the rings made of and where do they come from? What size jib sheets are you using and do you have them running through a clip or through the grommet? And last but not least, what size line are you using for the jack lines themselves and what length are you using. (I can meansure, but thought you might have already done this) Why am I wanting to do this, well I turn 80 in a few weeks and it is getting harder and harder to go foreward to lower the jib before motoring into our narrow canal and parking at the dock.. A furler is out of my budget and this seems like it might solve the problem.
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Jib Downhauls
Hi Arturo - I am not using this system yet, but intend to give it a try on my H23. I do have a simple downhaul rigged and am using 1/4" line. I run the line through the base of a stantion on its way back to the cockpit, and it tends to get snagged there. When I get around to implementing the Gerr system or just tuning what I have, I'll run it back through a small block or 2 to help it run free. Perhaps you should post your question on TrailerSailers, a site affiliated with this family of sites. That is where I first saw a reference to the Gerr downhaul. By the way, Arturo, hearing of an almost 80 year old sailing a small sailboat was a small but important pick-me-up for me this morning! Great to hear you are still out there.
Hi Arturo - I am not using this system yet, but intend to give it a try on my H23. I do have a simple downhaul rigged and am using 1/4" line. I run the line through the base of a stantion on its way back to the cockpit, and it tends to get snagged there. When I get around to implementing the Gerr system or just tuning what I have, I'll run it back through a small block or 2 to help it run free. Perhaps you should post your question on TrailerSailers, a site affiliated with this family of sites. That is where I first saw a reference to the Gerr downhaul. By the way, Arturo, hearing of an almost 80 year old sailing a small sailboat was a small but important pick-me-up for me this morning! Great to hear you are still out there.
Rig Your Own
I put one on mine several years ago. A couple of long shackles go around the stantions with small blocks on them and a 3/16 line with a snap at the end goes to the head of the sail. To pull down the sail I pull the upwind jib sheet tight and pull the downhaul down works like a champ. Altogether cost about $20.
I put one on mine several years ago. A couple of long shackles go around the stantions with small blocks on them and a 3/16 line with a snap at the end goes to the head of the sail. To pull down the sail I pull the upwind jib sheet tight and pull the downhaul down works like a champ. Altogether cost about $20.
Looks like trouble to me...
If you unhank your jib for stowage, or change head sails, the Gerr seems to complicate matters quite a bit. I'm also afraid that all that line is going to tangle somewhere and probably at the most inopportune time. I have a simple jib down haul on my jib that consists of some light line, a block tied onto the bow pulpit near the forestay terminiation and a stantion mounted fairlead on the forward stantion. One end is tied to the jib halyard, just above the shackle, the other tied to the aft stantion, just forward of the cockpit. The line length is such that it is snug when the jib is up. To bring the jib down, I sail close hauled and tack leaving the jib to backwind and draw it down during or just after the tack. The windward sheet helps keep the sail on deck as Rick mentioned. The downhaul is tied off to keep the jib from flying back up. I loop a sail tie on the lifeline and also use that to tie the sail out of the way and keep it under control. Some people use a bunge tied across the bow and tuck the sail under that. In sailing class, I was taught to unhank the top hank of the jib from the forestay and clip it on the lifeline or some convenient spot to keep it from flying back up. Fair winds, Tom
If you unhank your jib for stowage, or change head sails, the Gerr seems to complicate matters quite a bit. I'm also afraid that all that line is going to tangle somewhere and probably at the most inopportune time. I have a simple jib down haul on my jib that consists of some light line, a block tied onto the bow pulpit near the forestay terminiation and a stantion mounted fairlead on the forward stantion. One end is tied to the jib halyard, just above the shackle, the other tied to the aft stantion, just forward of the cockpit. The line length is such that it is snug when the jib is up. To bring the jib down, I sail close hauled and tack leaving the jib to backwind and draw it down during or just after the tack. The windward sheet helps keep the sail on deck as Rick mentioned. The downhaul is tied off to keep the jib from flying back up. I loop a sail tie on the lifeline and also use that to tie the sail out of the way and keep it under control. Some people use a bunge tied across the bow and tuck the sail under that. In sailing class, I was taught to unhank the top hank of the jib from the forestay and clip it on the lifeline or some convenient spot to keep it from flying back up. Fair winds, Tom
For Rick
Rick - Did you use the 3 ring configuration as detailed in the Gerr system? if so how did you get it on the forestay half way up. Sounds like the mast has to be lowered and turnbuckles detached. And what did you use for the three rings joined together?
Rick - Did you use the 3 ring configuration as detailed in the Gerr system? if so how did you get it on the forestay half way up. Sounds like the mast has to be lowered and turnbuckles detached. And what did you use for the three rings joined together?
Never Heard of the Gerr System
Mine just pulls the head down. The jib is small enough on these that I do not think the additional rings are necessary. I'll try to take pictures and post them. I wrote a long post last night describing how it is set up but lost it somehow. It was too late to start again and my daughter was at a High School Band competition in Tate called and said come get me we're home. So I never got back to it.
Mine just pulls the head down. The jib is small enough on these that I do not think the additional rings are necessary. I'll try to take pictures and post them. I wrote a long post last night describing how it is set up but lost it somehow. It was too late to start again and my daughter was at a High School Band competition in Tate called and said come get me we're home. So I never got back to it.
For Rick
I'll so nothing 'till I get your post. I have a hunch from the other posts on this site and on others that a single line downhaul works adequately.
I'll so nothing 'till I get your post. I have a hunch from the other posts on this site and on others that a single line downhaul works adequately.
Gerr Downhaul
I remember seeing a a reference to the Gerr downhaul in "Singlehanded Sailing: The Experiences and Techniques of the Lone Voyagers" by Richard Henderson (see link below). I'll try to reproduce it from memory as best I can... The ring on the forestay is attached to the hank of the sail about midway up the luff (or somewhere between that level and the level of the clew above the deck). The ring is not attached to the forestay itself, so it's very easy to rig. I think the second ring goes on the clew of the sail (you could probably tie it on a short piece of line run through the clew cringle) and I think the third goes at the tack of the sail. The downhaul line runs from the head of the sail to the ring at the clew, then to the ring at the luff, then to the ring at the tack, then back to the cockpit. To operate, turn up into the wind, ease the jib sheet then pull the downhaul while easing the halyard. According to Henderson, drawbacks of the Gerr downhaul include risk of jamming the downhaul line in the rings, possibly tearing the jib if a sudden gust fills it with wind and you still have to go forward and secure the jib if the wind is up or if the boat is taking water over the bow. He thinks roller-furling is a better option, but of course it's more expen$ive... Peter H23 "Raven"
I remember seeing a a reference to the Gerr downhaul in "Singlehanded Sailing: The Experiences and Techniques of the Lone Voyagers" by Richard Henderson (see link below). I'll try to reproduce it from memory as best I can... The ring on the forestay is attached to the hank of the sail about midway up the luff (or somewhere between that level and the level of the clew above the deck). The ring is not attached to the forestay itself, so it's very easy to rig. I think the second ring goes on the clew of the sail (you could probably tie it on a short piece of line run through the clew cringle) and I think the third goes at the tack of the sail. The downhaul line runs from the head of the sail to the ring at the clew, then to the ring at the luff, then to the ring at the tack, then back to the cockpit. To operate, turn up into the wind, ease the jib sheet then pull the downhaul while easing the halyard. According to Henderson, drawbacks of the Gerr downhaul include risk of jamming the downhaul line in the rings, possibly tearing the jib if a sudden gust fills it with wind and you still have to go forward and secure the jib if the wind is up or if the boat is taking water over the bow. He thinks roller-furling is a better option, but of course it's more expen$ive... Peter H23 "Raven"
Correction
The downhaul goes from the head of the sail to the ring on the luff, then aft to the clew then forward and down to a block at the tack. From there the line runs back to the cockpit. Sorry about that. Peter H23 "Raven"
The downhaul goes from the head of the sail to the ring on the luff, then aft to the clew then forward and down to a block at the tack. From there the line runs back to the cockpit. Sorry about that. Peter H23 "Raven"
Ring purpose?
I'd guess the rings are there to keep the downhaul line tidy, no? Although, re readng the last reply, I guess it helps rather in the sail too? I like this idea alot. I have plenty of extra blocks, so I think I'll rig something up & see how it works. Don't have the rings, though... Clearly, this system doesn't work as well as furling, but when you're in a hurry to douse the jib, it seems quite useful to be able to do so from the cockpit, even if you have to run someone up there to bungy it off.
I'd guess the rings are there to keep the downhaul line tidy, no? Although, re readng the last reply, I guess it helps rather in the sail too? I like this idea alot. I have plenty of extra blocks, so I think I'll rig something up & see how it works. Don't have the rings, though... Clearly, this system doesn't work as well as furling, but when you're in a hurry to douse the jib, it seems quite useful to be able to do so from the cockpit, even if you have to run someone up there to bungy it off.
Gerr Downhaul Rings
My next door neigbor, a retired master chief bosun told me I couldk get Stainless rings at West Marine that can be attached to the jib stay &/or to each other. Spent some time this afternoon (sunny & 74) trying to figure the best way to run a line from the bow back to the area of the winch on the starboard side. Have any of you 23.5 owners any suggestions?
My next door neigbor, a retired master chief bosun told me I couldk get Stainless rings at West Marine that can be attached to the jib stay &/or to each other. Spent some time this afternoon (sunny & 74) trying to figure the best way to run a line from the bow back to the area of the winch on the starboard side. Have any of you 23.5 owners any suggestions?
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