Even Chance
Well-Known Member
Ive just got a new main for my E-Boat, and as its stiffer Ive been overcoming a few teething problems using it.
Hoisting a bolt-rope main singlehanded can be a proper pain in the erse, but Ive managed until now. This new main is stiff as a board, which is great, but even more of a pain to hoist.
My gennys all hoist into a foil using boltrope too, and it has a nice brass lead-in to the foil so the sail can be pulled up from the cockpit easily without feeding it in, so I set about designing something similar for my main. As I looked for pics for inspiration, it turns out they are available for sale, but at around £50 I said no way. (Tight Scot alert!) lol
See here:-
http://www.apsltd.com/c-1061-headsailandmainsailprefeeders.aspx
My one looks similar to the Spinlock version, but made from aluminium with Acetal plastic balls that are more full-rounded.
With a full machine shop at my disposal, I copied one that used two rotating balls to pre-feed the boltrope, and installed it last night. Whoa ya fecker, what a difference!:encouragement:
Wish I'd done this years ago, would have saved me so much grief. The sail now pulls up freely and nicely from the cockpit.
Recommend a pre-feeder to anyone out there struggling with a bolt-rope luffed mainsail.
Hoisting a bolt-rope main singlehanded can be a proper pain in the erse, but Ive managed until now. This new main is stiff as a board, which is great, but even more of a pain to hoist.
My gennys all hoist into a foil using boltrope too, and it has a nice brass lead-in to the foil so the sail can be pulled up from the cockpit easily without feeding it in, so I set about designing something similar for my main. As I looked for pics for inspiration, it turns out they are available for sale, but at around £50 I said no way. (Tight Scot alert!) lol
See here:-
http://www.apsltd.com/c-1061-headsailandmainsailprefeeders.aspx
My one looks similar to the Spinlock version, but made from aluminium with Acetal plastic balls that are more full-rounded.
With a full machine shop at my disposal, I copied one that used two rotating balls to pre-feed the boltrope, and installed it last night. Whoa ya fecker, what a difference!:encouragement:
Wish I'd done this years ago, would have saved me so much grief. The sail now pulls up freely and nicely from the cockpit.
Recommend a pre-feeder to anyone out there struggling with a bolt-rope luffed mainsail.