mainsail outhaul - outside of boom solutions

[nicappotamus 2]

32 footer, currently making do with a bit of a lashing as the old roller boom internals are pretty much dead.

I was thinking about just putting two of the small barton double (or triple) blocks on there and leading it to a small cleat on the end of the boom for a bit of adjustment.

Do we think that will be sturdy enough (blocks not breaking) and ok?

thanks

 

[lw395]

I would go for a cascade system.
Maybe a 2:1 between the clew and the end of the boom, then a 2:1 acting on that to give 4:1, another pulley gives 8:1, to a cleat near the front of the boom. Then it can easily be eased off wind.
There is progressively less load down the cascade, so cheaper blocks can be used.

The actual load on the outhaul isn't huge, but when the sail is sheeted in, there can be a lot of friction at the clew, so it needs to be fairly strong to adjust it.

 

[neil1967]

That is what I did on a 26' yacht, with no problems (barton twin blocks to give a bit of purchase).

 

[Poignard]

A multi-part lanyard, as used to tension guardwires on many boats, would be fine.

 

[Amulet]

I have invented many unsatisfactory ways of solving this problem. My latest solution builds a four to one purchase using these sheaveless blocks and a simple cleat. It works better than any of my previous methods. (26 foot boat)

 

[nicappotamus 2]

thanks - Amulet - noted the many unsatisfactory ways I'll get some of those sheaveless blocks and build a cascade as advised by lw

 

[Ruffles]

I have 3 internal boom outhauls. But I keep all 3 for reefing and leave the clew fixed with a lashing. If I need to flatten the sail I just put the first reef in - it's only drops the main by half a metre or so. I've never missed having an outhaul on a full main bit often tune the reef tension.

Some people will use one of the lines as an outhaul and then run out of reefing lines for the third reef. Which is reasonable if you never use the third reef. However I'll often use it if going out single handed in unknown conditions.

 

[LadyInBed]

I've just Googled 'mainsail boom outhaul' and looked at images, the 3 block system comes up most.
The system on my boat relies on brut force - the outhaul passes through a camcleat on the boom leading to a winch on the mast.

 

[Stemar]

On a smaller boat, I used the blocks from the kicker for a dinghy, which include a jammer. Works fine but, of course, you have to be able to reach the end of the boom to adjust the tension