mainsheet system - westerly storm

[Rappey]

I have this on a 12 ton boat. It's original 4:1 was a struggle as the wind gets up.
Now I have 4 or 8:1. Can't find any use for the ratchets .

 

[john_morris_uk]

That’s reminiscent of the main sheet I used on Storm No 1 many years ago.

 

[Chae_73]

5:1 would be lower block triple with cleat, upper block double plus becket.

of course; thank you.

 

[Chae_73]

I've found somewhere which has the Lewmar blocks needed for a single ended 6:1.

If I take the length of the boom as two sides of a right angles triangle, work out the length of the 3rd side, x 6 and add a few metres, will this be roughly the length of sheet I need?

Or really I should to set it up and measure?

 

[TernVI]

I've found somewhere which has the Lewmar blocks needed for a single ended 6:1.

If I take the length of the boom as two sides of a right angles triangle, work out the length of the 3rd side, x 6 and add a few metres, will this be roughly the length of sheet I need?

Or really I should to set it up and measure?

If the boom doesn't go out to 90deg, you might be buying quite a few metres more rope than needed?
Would you let the traveller off to save a few metres?
It's not just the cost of extra, but the tangle potential and cockpit clutter.

 

[Chae_73]

If the boom doesn't go out to 90deg, you might be buying quite a few metres more rope than needed?
Would you let the traveller off to save a few metres?
It's not just the cost of extra, but the tangle potential and cockpit clutter.

Yes, that's a good point. Only getting to the boat every other week at the moment so there is a bit of a trade off between paying for surplus line which I may want to trim off, and waiting another fortnight to complete the job.

 

[Daydream believer]

Yes, that's a good point. Only getting to the boat every other week at the moment so there is a bit of a trade off between paying for surplus line which I may want to trim off, and waiting another fortnight to complete the job.

But if you are only going to it once a fortnight then there is no rush to get it - is there

 

[Chae_73]

But if you are only going to it once a fortnight then there is no rush to get it - is there

I'm not quite sure what your point is.

Mine was that if I wait to measure things, and then get the line, another two weeks would elapse before I could use the system. Whereas if I just buy a slightly too long line, I can use it at the next visit.

 

[penfold]

Sigma 33s were originally supplied with the same double ended mainsheet as the Storm, but most have been replaced with single-ended 4:1 with a fine trim; unless you're racing you could readily do without the fine trim and just have a 4:1 system, much cheaper and less string to get wrapped around everything(with the position of the mainsheet track on a Storm tangle avoidance is quite important).

 

[mogmog2]

You currently have an Easy Marine EasyMatic block system. This is what I have on my Fulmar. I chipped one of the block cheaks and replaced both blocks as I like the coarse and fine control the double cam cleats. They are available through Seamark Nunn. This link shows the lower block and there is a link to the upper block on the page. Total cost is £259.57, not cheap but they do work well.
Easy Marine Easymatic 1 Lower Double Violin Block 6:1 / 3:1 with Double Easy Servo Cleat 93102

Hello. You've linked to the Easymatic 1, the blurb for which states Approx Max Boat Size: 32' As the Fulmar is at the top end of that, I take it it's still easily manageable and not worth going up to the size 2? Thanks.

 

[Concerto]

Hello. You've linked to the Easymatic 1, the blurb for which states Approx Max Boat Size: 32' As the Fulmar is at the top end of that, I take it it's still easily manageable and not worth going up to the size 2? Thanks.

The mainsail on my Fulmar is large as she is a 3/4 rig with 253 sq ft area. I have no problem handling that sail area. The 3:1 ratio is great for gybes, but the 6:1 is powerful enough (I am known to carry full sail for longer than most sailors!). The only mistake I made is to have a single sheet, not a jointed loop, and have to centre the sheet as I have managed to pull it tight on one side. Not a major problem if you fine adjust on the windward jamber.

 

[dgadee]

I have the Concerto system on my Seawolf and it works well. On the project Fulmar (same rig size) I will use it too. But am moving the traveller to front of cockpit. Not keen on the mainsheet strangling the crew.

 

[Concerto]

I have the Concerto system on my Seawolf and it works well. On the project Fulmar (same rig size) I will use it too. But am moving the traveller to front of cockpit. Not keen on the mainsheet strangling the crew.

Moving the mainsheet forward, check it does not foul the sprayhood when the sheet is eased. In the past a previous owner moved the mainsheet to just in front of the helmsman and divided the cockpit. Another owner then moved it aft again and that is where it has remained. Another consideration against the forward position is it will make sitting with your feet up on cockpit seat will become very uncomfortable. I find my compasses bad enough in my back, rather than a pain in the butt.

Also moving the genoa winches from the end of the coach roof to the cockpit coaming is definitely worth doing.

 

[dgadee]

Moving the mainsheet forward, check it does not foul the sprayhood when the sheet is eased. In the past a previous owner moved the mainsheet to just in front of the helmsman and divided the cockpit. Another owner then moved it aft again and that is where it has remained. Another consideration against the forward position is it will make sitting with your feet up on cockpit seat will become very uncomfortable. I find my compasses bad enough in my back, rather than a pain in the butt.

Also moving the genoa winches from the end of the coach roof to the cockpit coaming is definitely worth doing.

On the Seawolf there is some fouling of the sprayhood but it's not too much of a problem. The main issue for the Fulmar - as you raise - is sitting with your back to the bulkhead. There is no way that the track can be lowered beneath the seat level so it will always be there. There will also be compasses. The only solution is cushions. And I am getting on, anyway.

Yes, genoa winches are going on the coaming. Best place for them.

 

[mrming]

On the Seawolf there is some fouling of the sprayhood but it's not too much of a problem. The main issue for the Fulmar - as you raise - is sitting with your back to the bulkhead. There is no way that the track can be lowered beneath the seat level so it will always be there. There will also be compasses. The only solution is cushions. And I am getting on, anyway.

Yes, genoa winches are going on the coaming. Best place for them.

My Fulmar has the mainsheet traveller across the bridgedeck, done by a previous owner. It works fine, and the boom doesn’t foul the sprayhood in my case (that could depend on the cut of your main).

 

[dgadee]

My Fulmar has the mainsheet traveller across the bridgedeck, done by a previous owner. It works fine, and the boom doesn’t foul the sprayhood in my case (that could depend on the cut of your main).

Is it a short track? I bought a long one to go across the width of the cockpit. Just wondering how best to take up the slope of the seats. Probably an epoxy mix rather than wooden wedges.

 

[mrming]

It crosses in front of the bulkhead, so it’s the width of the cockpit seats, and yes there are some thin hardwood wedges to level it.

 

[dgadee]

It crosses in front of the bulkhead, so it’s the width of the cockpit seats, and yes there are some thin hardwood wedges to level it.

Have you got an image so that I can see if it's what I am planning?

 

[mrming]

Have you got an image so that I can see if it's what I am planning?

I can take a pic when I’m at the boat tomorrow morning.

 

[mogmog2]

The mainsail on my Fulmar is large as she is a 3/4 rig with 253 sq ft area. I have no problem handling that sail area. The 3:1 ratio is great for gybes, but the 6:1 is powerful enough (I am known to carry full sail for longer than most sailors!). The only mistake I made is to have a single sheet, not a jointed loop, and have to centre the sheet as I have managed to pull it tight on one side. Not a major problem if you fine adjust on the windward jamber.

Thank you. I used one when I crewed on a Seawolf 26 and always thought it was rather good. Now looking to set up our Fulmar how we want it instead of "it'll do"!