Mizzen controls lead forward

[pcatterall]

I have considered how to 'contol' the main from our neptunian 33' ketch's centre cockpit.
I have given up to the idea as the complications of the solid 'wheelhouse' and other problems suggest I should just stick to working from the mast.
I am now thinking that it would be useful to at least make the mizzen controlable from the cockpit, its not a big sail but in many situations it would be useful and (being easy to use we may make more use of it than we do).
I could go the whole hog and have a little 'stack pack' made up, it would be relativly easy to lead the halyard and the sheet into the cockpit.
I will appreciate your advice on this.
On the general idea of having at least one sail ( plus the genny) that we can set from the cockpit and in having a stackpack ( or just lazyjack)
Also is it fairly easy to make up my own stackpack ( My wife and her machine can handle canvas) or better to get one made up? ( any good contacts)
As we are in the Med I guess that sun resistance is more important than weather proofing?
It would be interesting to learn who gets good use from their mizzen and the situations where it is most handy.
Thanks as always

 

[ghostlymoron]

Its a big advantage being able to raise, lower and reef from the cockpit/wheelhouse. The benefits are not so great with the mizzen but still worthwhile if you can DIY. I'm aware of the difficulties on Coral Wind and can't see a way of bringing lines to the wheelhouse without introducing a lot of friction. Perhaps you could seek advice from a rigger or look at how its done on another motorsailer eg Fisher 37.

 

[KellysEye]

Our mizzen was within a few inches of the cockpit so the two winches either side of the mast were easily accessible from the cockpit. Would it be possible to have two winches and associated cleats very close to the back of you cockpit? If you put some turning blocks on the mast then a 90 degree turn would not be needed for the halyard etc.

 

[LadyInBed]

Our mizzen was within a few inches of the cockpit so the two winches either side of the mast were easily accessible from the cockpit. Would it be possible to have two winches and associated cleats very close to the back of you cockpit? If you put some turning blocks on the mast then a 90 degree turn would not be needed for the halyard etc.

Same here, raising, lowering, reefing all done from cockpit.
My problem is the traveler, I have to go aft to alter it when tacking. The answer would be to do away with the traveler and have a double ended mizzen sheet led fwd to port and sbd of the cockpit, but it would be such a faff to do it!

 

[knuterikt]

With regards to the usefulness of sailing with only mizzen and head sail, a practical test will show you if it works.

Using some carefully placed clutches and blocks you could make it work, you might be able to reuse existing winches.

The sail cover/stack pack's main task is always UV protection.

This is an alternate use of the mizzen - fender storage

 

[TQA]

I cruised for some years on a 38 ft ketch with a center cockpit The mizzen was always the first sail up and last down. I see little benefit in leading the lines forwardas it was so close to the cockpit and I was usually at anchor when raising or lowering it. It had a traveler and those lines were lead forward and were used to trim it.