Outhaul on loose foot main

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I have recently purchased a loose foot mainsail. Have never used one before. I am happy with the principles of easing the outhaul in light airs and pulling it tight in stronger winds when sailing into the wind.

My question, is how? Last weekend we had light airs on Saturday so I released the outhaul with the intention of dropping it back slowly while watching the draft on the sail. Bloody thing jumped down the boom about 10" before I could catch it. The weight is enormous. The only way we found to pull it back was for me to grab the foot of the sail and SWMBO pulling on the outhaul.

Turning into the wind, even letting the main luff up did not really help, the pull is too much on the outhaul, I am sure.

What am I doing wrong, is it usual that this is such a difficult job?

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[MainlySteam]

The ones I am familiar with, albeit on larger sails, have the outhaul taken back inside the boom to the reefing winch located directly under the boom or back at the cockpit. With loose foot you do not have the friction of the slides working for you as a brake when adjusting the outhaul so the forces are increased. The same applies to a lesser extent with our own mainsail which although not loose footed the clew is carried on a car at the clew end of the boom (ie not by a track slide or strap around the boom) and I would never be able to pull the foot of that properly tight when flattening without a winch (40 foot boat).

I suspect that you may have to resort to an outhaul purchase on the side of your boom or I have heard, but not seen, of the purchase being from the gooseneck to the deck with the outhaul bitter end taken to a cockpit cleat. The purchase will only work on smaller sails and you may need to experiement with a temporary arrangement first in order to check.

John

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[Sunnyseeker]

Dp you have a strap around the boom to hold the clew to the boom, when this is wide webbing (usually on carbon booms) it gives an extra bit of friction. But you do need a winch, if the sail has a flatener you can take some load on that line at the same time.

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[boatmike]

Hi Jules!
If you look at most in mast furling systems (basically the same thing) the clew has a pulley to enable a 2 or three to 1 reduction block and tackle to be fitted. You could probably do the same if your boom is long enough by fitting one to the clew and another to the boom end reeving the line from the boom end around the clew pulley and then back to the mast via the pulley on the end of the boom. A simple cleat on the mast end of the boom might be all thats necessary with your size if sail. If not you need to lead back to a winch. Mind you don't let the sail flog and get the pulley in your ear though....It smarts!

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[Talbot]

I have a little winch for this specific reason. It allows controlled release of the foot to the position required.

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[kds]

I use a purchase between boom end and clew of mainsail.
The tension on the kicking strap also makes a big difference.
Ken

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[snowleopard]

there is a hell of a pull on an outhaul. really, it's just like a genoa- you wouldn't expect to be able to haul that in by hand by luffing up a bit, would you?

even with a prout minsail you'll need a fair sized winch. size 8 is the absolute minimum but i'd go for more like a 24. i use a 40 on mine with a double purchase on the clew.

 

[jamesa]

4:1 purchase in the boom should be adequate (use decent roller bearing blocks e.g. Harken). I have a wire line going from the clew & into the boom at the end between the reefing lines, where its joined to a 4:1 purchase. The tail is led out between the reefing lines at the gooseneck, back along the boom a bit, through an eyelet to stop it flopping around, then into a camcleat. After the camcleat it goes through another little block - this stops it falling out of the camcleat and also means you can simply haul on the tail of the rope from any angle to pull the outhaul on. Works a treat (34ft mono).

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Thank you all for the advice. The prominent message is that there is a helluva pull on the outhaul and it is not something I am doing wrong. I have a winch on the mast by the goosneck so I will try to utilise this.

My boom is right over the cockpit (central mast). I had visions of putting another cleat onto the boom around 2ft back from the end to control the outhaul. But now wonder if the line should be much longer than first envisaged.

I wonder if a cam cleat on the boom would work, i.e. using the the winch to pull the outhaul which is fed through a camcleat on its way to the block. I have used cam cleats on my lazy jacks which have worked really well. I could also use a normal cleat ahead of the cam cleat to lock the line / tidy it.

Does anyone see this is a) dangerous b) unworkable.

I am thinking from a shorthanded / no dedicated winch perspective.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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