Plastimo 608

[mcrem]

I am looking to instal a Plastimo 608 as a DIY exercise. Before I part with my cash I would appreciate hearing that it really is as simple as implied in the Instalation guide.
Anyone had experience with this or similar DIY instals? The part about disconnecting the fore stay causes me a little concern.
Would appreciate your views.

 

[Stemar]

I've helped fit a roller reefing system and it was pretty straight forward. Can't remember the make, but they're broadly similar. Just remember that there's no such thing as a 10 minute job, and any job the instructions suggest can be done by two people in an hour will always need four people and take all day! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

As far as removing the forestay is concerned, most forestays seem not to have any adjustment, so you have to ease the backstay to take the strain off it. (Make a note of how many turns, so you can retension it the same afterwards,) If you have fore and aft lowers, or a babystay, they'll hold the mast up on their own, but for insurance, use your headsail halyard. Make it off forward to a cleat or wherever convenient and winch it up taut (Not too tight or you might pull the cleat out!) This will take more strain off the forestay, so you've got a chance of getting it off.

Now you can mess around to your heart's content. When you've done, reconnect the forestay, ease the halyard and retension the backstay. Remove the halyard from the deck cleat and fit the sail.

Problems with the genny being reluctant to wind in are very often because the halyard isn't tight enough. If it should jam, don't use brute force to wind it in or you could damage the forestay.

 

[DavidGrieves]

Hi

I fitted the 608 a couple of years ago and found it quite easy. Undoing the forestay shouldn't be much of a problem, bring a couple of halyards forward and make them off nice and tight, pick a day when there isn't much wind. I fitted the round wheel type halyard diverter, which worked well, and you don't have to go up the mast to fit it.
I got mine from here

http://seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/subcat527.htm

£329 inc vat P&P only £5

Make sure you get the lead angle right for the furling line or the line will jump of the drum, tangle into a birds nest and you can't roll the sail away.

Good luck

David

 

[lockwood]

I have just received my 608T in the post and will be fitting it along with fellow forumite on monday. If you send me your email address I will send some pics of the installation so you can see what is required.

 

[ChrisSnushall]

Hi!
I fitted my 608 3years ago, but the mast was down. However I thought at the time that the task would not have been too difficult with mast up; in fact probably simpler!
We did encounter certain problems with the fitting below the drum at the bottom as it covers the turnbuckle, making adjustment very difficult. You have to undo the bars below the drum, tighten the turnbuckle and then re-tighten the bars.
Make sure the assembly comes with all the bits it's supposed to have - mine arrived with two plastic bits missing which I thought was unforgiveable at the time, but they were hastily delivered and my temper eased!
Don't worry about releasing the forestay; just follow the advice in other posts and you'll be fine.
I fitted a diverter to the mast as it was convenient but you'll fit the wheel type. No problem.
One more point; you'll need a very good Philips screwdriver, otherwise you'll get very frustrated; the screws are really quite hard to secure flush.
Good luck,
Chris

 

[pappaecho]

I have used several diferent genoa rolling system over the years. The most frustrating was Plastimo. There is a "cotton reel" assembly to which you attach the top of the jib, with a peculiar cranked shackle. The cotton reel travels up the foil hoisted by the jib halyard.
Only problem was that the cotton reel assembly was a screwed together two part jobbie, and it would unscrew leaving the halyard at the top of the mast and the sail sagging down the foil unsupported by anything. Ultimately fixed it by using a self tapping screw into the plastic to stop the twp arts undoing.
Be worth checking that they have fixed the fault, before buying.

 

[Lakesailor]

Plastimos own bobbin fits over the forestay above the top bearing, so it doesn't fall off, but needs fitting before raising the assembly.

 

[primitiveman]

I fitted one of these to my last boat 4 years ago, with the mast still up, and it was a real struggle.
The year after I helped a friend fit one to his; no probs at all, because it was done with the mast down. That way is definitely as easy as they say in the instructions. The other way isn't!
Once I eventually got it to work it turned out to be a pretty good bit of kit. While you're at it, fit a bracket for the halyard to go through so it works at the correct angle on the swivelly thing at the top. It will never work reliably until you do.

 

[Lakesailor]

Yes, Although I have a bobbin I do find that the halyard wraps around the foil when I least need it. Usually when it's blowy and I need to put the sails away to pick up my mooring. I can only really sail onto the mooring in a southerly now.

 

[mcrem]

Many thanks for all the replies. There seems to be a clear vote of confidence in the product.