Controling the sheet near Windvane Selfsteering Gear

  • 20 Jan 2013 05:24
    Reply # 1183970 on 1183902
    David Thatcher wrote:Did not Confucius say 'if mainsheet can catch on something mainsheet will', or maybe it has something to do with Murphy's Law.
    That is indeed my understanding :-)
  • 20 Jan 2013 02:34
    Reply # 1183902 on 1178975
    Deleted user
    Did not Confucius say 'if mainsheet can catch on something mainsheet will', or maybe it has something to do with Murphy's Law. Any way those have been my thoughts over the last 2 days of single handing Footprints back from the Bay of Islands. One of the little blocks on a sheetlet even managed to catch on a new perfectly closed ring that we use on clevis pins and managed to open it a and generally destroy it. Thankfully my new heavy alloy Bimini frame now keeps the mainsheet generally away from the crews heads and neck.
  • 17 Jan 2013 06:46
    Reply # 1181804 on 1178975
    Johnathan & Tony, Thanks for the advice and the photo references, I'll keep them in mind as I go forward and start sailing. It may be that I will not need to do anything and as I have enough on my plate, I'll put that concern aside for the moment.

    Rob, I have not forgotten about double sheets. However, I'm going to try single sheets first. I am near 100% certain that I will have to use double sheets on the Foresail but I'm hoping to get away with single sheets for the main. It will just reduce the amount of line that needs to be handled.


    Brian, I used the Hunter type arch for Aphrodite but in LC's case I cannot use it as the sheet will go chock a block before a panel is fully reefed but thanks for taking the trouble and mentioning it.

    I know Annie has had issues with her sheet and the windvane but do not know if she has attempted to do anything about it. Maybe she'll let us know one day :-)
  • 16 Jan 2013 20:34
    Reply # 1181495 on 1178975
    For a while I've been admiring the Hunter Arch which would keep the sheets above your head and maybe away from the windvane. It could rake aft rather than forward. I've seen stainless and grp moulded ones. Good solution on Hunters, apparently - been around for years. Kind of a style thing, though.
    Last modified: 16 Jan 2013 20:41 | Anonymous member
  • 16 Jan 2013 18:23
    Reply # 1181380 on 1178975
    Hi Paul, There is always double sheeting. Since we changed we have not had any foulups. The cockpit can be set up with any sun awning/ raincatcher you like without worrying about the sheets. Another advantage of double sheeting is that you can preset the leeward sheet before you go about. Hauling in both sets of sheets as you lower the sail keeps it all under control. Can't wait to see LC in the water. Rob 
  • 14 Jan 2013 16:50
    Reply # 1179471 on 1178975
    Deleted user

    Paul, check out my album  `RON GLAS enters the Med.` never had a problem with the BIG windvane, tho the wind generator causes me anxiety! I have rigged a line across the vpushpit to hold the mainsheet foreward, so far so good but as you know  IF IT CAN HAPPEN IT WILL!!  Tony

  • 14 Jan 2013 16:15
    Reply # 1179431 on 1178975

    Please look at a photo of Lexia and her Hydrovane.  Off the self Sunbird 32 with standard Hydrovane on the stern.  I have never had the main sheet interfere with the vane in some thousands of miles.  jds

    Postscript. 

    Whilst walking the dogs round the hill through the snow in the gloaming, always good for gathering one's thoughts, I remembered the following.  When I bought the boat it had a quite tall structure across the stern which had been used for aerials etc.  When I added the Hydrovane I found that the vane hit the top aft rail of that structure.  I therefore cut down the structure to somewhat above the height of the swivel of the vane and cut out the resultant top aft rail.  I then had two holes in the tops of the remaining forward uprights.  I had a length of cheap flexible plastic water pipe which I cut to length and rammed into the holes to make an arch which leans backwards.  It looks like the sort of arch that people have across the cockpit to keep the sweeping main sheet above the heads of the crew, however this is aft on the stern.  The tip of the moving vane just clears t his arch.  The arch is aft of the main sheet.  It may be that somewhat by accident I have arrived at an arrangement which minimises the interference.  (Sorry, but the photo on the left was taken before this arch was added!  But I hope that you can get the general idea.  And I think that you may be able to see it in photos from the last Plymouth rally.)

    Last modified: 14 Jan 2013 17:27 | Anonymous member
  • 14 Jan 2013 00:27
    Message # 1178975
    LC's re-launch date is not far off now and I've started to think about many sailing related things (not that I did not before, it's just getting serious now).

    I know that sheets and selfsteering gears have a great passion for one another, it's normally love at first sight. I'm looking for ideas to tame and control these passions. Could the members please write concerning what they have done to help control the situation on their own boats. Somehow the mainsheet (in LC's case) has to be tamed. I have ideas but I'd love to know what others are doing before I rush off and reinvent the wheel.

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