I like the safety of the cockpit

On Saturday, October 12, 2013, Chuck S wrote:

> Funny, I just did it Tuesday.  I installed a Harken camcleat to my mast
> for the main halyard so I can control it there for raising and flaking and
> reefing.
> Positioned it so a tug from the cockpit pulls the line free from the
> camcleat.   I am thinking of adding another for the spin halyard and maybe
> the jib halyard.
>
> You just need the Harken parts, the right length #10 flat head screws, the
> right sized drill bit and tap, some lanacote.  I like the pocket sized tap
> and drill sets from Harbor Freight that have 6 common sizes w bits in a
> little plastic case.
>
> Harken camcleat 150
> Harken mast adapter plate 438 or
> Harken spacer 295  (can be used instead of plate if you shape base to fit
> mast curve)
>
> It was something I wanted to do for years.  Bought the parts last March
> during the Defender Sale and just got around to it in Oct.  It has rained
> here eversince so I haven't tried it out sailing, but it worked well at the
> dock.
>
> Chuck
> Resolute
> 1990 C&C 34R
> Atlantic City, NJ
> ------------------------------
> *From: *"Dennis C." <capt...@yahoo.com>
> *To: *cnc-list@cnc-list.com
> *Sent: *Saturday, October 12, 2013 5:09:56 AM
> *Subject: *Re: Stus-List singlehanding bigger boats
>
> Antoine,
>
> I agree with much of your comment.  There is a way to have halyards run
> back to the cockpit but also operate them at the mast.  Simply install a
> camcleat and horn cleat on the mast a bit offset from the path of the
> halyard from its exit to the turning block at the base of the mast.
>
> When in "mast" mode, you can hoist or lower the sail, temporarily stop it
> with the camcleat or more permanently stop it with the horn cleat.
>
> When in "cockpit" mode the halyard will exit the mast, run to the turning
> block and back to the cockpit.  Or, one can hoist the sail, stop it with
> the camcleat, return to the cockpit and pull the slack out and stop the
> halyard with a cabintop rope clutch.  With a little configuration
> tweaking,  If done correctly, the camcleat can be position such that the
> line pops out of it when the slack is taken out.  The line is then free to
> allow the sail to be dropped from the cockpit.
>
> I've sailed on boats with this arrangement for spinnaker halyards and it
> seems to work well.
>
> Dennis C.
> Touche' 35-1 #83
> Mandeville, LA
>
>
>
>   On Friday, October 11, 2013 10:52 PM, Antoine Rose <
> antoine.r...@videotron.ca> wrote:
>
> It seems that many recommend bringing back the lines to the cockpit for
> single handling.
> Well, allow me to trow a little rock in the pound and challenge a bit that
> idea.
> I too have single handed a lot and personally, I prefer to have my lines
> at the mast. I know, it goes against common wisdom and what many (most)
> think.
>
> Well, I think it is simpler and easier this way.
> - Hoisting: when was the last time it was easy for you to hoist the main,
> without a winch? When the halyard is on the mast, you have a straight pull.
> One block at the top of the mast and that's it. Pulling the rope down is
> efficient, it goes with your weight. Bringing the line back to the cockpit
> mean adding a block at the base of the mast, another deviation block
> somewhere on the roof, then the line goes through a rope clutch and then
> around a winch. Did you ever figured out how much friction all that is? The
> result is mainsails that required to be hoisted with the help of the winch
> almost half of the way. I raise mine to the top by hand and the winch is
> used only for what it was meant for, adding proper tension.
> - My lines are neatly tidied up at the mast and I have minimal ropes in
> the cockpit, only the two genoa sheets and the main, that's it.
> - Reefing, unless you have a single line systems that works very well (go
> back to my comment on multiple friction induce by too many turns in the
> line), you have to go the mast to pull down the main and insert the eye in
> the hook and lay down properly the main on the boom before pulling and
> tensioning the reef line.
> - The fundamental idea is to make it the easiest it can possibly be, so
> that, if your brain says "it maybe a good idea to reef", you go without any
> hesitation. The easiest it is, the more frequent you'll adjust your sail to
> match the weather. On my boat, everything is done at the mast. When I want
> to reef, I ease the main sheet and then go to the base of the mast where I
> do everything without moving: the halyard loosening, pulling down the main
> to the hook, tensioning again the halyard, adjusting the downhaul, pulling
> and tensioning the reef line, replace a bit the sail and go back to the
> cockpit to readjust the sheet. Usually, when I'm in hurry in a race, I
> don't loose more than a minute for the reefing. When I drop the main (I've
> installed home made lazy jacks), I again go to the mast to let go the
> halyard and I'm right there where the action is, to lay down properly the
> main.
> - I've seen many boats where the halyards goes back to the cockpit. Yes,
> but when singlehanded, you have to go to the mast to pull down the main
> down to the hook, go back to the cockpit to tension again the halyard, go
> back to the mast to pull the reef line and then back to the cockpit again.
>  We often say it's safer to get the lines back to the cockpit, well, it is
> not safe  if you have to do two back and forth to the mast for a simple
> reefing.
>
> In the end, before choosing your religion ( to the mast or to the
> cockpit), take some time to really think it through, do some si
>
>
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