Spin pole downhaul block placement

cmj · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002

Hi all,

A co-owner on our 27ft racer wants to move the spin pole downhaul block back to the base of the mast from its usual position halfway between the mast and forestay, as we''ve recently broken the pole''s wire bridles due to cranking the pole back without releasing the downhaul (oops).

Moving the block back to the base of the mast seems dangerous to me as it''ll be under the bowman''s feet during jibes, and the downward tension on the bridles won''t be balanced. I''ve also never seen this on other boats.

Can anyone advise as to whether this is safe / a good idea?

FastrSailr · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2002

the best place for the downhaul (i call it foreguy) block to be is found by doing the following"

Raise the pole, and put it right on the headstay. The block should go right beneath the ring on the bridle for the foreguy, so you''re pulling straight down.

glenncpa · #3 (**permalink**) 11-18-2002

The pole downhaul should be midway from the base of the mast to the tack. I would rather replace a broken bridle than a spin pole.

Kirk Glenn
Sabre 38 Mk II

paulk · #4 (**permalink**) 11-19-2002

I have to think that you''re not doing dip-pole gybes on a 27'' boat. Besides providing an opportunity to garrot the mastman while gybing, moving the downhaul to the base of the mast makes it so there''s no way to pull the sail forward in light (or no) air. You''d have to stand up at the mast and push it. This creates crew/weight movement in just the conditions when you''d like as little shifting as possible. Easing the sheet and tightening the downhaul can probably be done without anyone having to change position much.