I installed two pivoting exit blocks w/ cam at the base of the mast of
my P15. I fixed a couple of line hangers against the cabin wall lateral
to the companionway hatch where the halyards are coiled and out of the
way. It was simple, quick, and effective. With the aid of my trusty
jib downhaul, I can raise and lower the jib from the cockpit in
seconds. I can drop the main the same way. Since I haven't yet
installed something to stop the main luff slides (which I installed
thanks to comments on this list) from dropping out of the guide slot,
when I reef, say, raising the main involves feeding the slides into the
slot. It seems to serve the same function as a more elaborate routing
the halyards around through a series of blocks.
My Catalina 250 came set up that way. On the Catalina the part is a
Harken #141 or #140. I worried...still worry...a bit about the forces
on this block on the Catalina, but they have survived 30 kt winds and
waves for six hours, and the P15 gives me less pause being so much
smaller. On the P15 I used a Ronstan part, because it happened to be in
the West Marine Store in Portland when I was looking, and it only cost
about $25, compared to twice that for the Harken part. The Ronstan exit
block is smaller and does not appear a sturdy as the Harken 140/141. I
can't find the it right not in my West Marine Catalog, but it is similar
to the Harken part, but smaller and more plastic.
Maybe this is too lubberly an approach?
Bryan McNutt
P15 Smee