I modified my boom to have an adjustable outhaul without adding an end cap. I
store my boom in the cabin and it barely squeaks in at it's existing length,
I think adding an end cap would make it too long.
My outhaul works a lot like the reefing. There is an eyestrap on the
starboard side of the boom at the very end and a cheek block on port. I
mounted a Ronstan RF5101 V- cleat w/ integral fairlead on the port side of
the boom where it's easy to reach from the cockpit. Routing the line from the
eyestrap, though the clew of the mainsail, through the cheek block results in
a 2:1 purchase. This gives enough mechanical advantage but it's a little hard
to make subtle adjustments so later I "cascaded" another 2:1 by terminating
the original line partway up the boom with a micro-block and using a feature
of the Ronstan cleat which I think is unique to that part. There is a
"half-round" opening in the base of the cleat which allows one to terminate a
piece of line under the cleat - that piece of line goes out to the micro
block and back to the cleat. A line stopper secured at the full forward
position (of the clew) completes the setup. When heading down wind, simply
release the outhaul and the sail moves to it's fullest position.
By the way, I also have fitted a loop of line through the clew that goes
around the boom. That's there to keep the sail from rising away from the boom
as outhaul tension is eased.
Feel free to contact me if you have any question or if you'd like me to mail
you a sketch.
Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA
In a message dated 12/15/99 2:25:15 PM Pacific Standard Time,
bhood@sunset.net writes:
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Hi fellow Potter Sailors..
> I'm pondering the best way to set up an adjustable outhaul,
> so I can flatten the mainsail, or set it fuller while on the water..
> I notice that Dwyer aluminum makes a boom end-cap with an
> eye for attaching the clew of the main, or a small block and
> an eye for attaching the mainsheet blocks.. this would be
> pretty simple.. just run a line from the clew around a small block
> then take the line forward to a small fairlead clamcleat attached
> to the top of the boom near the boom's inboard end.. then one
> could just reach up and adjust it. While thinking about this it
> also occured to me that you could just endcap the boom and
> run a line internally forward within the boom, then exit the
> boom on the underside.. However since the boom is fairly
> slender I'm leary of making any holes in it that might cause
> a weak spot... I need to end cap the boom to make it a little
> longer than the location of the present end staple riveted to the
> boom, in order to have enough length to stretch the foot a little
> further aft... Has anyone else made an adjustable outhaul and
> have any suggestions.. I thing Don Bergst made a beautiful hardwood
> endcap with a hole in the center and a notch for the outhaul line that
> the he routed the line forward along the boom with.. but I can't
> remember if he routed the line inside the boom or not.. Any
> further ideas, or descriptions of a working system are welcome..
> best wishes,
> Bruce
> Bruce Hood, P-15 "Aillte" sail no. 1246
> Chico,California
>
>