Question
Mast Extension pulley
Hi- Thank you for your help earlier on the mast track and sail size question. I have used the F2 strato twice and its is great to see this is like a bicycle, where you don't forget it.
One part I am having difficulty with is rigging the original F2 strato downhaul. I am using the original mast extension with sails that just have a grommet at the foot of the sail.
I've attached a picture that shows the built in pulleys (semi block) and cleat. I'm wondering if you have any suggestions or can point me somewhere that explains how the lines should be rigged. I manage to get it tied, but I'm not using the pulleys to gain mechanical advanatage. As a result the sail doesn't look quite right.
Thanks again and look forward to hearing from you as I drive to go sailing.
Luis
AnswerHey Luis,
I don't know of any site that will describe the routing of your lines so I'll do my best to help give you some direction.
With just a grommet on the sail, it is sometimes difficult to use all the pulleys. This is because when you loop through the grommet more than twice, the lines will start binding on each other and tend to cancel the affect of the pulleys. The pulleys mainly allow the pulling on the downhaul to be easier and don't really have much to do with the shaping of the sail. The shaping of the sail comes from the amount of downhaul and the amount of outhaul. Also, a sail may not look quite right on the beach but will be correct once it is filled with air.
To start, have the sail laying down with the mast to your right and the outhaul to the left. Run the downhaul rope through the grommet from underneath the sail and down between the pulleys. It should go behind the first pulley and then back up through the grommet. Be sure to run the rope through the grommet in the same direction that you did the first time. Looking at the grommet, the second loop should be closer to the mast than the first loop. Now bring the rope down behind the upper pulley and into the cleat. As you pull on the downhaul line, be sure to watch the loops on the grommet and don't let them cross over each other. The key to rigging any lines on your sail is to keep them from crossing each other or binding on each other. They need to flow smoothly to make rigging easier.
Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover
