by tmittner » Tue Mar 01, 2016 12:06 pm
KC, The previous owner bought it for his grand children from someone unknown. It sat in a shed for the last 10 years. He had no idea, just knew there were two jibs in the bag. You are right, it will be a lot of experimenting, and yes I have already purchased downhaul line for the jib. Some have suggested a block at the stemhead is not necessary, just run the line up the first hank and clip it to the top hank. Will try that first as very inexpensive. I plan to do my experimenting on light air days and it will be interesting to see how easy it is to go on the foredeck to change out the head sail. I wonder if anyone has had success with heaving to with the main by dropping the jib, cleating the main to center and fastening the tiller to lee or just leaving it loose. I read that it will work on some other boats but not sure about a DS. It seems the weather helm would round up the boat luffing the main, the boat would fall off, and the process repeat, allowing me to forward and change out the head sail.
By the way, in the end, I decided to rig my boom like yours, 2:1 18 inches from the end then up to mid boom. No fouling on the motor or swim ladder, mechanical advantage seems the approximately equal to 4:1 mid boom, better close hauled performance, and the bridle can be unclipped to get it out of the way for grand children swimming. Best of all worlds! Thank you KC.
Tom
DSII #8483 Old Fox