by Guest » Sun May 13, 2001 11:13 pm
Tom, what you describe IS the standard way that the DS I (and early DS II) was rigged. I have a DS II, and have the mid-boom mainsheet....it is nice that the stern area is clear of mainsheet, but I think that the "old-style" mainsheet that ran from the boom end through blocks on each corner of the stern, then back up to the boom, then forward along the boom to mid-boom and down to the block and camcleat on the cb trunk seems to work better. The newest Day Sailers (DS IV) made by Cape Cod Shipbuilding have a mainsheet that runs from the boom end, down to a block on a rope traveler across the stern, then back up to the boom, then forward to mid-boom and down to the block and camcleat on the cb trunk. This is about the best set-up without getting into an expensive metal traveler across the cockpit at the aft end of the cb trunk. The end-boom type sheeting makes it much easier to pull the sail in when sailing since the sheet is pulling from a point farther from the pivot point (gooseneck at mast). As I say, I have the mid-boom mainsheet and it is VERY hard to get the sail in real tight for a beat. A traveler across the cockpit would help, but the cost is way too much for me especially since I do not race.
Rod Johnson (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)