by tomodda » Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:48 pm
A lot to chew on in your question. As usual, I'll start with my own question - what are you trying to do with the downhaul? Obviously, haul down on the boom, but why?
I have a downhaul setup myself, love it, so I'm not doubting the utility of it. Just asking how you see yourself using it, why do YOU want it? I use it as part of my "bag of tricks" to flatten the sail. Also, depending on conditions, I'll get a "bubble" of backwinded mainsail along the luff, the downhaul helps kill that. Of course, too much downhaul and you get a vertical crease along teh luff, killing the flow on you mainsail. And the "luff bubble" can have other causes/solutions, like overdoing it with the jib inhauler. In other words, the downhaul is part of a package of controls. Its a "tertiary" control, nice to have but you can live without it.
The vang is a "secondary" control, in my humble opinion. You can still sail the boat without it, but Oh! what a difference it makes. It was eye -opening to me... I always thought that vanging was for downwind only. When running, vang the boom to keep it from rising. No, no.. it's an upwind control! Basically you can work it along with your sheet to control twist (if you don't have a dedicated traveler), you use it to flatten the sail, and you use it to bend the mast (since we don't have a backstay) - which also flattens the sail. IMHO, a higher purchase vang (12:1 or better) that you can easily adjust (led to the cuddy roof, for instance) is well worth it. Three tips for keeping the budget reasonable - Marine Salvage stores (N&J Marine, for instance), Racelite Hardware, and/or Ebay. Considering the forces involved, you don't need the latest ultra-low-friction blocks here, you need brute strength... a high MWL. In other words, a Delrin block with a strong central hub is fine, you don't need ball-bearings, etc. Greenlake expounded on what blocks are needed in one of his posts to me, look up any forum posts on "vangs." Anyway, something for you to think about until the New Meadows River thaws out.
So, what's up with your downhaul?
Tom