| Author | Message | ||
     Mark Young Optimist Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
We've been using the turning blocks on Optimist, and Like Greg have found that leading the lazy sheet around the winch as it goes out eliminates the Jam on the turning blocks. I'm curious about the use of these blocks with the Spin Sheets. We use a snatch block on the rail, and lead from that to the trimmer's hands, or to the secondaries when the wind's up. How do you guys use the turning blocks for the spin sheets? We are rebuilding the deck beneath the turning blocks---- much wet, rotted balsa. | ||
| Steve von Christierson Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I've had the turning blocks removed for many years. I do get an occasional override, so I plan to try the shock cord solution. Meanwhile the Main trimmer and helmsman (often the same) are glad to be rid of that hinderance. | ||
| Tom Seghi (Tseghi) Rating: N/A |
Doug, I totally agree with your setup for jib trimming. I have Harken adjustable blocks and simply put the Harken track on top of the stock track which made it relatively simpe to install. I also removed the jib block aft of the primary winches not only to relieve overrides, but to also eliminate the weight as well as give clean room for hiking and main trimmer. I also installed larger, light weight self tailer winches and have no trouble with tacking and loading. Wish us luck in the upcoming SORC regatta here in Miami. Tom Seghi "Happy Apple" | ||
| Russ Fender (Admin) Rating: N/A |
This Message was provided by Doug Conrod A slight change in height can have a large effect. We replaced the schaeffer jib track fair lead system with an adjustable harken block and tackle system. This amounted to the fair lead height increasing. We put pads under the winches ( one inch and a half, next time I would have gone two.) to gain the right height to prohibit over-rides when grinding in the jib. The turning block aft of the main winch we completely avoid accept for when flying a chute. The aft turning block causes more problems than it helps. Our crew feels it is much quicker tacking going straight from jib fairlead to winch and avoiding the aft turning block completely. Doug Conrod VerticalCrossings.com, Inc. 122 East 42nd St. Suite 2707 New York, NY 10168 646-227-9204 | ||
| Kevin Leary Rating: N/A |
On the thickness of the spacer pads I'm reading different thickness's from 1" to 2"s. How critical is this and do the spacer pads have to be angled?I would like to only do this once and would like some feed back.Thanks Kevin Leary Falmouth,ME | ||
| Philip Walters Rating: N/A |
I have experienced jamming at the turning blocks aft of the winches during a tack on the released side. Typically the jib sheet developes a kink from the wraps coming off the leeward winch. My sailmaker recommended going direct to the jib cars and using schockcord 8 inches in front of the winches to hold the jib sheet down and prevent overrides. Anybody tryed this ?? | ||
| dkato91 Rating: N/A |
Forget the turning blocks, I took mine off about four years ago; the maisheet trimmer was really happy,(but no longer excited). The shock cord in front of the winch is the only way to go if you don't want over wraps. Put a small eye on the deck ,use cord with a hook on either end, one connecting to the eye the other to the toe rail.Have 2 extra made up ,they wear out quickly. | ||
| Scott Corder (Commodore) Rating: N/A |
I agree with Don, the turning blocks are pretty useless for the jib sheets. We, however, did not remove them because we still opt to use them at times for the spinnaker sheets. We've found that they help keep the spin sheets toward the rear of the cockpit (out of the way of the jib sheets) where we can also use the stoppers to keep them sort of taut while heading to windward, preventing the spin sheets from falling overboard and trailing behind the boat. The stoppers also come in handy in heavy air conditions downwind as a way to "lock-off" the spin sheets during a gybe "hand-off" from one trimmer to another. The stoppers also are helpful when attempting to re-route spin sheets to a cabin top winch or when attempting to "cross sheet". | ||
| Joe Rating: N/A |
Thank you for a great topic. I found that this is the single biggest pain in the ___ on my 9.1. The jib sheets are constantly hung up on these blocks when tacking. Also, they had double tiered blocks on my boat. I took off the top layer a few years ago. All they did was tear my shorts. I have considered removing them altogether, but thought that the sheeting angle might be bad. Never thought about the overrride possibility. Hate to drill another hole in the deck for the shock cord. Any pictures on how it looks? | ||
| Glen Rating: N/A |
I've got the original double tiered turning blocks on mine too. Rebuilding them made these work much better, but sheet kinks and the geometry on these suck. (Radical turns at the turning blocks is a no-no!) The shock cord sounds like a great idea. We don't use the turning blocks with the #1, but I've considered using a second set of jib lead blocks on the track to get a fair lead to the winch for the #2 and #3. They wouldn't have to be heavy duty since the load will be on the genoa lead blocks. A Schaefer 17-87 Spin pole slider at about the end of the cabin would do the trick. I can hear the crew that stub their toes on this cursing already. Anyone tried this? Thanks for any advice. | ||
| Gary Hendrickson Rating: N/A |
I also haven't used the aft foot blocks to turn jib sheets for reasons already cited. Another possible solution to over-rides on the primary winches is to raise them up an inch or two on spacer pads. (George Darrell (Paradox) recommended this approach to me last year, saying it solved his problems.) I got mine from West Marine and then had them shaved to a diameter just a tad greater than the diameter of the bottom of the winch barrel. No shock cord needed, at least not yet, on my boat. | ||
| Greg Grassle Rating: N/A |
Like Glen, we continue to use them especially for the #2 & #3. The sheeting angles concern me especially on the port side plus the override problems. We've trained the trimmers to upon releasing, lead the released sheet from the turning block - outboard and forward around the winch after it's cast off. Once it's around the forward side of the winch it's just dropped & forgotten. We've found that for some reason - (Geometry?)as long as it leads around that winch, the sheet hardly ever kinks or jams. But if the trimmer forgets.....Jam City! | ||
| Ron Spainhour (Paganbaby) Rating: N/A |
I raised my winches with the spacer pads mentioned by Gary. Works great. I use the turning blocks to control my twing lines for the spinnaker sheets. |
