On our 1984 35-3 we attach the tack to the anchor roller via a small block. The block will self-destruct, or our .75oz chute will shred long before the roller bends.
We sheet it on an adjustable car on the external track near the winch.
We do not use an ATN tacker, but do use a chute-scoop for convenience.
I do like light floating sheets though, it avoids most of the issues with getting them tangled in the prop or rudder if a gybe goes funny.
We've been happy with this setup, and I'll often fly it when by myself.
Is that the Selden bowsprit? Got any close-up pic of the mounting brackets?
Cory, are the blocks on the outer track articulating (swiveling), or are they like the one in the magnified photo below? Do you find that they're far enough aft, even at the back of the track?
View attachment 9581
On our 35 we have simple (but strong) swiveling blocks. On our old 32 we had the style of blocks you pictured. Both worked well for our chutes.
On the 35 we have the blocks just forward of the winches. Sliding them way aft sometimes made a mess of the line if we weren't paying attention - we probably could have found a way to do it, but the sail flew fine with the blocks moved slightly forward. I try to fly our chute with the tack just above the bow pulpit, and haven't noticed any sheeting angle issues. Its possible that if we were to race we might find a "faster" way to run it though.
Its a fun and pretty easy sail to fly once you've done it a few times, and of course it makes you a much cooler person.
Here is how I am rigging my tack line block on Seascape (E32-3);
Where did you find the bail you have at the top of the anchor roller? I've been looking for one, and so far have only found ones that fit-but-are-flimsy, or ones that are strong-but-not-wide-enough
(my new Ullman 1/2-oz A2 should arrive sometime soon....)
Where did you find the bail you have at the top of the anchor roller? I've been looking for one, and so far have only found ones that fit-but-are-flimsy, or ones that are strong-but-not-wide-enough
(my new Ullman 1/2-oz A2 should arrive sometime soon....)
Can you post some more pictures of how you lead your tack line aft? Is there a block in front of or behind the anchor locker?
Ah you bought Christian's boat - good choice ;-)
I've been struggling with how to get the tack line back to the cockpit
Can you post some more pictures of how you lead your tack line aft? Is there a block in front of or behind the anchor locker?
Best choice EVER! ;-)
A suggestion? keep it simple. Ne need to add tons of fittings to your deck, and make the line go through 90-degree turns and up onto the cabin top. Simple is better.
My suggestion for routing the tack line would be to mirror what is normally done for a furling line - a standing block near one of the pulpit bases, then a series of inline blocks along the stanchion bases, ending up at a block with a cam-cleat somewhere easy to reach from the cockpit. easy to set up without drilling a ton of holes, and easy to reconfigure as you learn what works.
ready-made kits from Schaefer: http://www.fisheriessupply.com/schaefer-marine-clear-step-block-and-line-kits
block for the cockpit end: http://www.fisheriessupply.com/harken-hexaratchet-ii-plus-2 (something like the 091)
$.02
The C SPRIT is a Removable Carbon Fiber bowsprit designed for easy installation.
visit the website for more information
www.csprit.com
I don't plan to lead a tack line aft (that photo I posted is actually one of your photos)
I plan to have a length of dynema tied to the tack ring of the sail, with a snap-shackle on the boat end. I plan to clip it to a bail on the anchor roller, as in your photo, but I (so far) haven't found a bail that is the right width and seems substantial enough. Plan B is to put temporary a dynema loop across the anchor roller.
I figure I'll find a happy tack-height and leave it there. I don't need it to be adjustable - as Loren said in another thread, this is for when the wind is light and I don't want to listen to the engine. By design, I ordered a light-air runner rather than an all-purpose "cruising" kite. I looked at "cruising" kite designs from UK, North, Ullman and others, and... they weren't what I was looking for, so I went with a more "race-oriented" A2 design from Ullman, even though it'll never be raced.
It'll have an ATN sock, but I chose not to get a "tacker" - I don't want any point-loads on my furler. If I find myself reaching hard enough that a tacker will make a difference, I'll douse the kite and roll out the genoa. Whole goal is to make this easy and stress-free - both for me and for the boat.
I got some light-air sheets made up (3/16" spectra, with a 3/8" cover added on the parts that will be handled). For blocks, I ordered a couple of Schaefer series-5 blocks with swivels and beckets - block will go on a car at the aft end of the T-track on the rail, becket will be used to tie the block up to the ilfeline so it doesn't bang around.
https://www.fisheriessupply.com/schaefer-marine-stainless-5-series-blocks-505-15?uom=0&qty=2
Hoping to get the sail before Memorial day....
Best choice EVER! ;-)
A suggestion? keep it simple. Ne need to add tons of fittings to your deck, and make the line go through 90-degree turns and up onto the cabin top. Simple is better.
My suggestion for routing the tack line would be to mirror what is normally done for a furling line - a standing block near one of the pulpit bases, then a series of inline blocks along the stanchion bases, ending up at a block with a cam-cleat somewhere easy to reach from the cockpit. easy to set up without drilling a ton of holes, and easy to reconfigure as you learn what works.
ready-made kits from Schaefer: http://www.fisheriessupply.com/schaefer-marine-clear-step-block-and-line-kits
block for the cockpit end: http://www.fisheriessupply.com/harken-hexaratchet-ii-plus-2 (something like the 091)
$.02
I think it is nice to have a tackline, but I don't see the need to lead it aft. I have a block attached to my bow roller and my tack line is only 6-8 feet long and is low tech line. When you fall off the wind, it's good to let the asym "belly out" those few feet to grab the air flow around the main. I use the bow cleat to secure the tackline. You have to go to the bow to do it but you have to go forward to use the sock, too, and it's not challenging like going forward when you are headed upwind. It is pretty simple this way. Btw, with respect to the low tech tack line, so what if it stretches a bit in a puff?
Another option that avoids buying and installing additional hardware is to simply use the inside genoa tracks and primary winches for the tackline. It only works if your boat has inside tracks and spinnaker winches. And a fairlead from your bow roller block to the car on the inside track. When you're ready to sail upwind again you need to remove the tackline and re-run the genoa sheets. This is burdensome if you're doing it all the time but no big deal if you're sailing long downwind and upwind legs and only changing once or twice a day.
The C SPRIT is a Removable Carbon Fiber bowsprit designed for easy installation.
visit the website for more information
www.csprit.com