A jib downhaul clears the foredeck of sails and sailors
Issue 35 : Mar/Apr 2004
I learned long ago that having three dozen or so brightly colored lines with three dozen or so purposes not only did not impress the first mate, but also complicated what should have been a simple and relaxing sailing experience.
These days when I get that itch to add some new, nice-to-have gear, I first run it by the first mate to help determine if it will make our sailing easier, safer, or more enjoyable.
With trailer sailers, ease of setup and removal are often negatively impacted by the addition of nice-to-haves. Roller furling, for example, can complicate setup and requires additional time to secure it for highway travel.
We elected instead to install a simple headsail downhaul. We installed one of these on our first boat more than 20 years ago and, according to the current owners, it still works well.
I tied a bowline in the end of a light Dacron line and attached it to the head of the jib. From there, the line is led down through a block located at the stemhead fitting, and back to the cockpit via fairleads, where it is cleated off.
When hoisting the headsail, the downhaul is freed and fed out as the halyard is pulled. To douse the headsail, the process is reversed. Either one of these tasks can be done single-handed. If there are others aboard, a crewmember can gather the sail on deck and either stuff it under the downhaul line or bundle it with shock cords. This temporarily secures the headsail and clears the foredeck for docking or anchoring.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
