A while back I lost my down haul tool, its the little hand (one hand) held aluminium thing with a cleat in it. I've been trying to find the same one for ages but not luck
The one I had was split at one end for the rope go though to the cleat. It was very compact and easy to tuck in the wetsuit or harness.
I've seen the Powergrip by Camcleat but thats a little chunkier, and I've tried the plastic one which broke after a few sessions.
Does anyone know where I can find a replacement. 
Surf Sail Australia? They seem to have lots of this sort of thing, and a reasonable website too.
Using Barns more technical approach or my alternative 'wrap rope around hook lots' technique, apply to below. Profit.
Thanks guys, I have actually downhauled my sails since losing the tool, using the various methods. I even have a couple of the dowhhaul bars. However none have been as small, quick and convenient to use as the one I lost. 
Thanks Formulanova, Surfsail have the Clamcleat Powergrip which is a bit bigger than the one I had. If I can't find the one I want I'll order one of those.
But you can tie a bowline in literally 3 seconds..
It's..
- smaller (nonexistent)
- more convenient (it's everywhere and nowhere)
- practically free (you need to buy the rope)
- and you can never loose it. (unless you have alzheimer's)
Plus when you need to change the downhaul again, the knot is still there, saving even more time.
I worked at a centre where we downhauled sails all day long, we had a box full of those cleats, still in their packets..
Cut about 4" off the top of a wooden broom handle
Drill two holes through it, equal spacing apart
Do this 4 times
Put one in car, one in sail bag, one in pocket and one in box of mast foot bits.
Now you can always find one.
To sweep floor bend over a bit more.
To downhaul sail thread rope up one hole, back through the other and then around and under the rope that goes between the two holes.
Downhaul, slide wooden thingy up rope, down haul again. Tie figure of 8 in rope, wrap around mast foot. Now you got the the thingy on the sail, can downhaul on the beach.
If you loose one, go look for another - you have 3 that cost all up $0.
If you don't understand send me $19.95 +p&p and I will send you one fully biodegradable downhaul hand cleat tool.
If you have a stick like object, forget drilling holes and use this knot..
) But you still need to attach the rope to something to get the purchase.
Unless you are downhauling a formula sail which requires a lot of D'H, hence most people use a winch, I do not understand why people don't use the harness bar? You always have it and you never lose it. Why would you go about buying/building all sorts of contraptions when you have a perfectly good D'H handle built into part of your sailing gear? I am yet to see any negative of using it?
Edit: Just saw above. Once your sail is Downhauled your rope will be long enough to downhaul it further by using the harness bar without taking the harness of; think leg power. It's easy and once you know the knot like in the ezzy vid (or even just wrap the rope around the hook a few times and 'clamp' it with your hand) you'll be able to do it just as fast as having to break out some random tool...that you also have to carry with you.
Nebbs if your outhaul is around the mast base, you have a different technique to most of us 
Tying a knot is surely slower than just threading rope thru two holes in the downhaul tool described by Carantoc
That is what I've always had, and for the rare occasion I want to downhaul a bit more on the beach, the harness spreader bar works just fine
I lost my "Hydropulla" and the only dowel I had was too thin so I have just put the dowel inside a bit of 1" alum pipe, filled the gap with epoxy and drilled two holes in it like Carantoc said. Voila - free, made with offcuts, surely faster than tying a bowline (OK, 1 sec vs 1.3 sec ) and bl00dy indestructable
buy an alu - boom.... in 12 months time you'll have more little down haul tools than you know what to do with - just add the Ezzy knot to each 250mm section of ex-boom material.
meh I cant tie knots at all I use the spreader bar to do the downhaul for the sail and also for undoing the outhaul when its really cold and I have been out for a while.
If this is what you are looking for:
You should be able to get it from Sunshine coast sailboards as they import them.
Yep surf sail have them
There all i use for down hauling
Race sails.
I keep it in the the mast base while sailing.
No knots easy..
Thanks formulanova and snides, that is the one I had, don't know how I missed it on the SS site!
i used to use the r1der method.
wrap the rope around your hand, grit your teeth and push the mast away with your leg whilst pulling.
due to lame hand i now use the harness bar method
I just use the CamCleats etc I find left on the beach after the forgetful ones take off.....
