I have a Kona One board and mainly use an 7.5 Ezzy Zephyr and 8.5 Simmer 2XC with it at present.
The Sunshine freeride boom I have isn't wide enough for the draft of these sails so I am currently looking for a new boom.
The boom I have in mind would have to be wider inside, around 50 to 55 cm, and I think I would benefit from adjustable outhaul.
In researching the adjustable outhaul, I have come across statements like this, "if you adjust the outhaul, you also need to adjust the downhaul, they work together".
I understand, this makes sense to me. However I see a lot of sailors using adjustable outhaul with out adjustable downhaul.
For me, not being a racer I consider adjustable downhaul a bit too much mucking around where as adjustable out haul on it's own is relatively simple.
Is there worthwhile benefit to be had with just adjustable outhaul? I'm guessing there is or I wouldn't see so many sailors using it?
For example, last time I was out with the Zephyr the wind dropped off so I jumped in out in the lake, let the outhaul off about 20mm which gave me a little more power, but no long after the wind picked up again and I was overpowered. I wished I had adjustable outhaul so I could adjust it back up. I couldn,t be bother jumping in again so I sailed overpowered for another lap before going in, having had enough.
I suppose that adjustable outhaul allows you to deal with small variations in wind strength, as well as releasing outhaul when pointing up wind and the opposite for broad reaching perhaps. And adjustable downhaul would allow you to deal with large variations in wind strength as well as being able to milk the absolute last bit of power out of a sail for serious racers.
Interested in any comments / feedback.
Especially interested to hear from sailors using adjustable outhaul and how good / not good it is.
Thanks,
Ken
Hi Kenny,
It depends on what exactly you get up to when you're out windsurfing, if you like racing your mates/actual racing or spending all day burning down the speed strip then a having an adjustable out haul set up is very beneficial. If you just like blasting around, you can do without it.
IMO the downhaul/out haul are two separate sail adjustment tools. The downhaul I don't really change it's setting that much at all. I always set it to pretty much the same spot each time to keep the centre of effort of the sail in the correct position.
The out haul I change all the time, if I'm feeling underpowered I let some go on the fly which let's some belly into the sail, if I start feeling a little overpowered, or I'm pushing upwind to make it to a mark then I yank some on to flatten the sails profile.
It's useful to be able to do it in the middle of a race, more convenient after a speed run when you suddenly need to climb back upwind, then belly the sail back out for the next speed run.
If you're just blasting around, it's just more objects on the boom to get in the way of your hands. And you can always jump off and reset it on the beach.
I am no expert on the matter, but I purchased an adjustable outhaul kit a little while ago.
For the open ocean longboard sailing I do, at a variety of angles of attack and wind conditions, it has made a huge difference.
A sail that is set well to broad reach is crap at pushing hard up wind.
Alternatively, a shallow set sail which is good for upwind really lacks power on the very broad reaches.
I find the scope of performance that the adjustable outhaul gives in huge.
I tend to agree that adjustable downhaul would be a bit of an overcomplication in most conditions, and an adjustable outhaul is generally adequate.
Clarence
the only adjustable downhaul that is commercially available - to my knowledge - is the North XT mast base
but even that one you need to stop , perhaps jump in the water, etc (i don't have one - too $$$)
so, like the others here, i make a judgement call at rigging and set it to what looks like it will work - do not use much variation here
it does not need a lot
Barry Spanier was working on an adjustable downhaul a while ago - and may be continuing 
adjustable outhaul on the other hand has many benefits for not much cost
i have had it make the difference between planing and not planing - in light wind conditions
use it on my big boom and big sails, but racers seem to like it all the time
when wind is good and steady, does one really need it - not !
Joe,
adjustable downhauls are common amongst the longboard classes, RSX, BIC, Raceboard, Kona and previously Mistral etc
type Adjustable Downhaul into Google and you will see heaps of good info like this:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/coarse-board-foot-strapsmast-positioning/
This might be helpful.
http://www.tushingham.com/windsurfing/rigging-the-xr-race
Seems to be a relatively simple adjustable downhaul set up, also with the adjustable outhaul with a nice explanation of settings for different wind strengths.
thanks fjdoug and parked for that information !!
i was aware of that kind of setup, but felt it was still a little home made
was NOT aware people were using it consistently in the race classes
i am waiting for a setup where there is a better clamp at the top of the adjustable kit - kinda like the adjustable outhaul cleat
it will need to be an easy on / off clamp obviously
THANKS for the information AND the video !!
hope this helps the OP
some of my concerns with not enough downhaul/outhaul was broken battens 
from personal experience without adjustable gadgets
just watched the video to completion / to the end
when he applied downhaul I felt the leech was too loose in top panels
almost like wrong mast was used 
Thanks guys, I found your comments, links and video very interesting.
I think I will make an adjustable downhaul as well now that I see it's easy enough.
if you use an adjustable downhaul then and adjustable outhaul will be needed as the more downhaul you apply the looser the leech and therefore the outhaul becomes.
however an adjustable outhaul can be used on its own as it doesn't affect the downhaul at all.
