I recently acquired a KA sail. The problem is I can't get enough downhaul on it with a standard extension. Almost, but not quite. I'm afraid I'm going to pop a disc if I pull any harder. Pics of rigged sail on my profile page.
I have a power XT extension but the loop is too thick to go through the space between sail pulley and the tape. I can't even push it through with a screwdriver.
I have tried unthreading the cord from the power XT and threading it through the pulley but it is really hard to get it back into the extension.
I'm sure there is a brillant solution but I haven't been able to come up with it yet.
Help!
The photo shows pulley, standard extension and the power XT cord.
formula line should be much easier to downhaul then your current downhaul rope. you might find that you can downhaul the sail without feeling like slipping a disc with your normal extension if you use formulaline. for $10 its a good investment.
sorry can't help with the powerxt extension don't know much about them.
I've seen people use cranks, to wind the downhaul on, think they fit into a standard extension.
use ur power xt, but thread the rope through like a normal extension every time, unthreading through the little cleat on the bottom.
this means you use it like a normal extension with a ratchet rather than the loop and go ratchet set up.
I can show you how at then next freestyle session.
Get a crank. It makes downhauling so much easier, warms up your arms and puts absolutely no pressure on your back.
another vote for Formuline
Surfsail in leederville
I went from wondering how on earth I was going to get enough on (even with a crank) to downhauling just using a puller...its just that good
Formuline is great for normal extensions
But won't work in the North power XT.......tooooo slippery
Just to clarify a post above,
I believe North Power XT's do not take a standard diameter rope (4.5mm). I believe Formuline is 3.8mm. Do a google search on North Power Xt rope diameter.
Alternatives are: You could get a crank
Or you could carbonsugar.com/technique/save-your-back-rig-it-right/
Lots of Formula sailors downhaul 12m rigs using Formuline and the technique described. Works just as well as a crank (in many ways better because you can feel the tension on the rig and know if something is wrong before you smash your camber inducers or worse - mast).
JB
Anita,
When you down haul on the rope are you pulling it down into the cleat or up away from the cleat (like for releasing tension).
Dragging the rope down through the cleat will greatly increase the downhaul force required to downhaul the sail.
Would also recommend a "Crank" extremely simple to use and zero back strain (apart from crouching down to do sail), getting the sail down hauled millimeter perfect is a breeze with one of these puppies.
The formula line does greatly reduce friction and is tough as, definitely well worth the extra brass.
Thanks everyone.
You are sooo helpful!
I shall get some formuline for my standard extensions and I shall try carbonsugar.com/technique/save-your-back-rig-it-right/
(my hands are still sore from all that downhauling yesterday - trying different extensions, different masts, all to no avail)
Any other brilliant ideas welcome, just in case the above doesn't work!
Anita
Second Wind on Canning hwy have Marlow Formuline also and they're a bit closer to you than surf sail aust.
I recently changed to it and I now downhaul all my wave sails with bare hands whereas I used to use a hydropulla.
also I found that style of pulley system you have there just seems to increase friction. I had one a few years ago, when I changed extension it magically was easier and I wondered how I'd actually been doing it!!
I'll see if I've got an ext you can try.
Need some wind first......
i have a power xt carbon extension. i replaced the rope with chinook rope. it is a little thinner but grips and works great. i am pretty sure it is the same thickness as normal line. otherwise go the vote for formulaline i like it to on my other extensions.
cheers,
It looks like a 2004/05 Kult. I would be very surprised if you can't get enough downhaul using your harness bar with that Chinook standard extension as the sail does not have huge amounts of luff round.
That said a winch will be the best $100 you ever spent!!!
I use the harness technique on my KA sails...usually after plodding out to the wind channel on a slight offshore, then finding that it needs a tad more. Easy to do in water, floating on back. I find that the KA sails need more rope in order to thread it through the pulleys...don't know why, but I can get them to within 300-400mm by hand, then they have a tendency to spring back. On dry land, I us a 'Pulla', or a piece of 30mm dowell with 2 holes drilled in it will do the trick!
. Downhauling like this becomes more difficult the closer the pulleys come together, and can prevent the foot of sail from being closer to the deck for better sail trim depending on what style of sailing you are doing.
. Downhauling like this becomes more difficult the closer the pulleys come together, and can prevent the foot of sail from being closer to the deck for better sail trim depending on what style of sailing you are doing.
. Downhauling like this becomes more difficult the closer the pulleys come together, and can prevent the foot of sail from being closer to the deck for better sail trim depending on what style of sailing you are doing.
I can see the other arrangement would work better.
