do most of you guys use brute force to downhaul the extra few cm's of rope? or do most of you carry along the crank..i used to just get a piece of solid hardwood the size of a boom diameter cut in 8'' and with an ezzy loop just downhaul the extra cm's but as am getting a bit on the grey side, i kinda feel back pain and wasted energy on the newer sails downhauling them..some sail companies now tell you to use a rigging tool others don't..so what's the secret to an effortless downhaul when your'e in a hurry and want to skip the crank?i've put wax on the lines, oiled the pulleys and recently decided to have a tool made to specs from a machining shop all stainless steel and costs 800pesos or 20us$ works excellent just like today for the first time
i used to use the handle of the screwdriver and pull with ease the hardest sails but that was 10yrs. ago now it's a different story my freaking back hurts
You might be doing it wrong!
Lean right back, and use your legs to push on the mast base instead of bending your back. Done right it should be no more strenuous than standing up from a crouching position -- the only muscles you use are your leg muscles.
never thought of that lean back position nebs but do you use a crank tool in some cases
you are big and am presuming you could downhaul with just your 2fingers
I have a little nerve damage in fingers and toes so I struggle a little with downhaul. I have been thinking about buying one of those tools. Are any better than others?
Be interested in seeing a picture of the one you had made jp747, as I may even make one myself.
Don't feel bad, I'm embaressed 
to admit I use a crank on all my sails, even a 4.2 wave
Best crank I have used is the Chinook one and the only (bought) one that worked properly.
In the days BC (Before Crank) I used a large screwdriver the wrap and pull the rope. Much better than most of the large diameter sticks and handles I tried and dual purpose to boot!
I don't recommend using back or leg power to downhaul race sails, even if it seems OK at the time. Long term back problems have been reported.
I have an old bit of bombora boom extension (in the original bright blue) with a couple of holes drilled in it to thread and lock the rope off in. Works well, I can't help but look in envy at the guys doing it easy with a North XT extension though...just the budget didn't quite stretch that far.
the np mxt extension is also great. so smooth compared to all the others i have used.
I started using a crank for the Formula sails, but now I use it for everything. I wanted to adjust the downhaul at the beach a few months ago and was too lazy to walk to the car. I can't believe how hard it was to downhaul just using my arms and the spreader bar.
The great thing about using a downhaul crank is you can tune the downhaul in small increments to see how the sail behaves.
Of course, you could always get a North extension?
Just loop the rope around your hand a couple of times and HTFU.
It always impresses the girls.
Dont use a screwdriver or anything else sharp n pointy like to downhaul with
if your rope breaks or the knot comes undone u will get a screwdriver in your leg or guts. 
just get a piece of 25mm dowel and drill two 8mm holes in it about 2 cm apart , countersink the holes so u dont frey your rope.
stick the rope in one and across to the other then come around the back and stick it across and underneath the rope that crosses the 2 holes , then it locks itself
no worries 
I use a garden variety steel tug cleat. I haven't downhauled anything bigger than a 7.2 for a couple of years. I don't have any trouble doing that and I am careful with my back. Those cranks look like a lot of laborious fiddly work.
I've got one of the North ratchet extensions too, the old model with the shorter lever arm. Its ok but I still prefer to do it the old way just because its quicker and there's something satisfying and manly about heaving a sail down.
Why I often go to the beach just to down haul a sail in front of the girls. They gasp in amazement at my rippling manly muscles. It puts those pump pushing kiters in the shade. Yes, there's been many a kiter who's seen the light after witnessing the effect of one of my macho demonstrations on the fairer sex. "Not now my little lovely" I say with reckless disregard for the heartbreak I cause with my parting. "I have to go sailing"...Ah yes, those nights of libidinous hedonistic pullulating frolics on the beach ... the power, the passion....
When it all gets too much for me, when my used and dissipated body is depleted beyond recovery, when I am reduced to a mere sagging effigy of a lesser mortal why then I might try a crank - a different tool for a different problem... until then there is a life to be lived and hearts to be broken.
..should last me till death unless it was stolen
for scrapi tried to make it as lite as possible and tested it this p.m. with mates works very good and could be dismantled in 2 sections for easy handling..the mech.engineer wanted me to use engineering plastic for the handle but would cost twice the amount
After I changed my grip it never happened again.
I've always just used my harness spreader bar which seems to work fine. But i'm younger and don't have bad back troubles yet lol.
Bubs
hey bubs have you ever downhauled manually a spanking brand new "virgin" race sail say in the 7mtr. size..i had a young fellow who was doing carpenteering on the resthouses by the beach and he was muscular not that i really noticed
i requested if he could downhaul for me using a rounded 10"long hardwood rod an inch more and gave up after a few grunts needless to say i told him to swing it to where the cleat was so it wouldn't slacken and lost in the process 1"
First of all, use formuline and you'll need less pull to get your sail downhauled. It's worth the extra money.
Secondly, the big advantage to a crank is that it makes adjustments much easier. If you're rigging race sail, a crank can help you dial it in exactly. If you're only sailing smaller sails...wave sails etc then a cleat or harness hook should be enough.
Third...be sure to use the recommended threading pattern for your sail...they also make a big difference.
I've got a bit more info on formuline/spectra and threading patterns in this blog post:
www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2007/03/easier_downhaul.html
Definately explore formuline, though...it makes quite a difference.
i use a 30 mm x 350mm solid bar and downhaul sails up to 9mtrs but theres a little trick if your haveing trouble geting the last inch spray your rollers with wd 40 or other lube befor rigging youll be surprised how easy it makes it and how strong it makes you look
Chinook Crank , best money you will ever spend . I needed counciling when I lost mine .
My very expensive downhaul tool - works well with special slippery downhaul rope from WS&S.
Not for cammed sails though!
Wino, mine looks exactly the same, except I dont worry about the holes and just use an ezzy loop. Works fantastically
For my 7.4 and 8m sails I have a Loft crank - works beautifully (looks very similar to the chinnook unit)
Mine is an old piece of North boom ext about 30cm long with hole drilled approximately 1/3 of length.
Rivet a small cleat approx 10cm from hole. Feed rope thru hole, cleat off and use LEG muscles tp push AWAY. 2 seconds to uncleat, pull more rope thru and repeat to finetune downhaul.
Cost, about $3.
used to downhaul wave sails and big cammed race sails, no worries.
Patented name = Wimp Stick.
- works well with special slippery downhaul rope from WS&S.
i know the initial purchase price may seem expensive,but i have to say the north ratchet gadget is simply brilliant! the ability to down haul race sails standing up 1 handed with NO effort is only out weighed by the ability to fine tune the sail on the water with out having to sail into the shallows and disconnect the board to struggle to get some more tension.i have been using mine for a year with no change of rope so far...just got to get 1 for my skinny rigs now!
