Catboat Forum


A topping lift or lazy jacks will help

Posted By: Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas
Date: 8/1/08 3:29p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Raising sail (Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI)

The first thing I do to set sail is snug up my lazy jacks to carry the boom higher than it normally sets, and, of course, free the sheet. I can see how lifting the boom with the leech would be horrendous - you would be lifting against the leverage of the gaff.

Sailing downwind, I always raise the centerboard full up. Even in light air, though in light conditions a jibe with the centerboard down isn't a big deal. It's always drag, though, and the boat will run a little faster downwind with the centerboard retracted.

These boats, dare I say it, will also sail a long way on the lee. Just please don't count on that until you explore that particular envelope in light conditions, and with the awareness a wind shift can get interesting. The only time I deliberately sail on the lee is maybe just getting far enough to round a point to head up, or something like that. The boom end will start to lift or wag in circles (usually) before the jibe happens. There is (quite often) time to head up to avert a crash jibe.

Gee, wonder why my head hurts. Maybe a bicycle helmet would help...

Also, I've found that accidental jibes can be really rough on the boat but don't threaten a capsize quite like a mishandled planned jibe can. The jibe doesn't happen until the boat is far on the lee, and when the sail slams across it's getting out and stalled pretty quick. Mark's Hudson River technique can pull you through, no doubt to the delight and amazement of any crew not yet in full mutiny.

Messages In This Thread

Can Suncat be "upgraded" to end-boom sheeting? -- Rahn Lawton (2 Hobie Adventure Islands and close to buying another Suncat) -- 5/4/08 6:13p.m.
Yes Sir Re....You don't need -- Mark Milam , Nonsuch 33, Suncat cabinless, Holder 20, Lafayette, LA. -- 5/4/08 7:07p.m.
gone sailing -- bob -- 5/5/08 7:45a.m.
Bob, we've had some nice spring weather here -- Vicki -- Victoria's Secret (2006 Sun Cat) -- 5/6/08 7:43a.m.
glad to hear U'r alive and well. have fun with the boat. -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/6/08 8:39a.m.
Vicki: I'd pull the rudder out of its hole in the stern -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/6/08 2:55p.m.
I never felt the opening in the tansom for the tiller... -- Jim B., deep south Texas -- 5/6/08 4:53p.m.
Jim: I defer to U as i have never sailed the boat type in question! -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/6/08 8:07p.m.
Gene, you're too, too kind saying I'm not -- Vicki -- Victoria's Secret (2006 Sun Cat) -- 5/10/08 2:40a.m.
Thank You that is what I was implying. The pictures of U show a Smallish Lady -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/10/08 8:03a.m.
Would it be possible... -- Travis Votaw, PILGRIM, the two-masted catboat, Edmond, OK -- 5/7/08 7:09a.m.
Tiller extension -- John- Suncat "Wanderer" in Ontario Canada -- 5/7/08 8:26a.m.
Hinged tiller - good idea -- Tom Ray -- 5/7/08 5:39p.m.
Travis, cutting up the tiller is something I saw -- Vicki -- Victoria's Secret (2006 Sun Cat) -- 5/10/08 2:38a.m.
OPP's my fiinger! Vicki: Why not come to Chat, U'd be more than welcome. -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/10/08 8:28a.m.
Gene, what the heck is CHAT?! I'm pretty computer illiterate also. -- Vicki -- Victoria's Secret (2006 Sun Cat) -- 5/11/08 9:48a.m.
gone sailing -- bob -- 5/9/08 5:17p.m.
New SunCat sheeting -- Craig D, SunCat, Cattitude, Finger Lakes -- 5/5/08 5:24a.m.
My fix, possible solution -- John- Suncat "Wanderer" in Ontario Canada -- 5/5/08 6:04a.m.
Been There, Done That On My Sun Cat..... -- Gerald -- 5/5/08 7:08a.m.
Time will tell! -- Craig D, Suncat, "Cattitude", Finger Lakes -- 5/5/08 10:28a.m.
raising sail on suncat -- graham parker -- 8/1/08 10:03a.m.
You're not paranoid... a few of us regularly have trouble -- Victoria's Secret -- 8/1/08 10:49a.m.
raising sail on suncat -- graham parker -- 8/1/08 12:17p.m.
raising sail -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck- -- 8/1/08 12:55p.m.
raising mainsail -- Tom Morgan -- 8/1/08 1:23p.m.
Raising sail -- Dave, Sun Cat #103, Grand Haven, MI -- 8/1/08 2:49p.m.
 A topping lift or lazy jacks will help  -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 8/1/08 3:29p.m.
raising sail -- bob -- 8/1/08 3:54p.m.
Bob is right. The long pin -- Tom Ray -- 8/1/08 7:27p.m.
long pin -- bob -- 8/2/08 7:57a.m.
Dave, a buntline hitch instead of the bowline . . . -- George Haycraft, Picnic Cat #29 -- 8/1/08 6:49p.m.
go to www.grogono.com for visual how to tie knots! -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 8/1/08 10:21p.m.
suncat sail -- bob -- 8/2/08 8:12a.m.
raising suncat sails- single handed -- graham parker -- 8/3/08 4:46p.m.
I like to just drift, actually -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 8/4/08 6:04a.m.
Graham, I keep the rudder positioned with a -- Victoria's Secret -- 8/7/08 9:32a.m.
Sun Cat end boom sheeting -- Tom Ray -- 5/7/08 5:32a.m.
Thanks Tom.....Coonass engineering at work, Like -- Mark Milam , Nonsuch 33, Suncat cabinless, Holder 20, Lafayette, LA. -- 5/7/08 7:15p.m.
I could not help but notice the tiller extension on the seat, Mark -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/7/08 7:22p.m.
Yep, The Girls don't like it.......I can't be -- Mark Milam , Nonsuch 33, Suncat cabinless, Holder 20, Lafayette, LA. -- 5/7/08 9:07p.m.
Update/Correction -- Tom Ray -- 5/9/08 4:48p.m.
U'r only about 50 miles south of me! -- geneWj,First Born & Teacher's Pet III. Bradenton,Fl. -- 5/9/08 6:56p.m.
End-Boom Sheeting Followup -- John Fiedler (First Day Sailing MOXIE) -- 5/10/08 5:11a.m.
Mine snags the cleats every once in a while -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 5/10/08 10:38a.m.
SunCat End Boom Sheeting -- Lee Copp (Mills Sun Cat 17) -- 8/8/08 5:37a.m.

 

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