Trick to secure downhaul line

nw30 · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 1:41 pm Post subject:

Back in the day, late 80's, base extensions as well as boom clews came with rubber bands on them from the manufactures, (mostly Windsurfing Hawaii) . It was stopped because the rubber bands would dry out and break in no time. That's when we started making our own out of old inner tubes as replacements.

dsgrntlxmply · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 255

willysp · Joined: 11 Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Location: Seattle, WA

Thanks for sharing, ascot74!
Wilson

30knotwind · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 239 Location: White Salmon, WA

To store extra downhaul without a rubber band or a pocket:

1) I thread the loose end around the back of the mast, coming up between the pulley and the mast.
2) I tie a bowline loop around the pulley.
3) I put my hand in the remaining bight and spin it until I have a wad of rope and a small loop that will fit around the bottom of the mast extension.
4) I loop that around the the mast extension and sail away!

This keeps the downhaul snug near the cleat, so it will not come undone. It also anchors the downhaul so that it cannot run out if the cleat fails. Done properly, there is no chance that the line will come undone or fall down and become a nuisance when sailing.

If I have a SDM mast, I like to store it up in the extension.
Chris

hilton08 · Joined: 02 Apr 2000 Posts: 505

I just removed the caps from the top of my skinny mast extensions and feed the excess downhaul up the inside of the extension into the mast. Wouldn't work with a Euro pin base, but have been doing it for years with my US cups.