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Plastic Tug Cleats
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theconverted



Joined: 25 Jun 2015
Posts: 16
Location: Boston Area

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:31 am    Post subject: Plastic Tug Cleats Reply with quote

I Apparently didn't get the memo. Was helping a friend put some down haul on their sail and they had a plastic one that i grabbed. Gave it a good yank and all I got was 12 stitches.
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dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A 6" long stick of 1" pvc works great. Experience.
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grantmac017



Joined: 04 Aug 2016
Posts: 946

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tie a bowline then use an old harness bar or just bare hands.
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rtz



Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 296
Location: Oklahoma City

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I fold back the end of the downhaul line and loop it like this around my mast base that I use as a handle:

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Wind-NC.com



Joined: 30 May 2007
Posts: 980
Location: Formerly Cape Hatteras, now Burlington, VT!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:48 am    Post subject: Re: Plastic Tug Cleats Reply with quote

theconverted wrote:
I Apparently didn't get the memo. Was helping a friend put some down haul on their sail and they had a plastic one that i grabbed. Gave it a good yank and all I got was 12 stitches.


Ouch! I haven't seen one of the plastic tools in 15+ years. If you find one, destroy it and throw it away, or figure out some other non-load bearing use for it.

Hope your hand heals up quickly!

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nw30



Joined: 21 Dec 2008
Posts: 6485
Location: The eye of the universe, Cen. Cal. coast

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

No tools required.
Wrap the downhaul around you harness hook, while you're wearing it, and sitting down, put one foot on the bottom of the base extension, push with that foot, and lean back, serious leverage that way.

It's also a great method for when you need to adjust the downhaul at the water's edge, but your "tool" is back in your vehicle.
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theconverted



Joined: 25 Jun 2015
Posts: 16
Location: Boston Area

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For everyone responding with how tos, I actually have two metal tugs in my gear bag and have no problem with them. As a newer windsurfer, I had never seen a plastic one before and didn't know its consequences. This was more of a PSA to learn from my misfortune aimed at the newer guys who might buy some older rigs with one and hurt themselves.

Throw them away!
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Back in the early 90s I stopped trying to downhaul sails using a handheld Clamcleat tool, because I started having problems with my back that manifested itself in my right hip. Painfully, I found that manually downhauling sails puts an incredible stress on one's body. At that time, I bought a Rig-It-Right lever tool, and with its use my physical problems quickly vanished.

In more recent years, I added a Chinook winch which is configured to work with the Euro-pin mast extensions. This tool is even simpler to operate, and it gives you a huge mechanical advantage. Use of these simple downhaul tools makes achieving the correct downhaul effortless, and in addition, you no longer have sit down and get your butt wet or dirty to accomplish the task.

I still use a metal handheld Clamcleat for getting the right outhaul tension, and it's quite handy for uncleating and releasing the downhaul line while derigging.
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U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use a Chinook downhaul crank to downhaul.

I use a branch/ section of a apple tree to dislodge the rope from cleat when derigging.

I hope the hand heals and is useable.

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NOVAAN



Joined: 28 Sep 1994
Posts: 1541

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep. The old back requires attention these days. Even with the less tension of the modern sails I use a crank.
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