A couple of years ago I really got tired of the stock mainsheet system on my FROB.
You know what I'm talking about: Triple at the top, and double
with a becket at the bottom. Turns into a real rats nest
when you need it to run, or it decides to demonstrate the
all the properties of friction when you are turning the leward mark.
I would sit in meetings at w**k, assiduously taking copious
notes of the utterances of the division chiefs. Of course,
my notes were taken in my own particular shorthand which has a
striking resembalance to a series of circles which had extended
diameters, and were connected one to the other with one long
tangential line.
When asked, I would reply: "It is
my unique combination of Boolean Algebra and Set Theory with which I can easily reconstruct
the entire presentation we just saw."
As most of the individuals asking the question were
Management or Management Staff, they just nodded their respective heads and said:
"Hmmmmm. . . . interesting."
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As the title of this page suggests, at the end
of the day, I found I had re-invented the wheel,
because what I "invented" was a system the specifications
of which can be found on the Harken Web Site. And
a much nicer illustration than I could ever draw.
However, the Harken System calls for attaching, in tandem, two 76mm blocks to
the boom.
Obviously one block would be attached to the existing bail at the end
of the boom, but I was loath to put a bunch of screws in the boom in order to
hang the other block. |
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| My solution was to use a Spectra Loop (24" circumference)
which is literaly looped around the boom, and stayed
in
place
(so it does not creep forward) with a string tied
from the Loop to the bail. |
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Here is a photo of the 76mm block mounted on
the traveler car. |
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| Mainsheet to fine tune double. |
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Mainsheet to fine tune double.
Lower left corner: Swivel Base w/Cam, and Hexaratchet. Parts B & C in the
Harken diagram. |
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As you know, you can pay a lot of money for a Spectra
Loop, but I have a couple of sources listed below (including
current prices). The Spectra Loop you see in the photos
has been in place for over a year (removed during the
winter of course) with no signs of wear. I purchased
it from "Tools for Stagecraft" (see below) for the princely
sum of $13.00. I have since found an addition source
at REI.
Lots less than the Harken Loops. |
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I hope this material may be of use to some of you folks.
For me, it removed yet
another excuse for not trimming in the main quickly enough when going around
the leward mark. |
