The ability to douse the jib in heavy weather is essential. The question is how comfortable are you going forward, no matter what, to do it? If there is a limit to what you will risk, then a downhaul is option B. The trade off is you now have one more line to manage and potentially to foul......and heavy weather is when it will foul. I've tried it both ways and have decided I will go forward......no matter what. The main should drop on its own. If not, the downhaul is me, standing by the mast, hanging on with one hand and hauling on the luff and slides with the other. Even with a traveler, a boom vang helps keep the main in shape off the wind vs. twisting off. The vang I use has snap shackles on both ends, so serves double duty as a preventer. But I've also got an older boat with the metal toe rails and all those wonderful attachment points. You might gain a bit of additional speed with something larger than a big genny, but unless you are racing and have crew to help you manage it, probably not worth the effort. A whisker pole is essential. Don't leave home without it. BTW, I'm talking M17. A reacher on an M15 might be a different story. On Apr 10, 2011, at 9:22 AM, Karen and Smiley wrote:
I'd like to see your set up for a jib down haul and do you guys feel it's that important to dose the jib in heavy weather using one. Also do you have pictures of your set up for a down haul for the main sail and a boom vang set up. How important is a boom vang when you have your main sheet attachment is that close to boom center anyway? Lastly what modifications did you need to make to add a reacher to your small boat and is a reacher better or a light air genny with a pole better. Thanks for any input you have and please forward any pic's to my home e-mail.
Smiley and Karen
magoo252@comcast.net
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