No More Mainsheet Tangles

No More Tangles--Tuesday, November 29, 2013--One of the really nice things about the Tanzer is that most of the mainsheets are out of the way.  They drop from the back of the boom to a stern mounted traveler system.  The final block and cleat are on the centerboard trunk.  Lots of room--little spaghetti--good!

Unfortunately the main sheets have a tendency to tangle up around the two stern mooring cleats--especially unhandy when you are trying to gibe in a fresh breeze.  In fact it is so unhandy that the only way you can untangle them is to tack to take the pressure off the sheets and undo them while you are head to wind.

The mainsheet parts hang up on the horns of this cleat

It could be dangerous and certainly doesn't contribute to smooth gibes--solution:  Make up some covers for the cleats that will prevent tangles.  Finished them today.  Started by gluing up some 3/4 mahogany --the same stuff used for the tiller.  Then hollowed it out with Forstner bit and chisel.  Rounded the corners with a spindle sander; then rounded the top with my biggest round-over router bit.

 

It's nice to have a heated shop with the tools you need.

 

The theory is that the lines won't catch on the horns of the cleat, that the bungee will keep it in place, and since it is made of wood, it will float when we screw up and drop it over the side.  We'll see next spring.

 

Next tasks:  Install downhaul cleats, and a centerboard hold down.

 

Today's Clichés to live by. 

 

Nobody likes it if  you're right.  They especially don't like it if you are drunk and right.

 

Problems are undiscovered advantages.---Effective people have ideas that become goals that become plans.  Ineffective people have complaints that become problems that become issues.