I guess my simple snap shackles left over from the old jib halyards and tied on with a bowline is a bit too simple ... just run it through the stanchion base, and snap it on the sheet or guy as needed. we're not lifting a ton with the twings ... if its more than 100 lbs of force I'll be surprised. The line doesn't show any friction wear on the old sheets after 10 years.. can't be any worse than wrapping line on a winch.
half the time they are more trouble than they are worth unless you are seeking perfection and then it is one more thing to have to keep track of. great for gibing as they keep the lines in control if you only have one foredeck crew.
Oh well ... when you are on SS ... you make do.
Re sheets inside or outside ... I do a lot of beam to broad reach on Spin ... no easy way to have guy outside the stanchions for that ... and the twing keeps the line off the shroud. This is where you need blocks at the stanchion base as keeping the guy off the shrouds does take some tugging.
Re non-ratcheting blocks ... all I ever used ... just one more thing to have to remember when the ratchets are clicked in
re snatch blocks at the aft ... we just keep regular blocks attached ... snatch blocks are expensive. but then again we spin pretty much every time we go out.
re the downhaul attachment ... most of the time it is set up to be about 4-5 feet in back of the bow ... BUT I REALLY LIKED the note in one of the prior posts to bring it back to the base of the mast as that would eliminate having to have a crew guy try to keep track of that and the num nums I get as crew don't understand that the downhaul has to be released before you winch the pole guy back. Once you move it to the base of the mast most oldtimers then want to call it the foreguy as the bridle almost looks like it runs directly to the front of the pole. if that works well with the bridle I will be very happy.
[[I tried it this morning at the slip and the only thing that I don't like is that when it is run back to the mast it seems the pole is free to swing 90degrees. With the downhaul anchor far forward you can lock the pole next to the forestay if someone is working on the foredeck and by chance the pole is up. I know you guys are going to tell me that no one ever puts the pole up without the guy in the jaw and the spin prefed.]]
Last edited by CaptainVic; 04/21/09 02:13 PM.
