[C320-list] Downwind Preventer - was Whisker Pole Length

[Bruce Stanley]

Alan
Thanks for this description.
I have just gone to the C320IA site and found the excellent picture of Sea
Shadow (Sea Shadow flying her A-Sym ... picture 36 of 36) in your Album.
This further shows your Preventer installation.

thanks and Cheers
Bruce Stanley #1084 FantasticLady
Sydney Australia
==========================
On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 5:29 AM, Allan S. Field <allan.field at verizon.net>wrote:

> Sea Shadow is rigged for downwind sailing differently than is War De Mar
> and
> I will try to describe what we did.  Note that the idea for this came from
> Orlando Duran - I give him credit the first 2 times I share this then the
> idea is all mine!
>
> The boom sheet on our boats runs thru 2 blocks.  On the aft most block, I
> hung a long shackle from the bail that the block attaches to.  This shackle
> is probably 3 inches long.  From each of the forward deck cleats, I hung
> long shackles probably about 4 inches long and hung a single block off each
> one of them.  The reason for the long shackles here is to leave room for
> mooring lines.  Moving aft, I hung a single block on the base of each
> stanchion port and starboard sides.
>
> At the base of the forward part of each side of the aft
> wraparound-stanchion, I attached a block with cam cleat.
>
> Now for the rigging.  I have 2 preventer lines, one for port, the other for
> starboard (red line for port, green for starboard).  I went to West
> Marine's
> rigger and had him splice on the end of each preventer line a heavy duty
> snap shackle, the kinds with the spring loaded snaps.  These 2 shackles are
> then attached to the long shackle on the mast bail previously installed
> (see
> above).  The preventer lines then run forward to the blocks on the forward
> cleats then back through the blocks at the base of the stanchions and
> through the block with a cam cleat.  Once set-up, I can control the boom
> 100% from the cockpit.
>
> I am a bit uncomfortable with the preventer lines coming back only to the
> aft-most boom bail.  I would much prefer that they come all the way back
> like Warren has done.  That will be a winter project to figure out how to
> do
> this better but without interfering with the dodger.
>
> Unlike Warren, I was hesitant to use the anchor roller for any of this.
> Worst case scenario on Sea Shadow is that the boom breaks/bends mid-boom or
> a deck cleat pulls out.  Worst case scenario on War De Mar is the anchor
> plate gives way, the forestay breaks and the mast comes down.  (NOTE: I
> hung
> a block off the anchor bail and run the spinnaker tack line through the
> block and up to the ATN Tacker.  A rigger saw this and cautioned me that
> this puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the anchor base and there is a
> danger of it pulling out.  But the maximum apparent wind I will fly the
> spinnaker is 12 knots; gets any higher, the spinnaker comes down.  And yes,
> I fully expect to take some list-grief over this!)
>
> Our downwind pole is mounted to the mast on a track so is fairly easy to
> handle, much easier than when deck and/or stanchion mounted.
>
> With this set-up, I have no hesitation about going DDW (dead downwind)
> under
> any conditions.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Allan S. Field
> Sea Shadow - #808
> Columbia, MD
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of warren
> updike
> Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 4:12 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Whisker Pole Length
>
> No photos, sorry. She's under wraps now. Preventer is used for the main.
>
> Since it is not recommended attaching a preventer mid-boom, I followed
> mfgr.'s recommendation and attached a pendant of twisted nylon to the end
> of
> the mast with a thimble spliced into the working end. The length is enough
> to bring the thimble over the deck when the boom is well overboard. I use a
> bungee attached to the main sheet thingy to secure the pendant when not in
> use. This makes it quite easy underway with the boom outboard to unhook the
> pendant attach the preventer line and secure the preventer.
>
> I accept the risk of starting a whole thread on how to attach/run the
> preventer as I've not yet found the ideal method. Typically, I use a block
> attached to the anchor roller to turn the preventer bringing it back to the
> cockpit. It's faster and safer if you can control it from the cockpit. Yet,
> I welcome any and all ideas on how to do it better. When not in use, the
> block is pulled out of the way with a bit of light bungee tied to a
> vertical
> on the pulpit. I don't bother to untie this, just slide it down the pulpit
> to free the block for use.  Yes, it is necessary to unhook the preventer
> line and run around the mast when after gybing. What price safety?
>
> My pole is two part telescopic with 2" aluminum tubing. It's an old dude I
> bought off the internet when I had a C25. It was a major reason for
> upgrading to the C320. I had to protect my investment in the pole, all $150
> of it. Don't think I could manage a fixed pole of 10 or 12'
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
> Middle River, Chesapeake Bay
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bruce Stanley [mailto:brucestanley36 at gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 11:19 PM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Whisker Pole Length
>
> Thanks Warren
> do you have any photos of the preventer?
> is it a preventer for the Main or Genoa?
> is your Whisker Pole a fixed length, or telescopic one?
>
> Bruce Stanley C320 #1084 "Fantastic Lady"
> Sydney Australia
> ========================
> On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 10:44 AM, warren updike <wupdike at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I have a 12' pole I use with a 150% jib. I rarely use all 12 feet.
> >
> > I'm using the pole mostly on downwind runs while wing'n'wing. It holds
> the
> > jib out nicely and is easy to deploy and retireve. I also rig a preventer
> > on
> > the main as a precaution. I've had days where I've run N or S on the
> > Chesapeake Bay for hours with this rig. Well worth the investment.
> >
> > Warren & Pattie Updike
> > Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
> > Middle River, Chesapeake Bay
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bruce Stanley [mailto:brucestanley36 at gmail.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 4:09 AM
> > To: C320-List
> > Subject: [C320-list] Whisker Pole Length
> >
> > The Whisker Pole Length is given as the J measurement.
> > This is stated as 12'4".
> > stupid question but I am trying to Measure Twice before I cut ...
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>