I've had this happen a few times. I usually drop in and fix it but sometimes it comes back.. any ideas why it happens and how to avoid it?
The line coming along the boom gets stuck/ wedged over the top .
I've ignored it occasionally but it looks like it's pulling sideways and could pull half the fitting off.

Same happens to me with an apple core, I hate using them now.

For years I have just used two pulleys on the boom and looped once through the sail eyelet with the outhaul. Used this method with big sails on formula's and raceboards in strong winds and never had a problem with it. You just have to tie off one end of the outhaul to a pulley when you rig.

This method has added benefit of you always adjust the correct outhaul length for any sail that will fit on the boom everytime you rig.

Is you boom tail narrow?

It happens if you leave too much slack on the outhaul, if you want the sail fuller better shorten the boom but keep the outhaul reasonably tight

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cammd said..
Same happens to me with an apple core, I hate using them now.

For years I have just used two pulleys on the boom and looped once through the sail eyelet with the outhaul. Used this method with big sails on formula's and raceboards in strong winds and never had a problem with it. You just have to tie off one end of the outhaul to a pulley when you rig.

This method has added benefit of you always adjust the correct outhaul length for any sail that will fit on the boom everytime you rig.

Phew..It's not me..
That sounds interesting.
Any photos?

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BSN101 said..
Is you boom tail narrow?

Severne enigma 160 - 210 Freemove. Yes.
Not square like some.

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powersloshin said..
It happens if you leave too much slack on the outhaul, if you want the sail fuller better shorten the boom but keep the outhaul reasonably tight

Sounds like why. If you shorten the boom then you can't pull it on as much ? Wouldn't you lose range then?

I found that the outhaul rope would get caught behind the knobs on the inside of the apple core, so I've removed the knobs. I rarely have a problem now and if I do it mostly self corrects when I gybe.

Having just the right amount of adjustment, not too much and not too little, also helps

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John340 said..
I found that the outhaul rope would get caught behind the knobs on the inside of the apple core, so I've removed the knobs. I rarely have a problem now and if I do it mostly self corrects when I gybe.

Having just the right amount of adjustment, not too much and not too little, also helps

Yeah the knobs are a pain..

Same as John, cut em off!!

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sboardcrazy said..

powersloshin said..
It happens if you leave too much slack on the outhaul, if you want the sail fuller better shorten the boom but keep the outhaul reasonably tight

Sounds like why. If you shorten the boom then you can't pull it on as much ? Wouldn't you lose range then?

You only need about 100 to 150mm of free rope on each side which translates to 33 to 50mm of movement of the clew of the sail.

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BSN101 said..
Is you boom tail narrow?

I'm glad i read this ..my carbon boom is a naish ...and my leading cord gets caught up in the core all the time ,but it has a very narrow rear end ..not much room back there at all ...
I'm gonna get my carbon neilpryde boom ...i left .at my mates place in WA ,with tonnes of room ...once the borders open .

Always thought that was the issue ,, the rollers are too close together ..

Excuse me ignorance but what and where is the apple core on the windsurf boom
Cheers Tony

tada !
real name double sail pulley

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seanhogan said..



tada !
real name double sail pulley

Thanks Sean, ok now i undersrsnd why the rope gets caught

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ka43 said..
Same as John, cut em off!!

So no downside to cutting them off ? It appeals as when they are screwed tight I find it hard to loop the outhaul around. The knobs stop the line going in so I have to unscrew them a bit , feed them through and then hope I can tighten them without the line getting caught up in the process..

My new sails come with pulleys that you can install if you want. NP V8.

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sboardcrazy said..

ka43 said..
Same as John, cut em off!!

So no downside to cutting them off ? It appeals as when they are screwed tight I find it hard to loop the outhaul around. The knobs stop the line going in so I have to unscrew them a bit , feed them through and then hope I can tighten them without the line getting caught up in the process..

Just to add to the confusion Definately leave the knobs on (works with my setup anyway X9 NP boom)
Turn them so they both face the back of the sail, loop the outhaul rope over the pulleys, then turn them both (squeezing them over the rope) so they face the front of the sail, the knobs stops the rope from accidently coming off when you've got the outhaul too slack,

I stopped using them, got annoyed again at threading rope through grommet each time, then tried reshaping similar to the teardrop shape ones factory fit on sails & dont have any problems with it catching now plus they are much more compact. I left the knobby bit on doesnt seem to be that which causes problem when the sides aren't there to catch. While I was at it I lapped the side of brass wheels so they can be done up tighter & not have it bind the pulley. Initially I was concerned they would be harder to do up but since there is a smooth straight edge it made it better.

I use NP X9 boom and have never had a problem with ropes getting caught. If you make sure when you screw the sides together the knobs are at the back of the fitting ( closest to boom end), this usually doesnt present a problem off unhooking the ropes when you derig.
Cut them off and you dont need to worry!!!

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mkseven said..
I stopped using them, got annoyed again at threading rope through grommet each time, then tried reshaping similar to the teardrop shape ones factory fit on sails & dont have any problems with it catching now plus they are much more compact. I left the knobby bit on doesnt seem to be that which causes problem when the sides aren't there to catch. While I was at it I lapped the side of brass wheels so they can be done up tighter & not have it bind the pulley. Initially I was concerned they would be harder to do up but since there is a smooth straight edge it made it better.

I might try that..

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mkseven said..
I stopped using them, got annoyed again at threading rope through grommet each time, then tried reshaping similar to the teardrop shape ones factory fit on sails & dont have any problems with it catching now plus they are much more compact. I left the knobby bit on doesnt seem to be that which causes problem when the sides aren't there to catch. While I was at it I lapped the side of brass wheels so they can be done up tighter & not have it bind the pulley. Initially I was concerned they would be harder to do up but since there is a smooth straight edge it made it better.

I might try that..

I just replaced the rear end and moved the lines to the outside. No issues

If you have a sail like the red one shown by cammd, you can use an AO that has a pulley on each side. My favorite is the Sailworks AO. Instead of just a pulley it uses a buckle AND pulley on a loop. You get 4:1 on each side, plus 2:1 at the clew. The buckle is super easy to use, both to rig and on the water. You can install it onto the boom without having to disassemble the tailpiece.

I was sussing things out for modifying the applecore fitting and realised the Severne fitting is just something added through the clew hole.
Can you buy these and are all brands clewholes the same diameter?
If you can buy them you could just screw them into a sail and leave them for a permanent solution..

Just checked with Simon from Boardcrazy and you can get them so I've ordered 4. No more caught outhaul..
It also means I can leave them on the sail which will speed up rigging. I take the applecores off so they don't damage the rolled sail..

The Severne ones are great until you over tighten them once then they crush and the gap gets to small for the rope. I found a good fix is to pop the piece of it that goes against the sail Off then you can put a bike pedal washer next to the metal roller then pop it back together and repeat for the other side. The washer is exactly the right diameter to fit and makes the gap slightly bigger and it's increased outside diameter stops you crushing them again.

one thing to bear in mind if you leave them on is theY rub again the sail when rolled up in the bag. Took me a while to work out what was causing the wear marks and a couple of my sails in a very odd place.

I never realised they were removable. I might start stuff a bit of towel over any that touch the sail when it's wrapped.