I posted this reply in the w/gear forum (under EZZY 2008) but it might be intersing to a few to read here!

I love this simple knot he demonstrates - that is for tying to your downhaul rope to what ever tool you might use to crank you downhaul -why hadn't anbody ever shown me this before - I was a cub scout leader for a little while teaching kids knots and stuff, and had never seen it before - Wow what a EZZY efective knot - thanks David

yer it's cool hey, he shows you on the pro secrets DVD.. so easy to do too.

or you could just tie a bowline to make a loop and pull on it. easy to get undone and hang onto.

Ah yes, the , bowline ,King of knots.

I used to be a bowliner... but then I saw that knot! Simplicity itself! And why didn't I think of using the unijoint instead of my harness?

One less trip to the car, 5 seconds less spent unpicking a bowline... priceless

Don't use a unijoint for pulling downhaul. rope loves eating rubber.

I use the North ratchet extension

You don't need

Downhaul Cranks, bars, cleats
or
Special knots

Herculean strength

You can adjust in the water piece of peas

Errr... I use the cup, not the rubber, just like David shows on the vid...

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Originally posted by Leech

Don't use a unijoint for pulling downhaul. rope loves eating rubber.

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.....so do 'gimps'!!!

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Originally posted by big-gazza

For those that dont know the bowline - its an excellent knot - wont slip; easy to get undone - I use an old spreader bar to pull with.
This site gives an animation on how to tie the knot -
&Website=www.animatedknots.com

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Bolwine is great - yes agreeded - but this other knot is simplicity in itself - no need to remember - 'the rabbit comes out of the hole goes round the tree and back into the hole' or was it the rabbit goes into -ahh f it!

This other knot is just loop and flip - done - not a single rabbit is harmed!

I've been tying bowlines for years, but this knot craps all over it for tying a downhaul. Bowlines use up more valuable seconds. I wish you'd posted it up before last Friday arvo's blast. A clove hitch just doesn't cut it either.
Too bad the North ratchet doesn't work on my 4.7.
The sail tuning tips were pretty good too. Reading it ain't the same as seeing it, and unless someone actually shows you, what is maent, it leaves things up to interpretation.

quote:

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Originally posted by DavMen

Bolwine is great - yes agreeded - but this other knot is simplicity in itself

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I think you've had too much bolwine

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Originally posted by Leech

quote:

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Originally posted by DavMen

Bolwine is great - yes agreeded - but this other knot is simplicity in itself

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I think you've had too much bolwine

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I can't help it i'm a red bowl wine addict.

WTF is the point:

The best downhaul tool ever is the hydropuller (hydrodynamix make it??) which is basically a bit of alum pipe about 1.5" dia, 8" long, with a bit of broomstick rammed up it.
They then drill two holes about 1" apart (along the centreline).

You feed the rope thru one hole, then the other, and back thru the loop you just made. Pull like buggery, but it will always come undone afterwards as there is no knot.

If you can't afford the $10 for one, use a bit of old busted-arse boom extension tube and fill it with broomstick and auto body bog and drill two holes in it. Done.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark _australia

WTF is the point:

The best downhaul tool ever is the hydropuller (hydrodynamix make it??)

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Chances of going sailing and accidentally leaving your hydropuller on the beach? Pretty good.

Chances of going sailing and accidentally leaving your mastfoot on the beach? Not going to happen!

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark _australia

WTF is the point:

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The Point is you don't need to spend any money on any special tool - drill any holes - thread any ropes.

Its just a knot that makes life simple and passing on some free sail rigging tips - use it if you please - ignore it if you wish.

One of our guys found a use for all the boom tail ends he had kicking about after snapping more than a few.
He simply hacked off the arms in line with the plastic ends and then threads the downhaul through the cleat.
It's curved shape points away from you and you can crank away knowing the rope wont slip or the thing wont stab you in the chest/stomach if your downhaul rope snaps.
Once its downhauled you simply pull the rope out of the cleat... no knots, no hassels.
It's also a very useful tool for throwing at would be car thieves !

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark _australia

WTF is the point:

The best downhaul tool ever is the hydropuller (hydrodynamix make it??) which is basically a bit of alum pipe about 1.5" dia, 8" long, with a bit of broomstick rammed up it.
They then drill two holes about 1" apart (along the centreline).

You feed the rope thru one hole, then the other, and back thru the loop you just made. Pull like buggery, but it will always come undone afterwards as there is no knot.

If you can't afford the $10 for one, use a bit of old busted-arse boom extension tube and fill it with broomstick and auto body bog and drill two holes in it. Done.

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Yes, but do you then carry that tool with you when you are sailing? I use either a hydropuller or an EasyRig tool when rigging my one sail that doesn't work with the North ratchet extension. I usually rig close to my car. Depending on where I am sailing it's then a bit of a hike to the water. If I need to adjust the downhaul (usually to increase tension) once I have started sailing, it's a pain in the butt to have to walk all the way back to the car, take off my harness to get the car key out, unlock the car, get the tool, lock the car, go down to the beach, make the adjustment, go back to the car, put the tool in, lock the car again, and return to the beach. Neither of the tools I use are easy to carry in my harness or on or in the mast base. If you have any suggestions where I can keep a rigging tool when I'm sailing, I'm all ears. (Neither of the tools is made out of pink jelly, so please don't suggest what you might be thinking!!!)
I only ever use the mast cup as a downhaul tool for "close to the water" adjustments. It's a lot easier than using a harness spreader bar.
I love the North base because I can make downhaul adjustments in the water. Sometimes the shorebreak at one of my favourite spots is a bitch to get through on a big day, so not having to go back to the beach to make tuning adjustments is a bonus.

quote:

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Originally posted by DavMen

The Point is you don't need to spend any money on any special tool - drill any holes - thread any ropes.

Its just a knot that makes life simple and passing on some free sail rigging tips - use it if you please - ignore it if you wish.

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I use a similar "knot" or rope loop and a bit of old broom... spend money if you feel you need to... Isn't that the real point

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Originally posted by Pugwash
I use a similar "knot" or rope loop and a bit of old broom... spend money if you feel you need to... Isn't that the real point

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Cut the end off the broom handle (short females in our house didn't notice)
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=6107

Didn't seem to effect their broom flight characteristics[}:)][}:)][}:)]

Spewin' Wineman. I though the photo might be of the short females in your house.
Short females (x3)in my house seem to think a broom is something only Mikey should use

quote:

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Originally posted by Wineman

quote:

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Originally posted by Pugwash
I use a similar "knot" or rope loop and a bit of old broom... spend money if you feel you need to... Isn't that the real point

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Cut the end off the broom handle (short females in our house didn't notice)
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=6107

Didn't seem to effect their broom flight characteristics[}:)][}:)][}:)]

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Top comment, tops Wineman. Still laughing as I hit the keys.

quote:

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Originally posted by Wineman

quote:

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Originally posted by Pugwash
I use a similar "knot" or rope loop and a bit of old broom... spend money if you feel you need to... Isn't that the real point

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Cut the end off the broom handle (short females in our house didn't notice)
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=6107

Didn't seem to effect their broom flight characteristics[}:)][}:)][}:)]

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Yeah nice one. Only problem with that is when i got it wet it swelled up, ovcourse there go the holes. I also had dents all through it because when i pulled the down haul on really hard the rope dug into the wood. Not i just use the hook on my harness which works fine.

Bubs

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Originally posted by bubs
Only problem with that is when i got it wet it swelled up, ovcourse there go the holes.
Bubs

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Whatchu talkin' 'bout, boy?