Dear Surfers,
This is my second project after my home made sail. It really works perfect. Easy to use. It cost me 10 US Dollars. I am not the inventor of this tool.

good job ..I would suggest making the rod a little longer ,so you can get more rope on it ,and it pulls it out away from the cleat on a angle .
rather than straight down ...but it works well done.Melih.

Good job ! I think it will do for your small sails, but I doubt it would take on a big sail like a 10 or 11. The wood part being pretty long will be under a lot of stress, you might try and shorten it if you see it bending too much. Also using formuline rope for your downhaul will make it a lot easier.

i like it and it is a lot better than lugging this around :



yes, that is Phil McGain , iron man, not using his hands, but rather a monster crank

another smart system :

Thanks...

The best tool for me is one that I've always had, ever since I learned how to use a harness 30+ years ago.
Put your harness on before you do your final downhaul, sit down and put your foot on the bottom of the base extension, up close so you have to bend your knee, and then wrap the down haul rope around your harness hook. Then just lean back and push with your foot on the base, you have more strength in your leg than you do trying to crank on that handle. No tools necessary, and you can actually over downhaul because of all the leverage you have using this technique.
Besides, what happens when you figure you need more downhaul after you've been sailing, going back to get your tool again?
No, you can do my technique right on the beach, and then get right back out there.

^^ Is that what happened to your harness hook?



Downhaul winches are an awesome investment and make it a lot easier to get the exact right amount of downhaul. On a race sail +/- 5mm makes a difference. I have a chinook plastic one, but lots of guys around here have made their own, some have boat winches etc attached to a piece of pipe.

For the race sails I will never even think of not using the North Power extensions! So awesome being able to adjust the rig on the water! How we ever sailed without them, I'll never know!

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jamesf said..
^^ Is that what happened to your harness hook?



Downhaul winches are an awesome investment and make it a lot easier to get the exact right amount of downhaul. On a race sail +/- 5mm makes a difference. I have a chinook plastic one, but lots of guys around here have made their own, some have boat winches etc attached to a piece of pipe.

Wrap the rope around the bar not the hook.

Dear Mastbender,
Probably you must be a very strong man. I can tune my sail with my body force however I don't want to do it any more, because sometimes my back hurts. Momentum is our best friend. Thanks to Physics. Salute to U.S.A.

Nice melih.

Is that hickory?

I paid $50 for mine, but was AUD, so probably close to US $10 now anyway.

I couldn't live without it either because of a bad back.

P.S. I want to see your home made sail.

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Harrow said..
Nice melih.

Is that hickory?

I paid $50 for mine, but was AUD, so probably close to US $10 now anyway.

I couldn't live without it either because of a bad back.

P.S. I want to see your home made sail.

Hi,
I don't know the type of the wood. It's imported from Germany. It's very hard wood. Ax handle. There are many sail photographs in my profile. (home made sails).

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melih said..
Hi,
I don't know the type of the wood. It's imported from Germany. It's very hard wood. Ax handle. There are many sail photographs in my profile. (home made sails).

They look very interesting. What does it cost to make your own sail? Is it hard to obtain the material?

Select to expand quote

Harrow said..

melih said..
Hi,
I don't know the type of the wood. It's imported from Germany. It's very hard wood. Ax handle. There are many sail photographs in my profile. (home made sails).

They look very interesting. What does it cost to make your own sail? Is it hard to obtain the material?

Harrow said..

melih said..
Hi,
I don't know the type of the wood. It's imported from Germany. It's very hard wood. Ax handle. There are many sail photographs in my profile. (home made sails).

They look very interesting. What does it cost to make your own sail? Is it hard to obtain the material?

125-150 US dollars. It is not hard the obtain the material. Some firms import these materials from China. Main materials are dacron and monofilm. You live in Australia. It is much easier for you to get the materials. It takes 40 to 50 days to create a sail. Good luck...

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jamesf said..
^^ Is that what happened to your harness hook?

Ha, I figured I'd get a comment like that soon after I posted my suggestion. Kind of saw that one coming.
No, the hook broke while out sailing, it was a very old hook but it was stainless, so I was very surprised, haven't broken another one since.

I can't imagine how this technique would hurt anyone's back, it's not like the hook is in the middle of your chest when you lean back and pushing with your leg to get the down haul that you need. Your leg does most of the work, while your arms are doing almost nothing but making sure the rope doesn't slip.

^^^ You're back still needs to tense up. If you had a lower back injury you would understand. Lifting an old computer monitor can lay me up for two or three days if I'm not very careful, and that's easier then pulling the downhaul.

Funny thing is that sailboarding is actually good for my back, opposite of what one might expect. (As long as I waterstart, and not uphaul.)

Good idea