cockpit adjustable fairleads

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:56 pm

I was looking at some adjustable fairleads from Garhauer marine.

http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=37

Anyway, I was wondering if there are many out there that have the ones you can adjust from the cockpit, and if so, are they worth the money?

Thanks,
Adam

J. Austin · Post by **J. Austin** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:08 pm

I am working on making every piece of hardware on my 22 Garhauer.
That stuff blows everything else away. Their prices are good. Their owner is an awsome guy. I havent seen too many adjustable ones on the scale for our boats.

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:05 pm

Ya their stuff is awesome.
I am just trying to figure out if I will be adjusting the leads enough to warrant the purchase of those e z glide genoa cars.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:51 am

Adam, I adjust my headsail fairleads frequently while sailing because it is easy to do and can be effective. You might consider trying a couple of tweekers (aka twings, similar to a barber haul) on the toe rail to see how beneficial whether such a device would be beneficial.

A barber haul pulls the sheets inboard, toward the centerline, thus narrowing the sheeting angle and closing the slot, while the tweeker/twing changes the sheeting angle fore and aft.

On Windward, I use a single ratchet block with becket snap shackled to the toe rail, giving me a 2:1 purchase to a light (Garmin carbo 29) block that the jibsheet passes through. You could use a block on the rail with an integrated cam cleat, but I run mine to a cam cleat on the cabin trunk to make it easier to adjust from the cockpit. By tightening the line the sheet is pulled down, shifting the lead point forward.

Here are a couple of pics that sort of show it in action:

http://www.sv-windward.com/shipslog/201 ... 111110.jpg

and

http://www.sv-windward.com/shipslog/201 ... 163906.jpg

Note that in the second shot I'm also using a barber haul (the green line). The combo is effective, although it can make the side deck resemble a cat's cradle. You can also see the toe rail/track I installed on the cabin top. It is actually a bit too far inboard for most of my sails. I've considered installing a second set of tracks on the side deck near the cabin trunk, but the tweeker/barber haul combo have been effective enough that I haven't bothered yet.

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:15 am

Thanks for your explanation. That seems like a very easy trial setup and a lot cheaper than the full setup...which is a nice start.
I received my books that all of you recommended the other day and have spent the last few reading intensely. I can't wait to play with sail trim. Now the 4 feet of snow and ice must melt.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:11 am

Adam, it's a pretty effective alternative. If after trying it you still decide to go with adjustable track, these can be twings for a spinnaker, or barber hauls, or fill some other similar niche. Not essential to use the ratchet blocks, but there can be quite a load on them in a stout breeze so it makes adjustment easier and takes a load off of the cam.

One way to get a more inboard lead with this setup would be to rig them from a midship cleat (perhaps the most useful toe stubbers I have on the boat) rather than from the toe rail.

J. Austin · Post by **J. Austin** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:55 pm

Great set-up Jeff, I love the amount of adjustability.