Can a haylard and downhall be a continuous line

[Timmay]

I just ordered sail slugs and want to run the haylard to the cockpit and install a downhall and it just popped in my mind that it might be possible to use one continuous line for the haylard and downhall. Basically the line would be twice as long as the mast (to the block at the top) with additional length on both ends for enough line to lead to the cockpit. Tie a bowline in the middle of the line with the clip (not sure the correct terminology) that connects to the mainsail for hoisting. The haylard side of the rope will go through a piviting block/camcleat combo on the mast where the boom meets it and the downhall side can go to a block/camcleat near the base of the mast as mast rotation is not important with the sail down. From both blocks, enough line to bring to where I want the line to end up in the cockpit.
Would this work? Any disadvantages? Also, what size line is the haylard? Thank you for any input. Timmay!!!

[smoyer]

That's an interesting idea ... I don't see why not, though the rope used for a downhaul can be much cheaper than that used for a halyard.

On second thought, with the arrangement you describe, you'll need to be very careful about where you put your knot ... like the head of the sail maybe?

[Wind Chime]

We use a downhaul line, and it works great every time.

We use a thin line (same diameter as the roller furling line) and attach it to the uppermost sail slug, and the line runs down the mast and aft to the cockpit with the main halyard.

I would caution against using a continous line because;
- the headboard is desinged to have tension pulled up on the cringle as you raise the sail.
- if you pull down on the headboard cringle it will bend the headboard over and may stress the sail.

[Timmay]

Thanks guys,
thats a good point about the headboard. Picturing it, I would not think that it would have that much pressure but I guess if anything "kinked" up while lowering it, you would have to apply preasure. I guess you could add another bowline around the top sail slug but at that point, you don't really need it to be a contiuous single line.
I think I will probably stick with your way which obviously works and seems the more tried and true way of doing it. Thanks again for your input. Timmay!!!

[c130king]

Timmay!!!

That is exactly what I have...a continuous halyard/downhaul. It is about 72 feet long. One end tied to headboard then up to masthead block and then down to turning blocks at base of mast and led back to cockpit. It goes through a v-cleat (with a top to keep the line from getting away) and then with about 2-3 feet of line in the cockpit it turns back and heads back to the base of the mast through turning blocks and up the mast where the other end is tied around the top-most sail slug.

The 2-3 feet in the cockpit is plenty to allow me to lock it down in the v-cleat and take a couple of turns around a horn cleat mounted vertically just below the winch.

Works great. If the main doesn't just smootly drop into my lazy jacks (love them as well) I can pull the downhaul side of the line and pull the main down into the lazy jacks...never leave the cockpit to go up to the mast to pull down the sail. Installed by the PO...not by me. But it works fine, never kinks up.

I don't remember the size. I think it is the standard halyard size for the Mac whatever that is. I have blue line for this thus the raising and lowering of the sail is slightly slower than it would be with a white line...oh come on...you had to see that one coming...

Good Luck,
Jim

[Timmay]

Oh I wish i could come back with a blue/white joke but my blue has barrier coat on the bottom that is rather rough and I think is causing drag. At most I have gotten 18 land mph (gps) with my yami 50 and I can't get it past 4900 RPM. Someday I will be faster darnit! (Even thought about putting a V8 in there) LOL
I have a question, do you have any issues raising or lowering the mainsale if the wind catches it?
I like the lazy jacks but I am going to try and fab something similar to this below, I like the way it folds up out of the way and it looks fairly simple to create:

Timmay!!!

[c130king]

I have a question, do you have any issues raising or lowering the mainsale if the wind catches it?

No issues with the halyard/downhaul (or haul down as I call so as not to confuse it with a true downhaul which normally is used to pull the luff tight) with the wind. But I do have to be pretty true into the wind to raise the main...sometimes the battens will get caught under parts of the lazy jack lines as they leech flaps in the wind but it is a simple matter of pulling the sail down a little as I turn back into the wind and then haul away...minor, minor issue in my mind.

I don't even have to secure my sail when it drops down into the lazy jacks...at least not right away...if I need the sail down it comes down quick and easy and stays inside the lazy jacks. I will get up and put a couple sail ties/bungees around the sail (and straighten out some of the flakes) once I got everything else cleaned up and have the boom secured to one of the stanchions with a bungee.

I do most of my sailing single-handed and the lines led aft, combo halyard/haul down, roller furling and lazy jacks make my life MUCH simpler. I rarely ever have to go up on deck for any sailing issues.

And of course the S1 Wheel Pilot is also a single-handers best friend.

Haven't seen one of those contraptions like you are thinking about except in pictures. Seems to me that if they are not "tall" enough the sail could "flop" over the side as it comes down. And then can you put a sail cover on with those things up? My LJ system is connected to the boom at the front and rear ends with cheap Walmart carabiners. I think they are $1.79 for a pkg of four. When I want to put on the sail cover I do a quick disconnect of the four carabiners, pull all the LJ lines forward and they are held up against the mast by the sail cover.

Cheers,
Jim

[Timmay]

Thanks Jim,
I don't keep my bat slipped (wet or dry) so I always have to rig and derig. I just remove the boom and store it in the cabin so it doesn't ever see the sail cover. It seemed to me the lazy jacks would take some more time each time I had to rig so i was looking at the other option. If is just 2 lines on the boom, that would not be bad. Timmay!!!

[Jim Bunnell]

The "contraption" that Timmay is looking at is a sail caddy. They can be folded (pivot) parallel to the boom after the sail is down. I've never had much problem with the sail flopping over the sides. If there is a wind across the sail it might hang over a bit but can be flipped right back in and then secured. While they will hold the sail there while I derig and then secure with sail ties, they really are not designed to hold the sail neatly once down, but rather to assist in the gathering, much as lazy jacks do. My sail cover easily closes over them once they are laid flat.

Jim

[James V]

I use a main sail down haul after I had to down my main in some wind and it would not come down all the way. I have a 3/16's line tied just above the reef point and it comes down the mast and under the boom to the end. This is a must have for a singlehander.