Running rigging

[Dog House]

So, after buying the boat last fall and just powering with her, I've finally got a couple sailing lessons under my belt and this is now my focus. I'm also realizing a bit more about the boat.

The PO seems to have moved the loop where the main sheet attaches from the end of the boom a little bit forward. I don't yet understand this, but wanted to see if it was a common mod, if there's a good reason why, or what?

Second, and although I'm not making any modifications yet, I'm looking at gaining an understanding as I learn to sail with this. The outhaul is very rudimentary (just a cleat and a rope) and part of me thinks something more adjustable would be of value. I also intend to get comfortable with the process of reefing long before I need to use it... but the current setup is also pretty basic. Would a pulley setup be useful?

Related to this is that I have a empty clutch for a rope Considering that I have hank on headsails and no jiffy-reefing/lazy-jack setup, it would seem like I would run the jib halyard back, for now (although the current line is too short and I'll be replacing it soon). But if I set up a better reefing system, this would seem more of a priority to have in the cockpit. Does this seem reasonable?

The last thing is a cunningham. I'm very intrigued by the seemingly endless ability to adjust sail shape. If I had a better outhaul, a cunningham, and with the adjustable backstay tension, I feel like I could spend days playing with this to see how it works.

Then again, I've read a bunch of sailing info over the last little bit waiting for the weather to smarten up, so not everything is perfectly clear at this point.

[Tomfoolery]

AFAIK, the main sheet boom bail from the factory was directly over the bottom attachment at the helm with the boom pointed straight back. There would be no point in having the main sheet top block attach back at the end of the boom, and it would increase the force on the main sheet for the same net lateral force component when close hauled.

As to the outhaul, if the main has a bolt rope, and it's in the groove, then the outhaul doesn't do much other than keep the foot from wrinkling. If it was loose-footed, then the outhaul would provide some real sail shaping.

The jib halyard would be handy to have at the helm, but so would the main halyard. If you're going to run one back, I'd suggest you run both back.

Adjustable backstay, cunningham, outhaul, vang, and barber hauler are getting kind of advanced. Just my opinion, but a couple of years more experience would go a long way, and a new set of better quality sails would go a really long way. The original sails weren't that great, and if they're original they're probably blown out, but there are cost-effective replacements that can make a big difference.

[Ixneigh]

Yes do get the reefing down before you need it. The oem set up barely qualifies so a good slab reef system is in order. Get two reef points when you order your sail from Judy. I don't know about the x but the m is still sail able with just a double reefed main and feels stable and under control.
I did not bother to run everything back to the cockpit, to keep the deck uncluttered. I have to get up on deck to tie the reef in anyway.
Ix

[Dog House]

AFAIK, the main sheet boom bail from the factory was directly over the bottom attachment at the helm with the boom pointed straight back. There would be no point in having the main sheet top block attach back at the end of the boom, and it would increase the force on the main sheet for the same net lateral force component when close hauled.

As to the outhaul, if the main has a bolt rope, and it's in the groove, then the outhaul doesn't do much other than keep the foot from wrinkling. If it was loose-footed, then the outhaul would provide some real sail shaping.

This all makes sense. Perhaps I was looking at the owners manual incorrectly. Thanks.

The jib halyard would be handy to have at the helm, but so would the main halyard. If you're going to run one back, I'd suggest you run both back.

Ok yeah. The main is already run back there, but there was an empty clutch with a jib halyard that's too short to reach (except for when the jib is fully raised). But replacing the halyards is on the immediate horizon, if only because they're all the same color, but largely because I suspect they sat out over a few winters of freezing/thawing and I'm not confident in them.

Adjustable backstay, cunningham, outhaul, vang, and barber hauler are getting kind of advanced. Just my opinion, but a couple of years more experience would go a long way, and a new set of better quality sails would go a really long way. The original sails weren't that great, and if they're original they're probably blown out, but there are cost-effective replacements that can make a big difference.

Agreed, and I don't mean to get ahead of myself. Just starting to get excited for sailing and the seemingly endless amount of practice/learning. New sails are certainly in the plans, but probably not until the fall.

[Herschel]

The PO seems to have moved the loop where the main sheet attaches from the end of the boom a little bit forward

You may find that this position a little forward of the end of the boom allows you to sail with a bimini over the cockpit. That is the case with my X.

[budgates]

As to the outhaul, if the main has a bolt rope, and it's in the groove, then the outhaul doesn't do much other than keep the foot from wrinkling. If it was loose-footed, then the outhaul would provide some real sail shaping.

.

I would agree with everything except this part. Even with the foot of the sail inside the boom the outhaul still makes a big difference in the depth of the sail just as the luff tension makes a difference even though it's inside the mast.