Trick to secure downhaul line

ascott72 · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 124

I have tried wrapping it, tucking it in to the mast foot, etc. Easiest thing for me has been to find a rubber band (there are some fat types that work great), put it around your mast, and tuck the line under it. Simple.

*also works with your outhaul.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

I put my excess DH line to use. It gets wrapped around the mast and through the upper grommet and around the mast and through the grommet and around the mast ... etc ... until it's used up, then tied off with a couple of half hitches. Done right, it takes just seconds and achieves its actual purpose: Letting me keep on sailin' if the DH fails. My DH has failed only once offshore, where it would have been a serious problem if it hadn't been backed up.

I want some loose line in my OH so I can adjust it easily if a wind change so decrees.

spennie · Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA

You can cut up a mountain bike tube to make big rubber bands.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Windsurfing for well over 2,000 days, I"ve never had the downhaul unravel when I just wrap it around the mast base above the cleat, then secure it by tucking it under 2 wraps.
Now, I just stuff it inside the aluminum tube.
In 31 years of windsurfing, never had a downhaul break in the water. They break when I'm downhauling the sail, on land.
But, I don't use old frayed lines, either.

combs · Joined: 01 Apr 1997 Posts: 130

All Ezzy sails now have velcro pockets inside the base of the mast sleeve to tuck in the downhaul line...Dave Ezzy has an amazing commitment to details.

kmf · Joined: 02 Apr 2001 Posts: 503

Sailworks has had a pocket for the down haul line sewed on the inside of its mast protector since at least 2008.

KMF

whitevan01 · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 607

same with Ezzy

scargo · Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 394

Hard to see from the picture, but it looks to me like you need to change the way you thread your downhaul to eliminate the criss-cross.

ramps · Joined: 07 May 2000 Posts: 94

I coil mine and stuff it inside the mast extension. It was easier before the skinny masts came along but still doable, and the more extension your particular sail calls for the more room you have.

adywind · Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 665

With most modern sails you don't have this problem anymore...and few others from what I can see. Nowadays sails have pulleys, protection pads and line retention pouches build in. Unfortunately there is a penalty for having it easy-price and weight. Still I'm glad I dont have to deal with this stuff anymore...or cambers...or adjustable mast tracks...or daggers... Less hassle = more fun time!