I can't believe folks do this stuff, but I see it often.
necessity is the mother of invention
Edited by MN3 on Mar 29, 2019 - 03:33 PM.
Let’s just say, I’ve seen a trap line used as a backstay to run a kite first hand. It’s sketchy as all get out, but the mast is still in one piece...
There was a craigslist ad for a hobie 16 with no trailer the owner just wanted hauled off. I figured I could get enough odds and ends to make it worth hauling of the spongy hulls. It had galvanized eye bolts and washers instead of anchor bolts and pins, a mop handle hiking stick. One of the shrouds was coated galvanized wire that I think is used for dog tethers. Lots of misc Home Depot pulleys for the jib system. I think the only thing I kept was the mast step hinge/pin. I’m a big advocate for whatever gets you on the water, but even this was too much of a risk, even for lake sailing
I helped someone rig last weekend and they had those 2" home depot cast blocks on the jib. https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Hillman-Group-1-1-2-in-Single-Sheave-Awning-Pulley-with-Fixed-Eye-5-Pack-321586-0/203810459
I warned them that they could kill them and to buy something else. But hey...they did not have life jacket either.
badfish wrote: Let’s just say, I’ve seen a trap line used as a backstay to run a kite first hand. It’s sketchy as all get out, but the mast is still in one piece...
odd - on cats our leach/main is our backstay when using a kite
beach cats don't have/need backstays
MN3 wrote: [quote=badfish]Let’s just say, I’ve seen a trap line used as a backstay to run a kite first hand. It’s sketchy as all get out, but the mast is still in one piece...
odd - on cats our leach/main is our backstay when using a kite
beach cats don't have/need backstays
Exactly. We were offshore and during a capsize caused enough damage to force us to drop the main. The boat was too slow under jib, so we hooked the trap to the mainsheet and tightened it up so we could hoist the kite.
Oh well that is different - sure if you had no main and wanted to fly a kite you would need something.
I have sailed jib only (and pole only) fun downwind ... you will not sail upwind very well or at all ...