I just got a good deal on a used Dart 6000 ( removed link ) Catamaran in great condition. As it is Winter where I reside, I am just gathering information at this point and figuring things out - with very little information. Any links / photos / diagrams / written data will be very helpful!
If Dart Catamarans does not have rigging details, I'd look at F18, Nacra I20/6.0, and Tornado riggings. They're all very similar with slight differences due to crew desires. Same goes for running rigging rope sizes, but lengths may vary.
Dart has a members'-only site, so they may have more info there.
I just got a good deal on a used Dart 6000 ( removed link ) Catamaran in great condition. As it is Winter where I reside, I am just gathering information at this point and figuring things out - with very little information. Any links / photos / diagrams / written data will be very helpful!
@sailin2day Tell us a little about yourself and your sailing area? We might have members in you location that can help rig the Dart. As Cat Scratch says, many beachcsts use similar rigging so an experienced sailor can usually figure out a new boat.
Hi Damon and thanks for your reply. I have always lived on Long Island, NY and started windsurfing in the late 80's. I learned / practiced near my home at the time in protected areas around / on Long Island Sound. As I gained confidence, I sailed on Great South Bay, Moriches Bay, Nappeaque and occasionally on the Ocean. I had friends that also had Catamarans, so I bought a used Prindle 19 and joined "BeachCats" around 2004. I had the Prindle / enjoyed it for about 20 years. Now, I just bought a used Dart 6000 (because the hulls / rudders /sails are pristine). The only minor scuffs on the hulls are from trailer / storage straps. Â
\Sal
@damon-linkous very true that many spin boats have gone to similar set-ups... but a lot of it is personal preference. See how some are set up, go sailing, and don't be afraid to make adjustments.
@texastuma - Thanks for the reply. I have never seen a Catamaran rigged like this one, and I'm figuring things out as I go along:
- The main sheet is secured to the traveler with two pulleys, which are connected to two pulleys within a sleeve below the boom, emerging out of the boom, onto a pulley down the mast, another taking it aft, to a centrally trampoline mounted pulley (but w/o a cleat). I suppose this gives you an advantage - since the mainsheet is fore and the tiller is aft while helming.
(...any other Cat I've sailed - had a 5:1 or 6:1 main sheet pulleys (w/ "snap" cam cleat becket), mounted directly on the traveler, and shackled to the boom end.
- There is a J shaped "mast rotation bar" that connects to a hole in the fore of mast base, and tied to a shock cord below the trampoline.
- In between each rudder securing line and the cleat - is spring w/in each tube. But - there doesn't seem to be an adjustment for rudder "kick-up".
- Each aft trapeze restrainer line has an S hook - on a line sliding through eyelets mounted on the transom of each hull, which are secured to a single long shock cord (with two fore pulleys) - which are coupled to all four trapeze restrainers.
Very intriguing to figure all of this out w/ only a few rigging diagrams that I've gathered. I cannot find a clear photo or video of this boat - so I guess it will be left up to me to post a few ...maybe by April.
Thanks for the replies gents, and keep the fan mail comin' 😎Â
I cannot find a clear photo or video of this boat - so I guess it will be left up to me to post a few ...maybe by April.
Really good info, can't wait for your pictures.
In the meantime here is an image of a sales sheet for the Dart 6000, if anyone has the original to scan that would be great. Ideally there is an assembly manual for a Dart 6000 somewhere out there.
@sailin2day You may already have this, but posting for any other Dart 6000 owners that find this topic and need a Dart 6000 Rigging Manual / Dart 6000 Owners Manual /Dart 6000 Assembly Manual.
I contacted Dart manufacturer at their website and got an email back with this Dart 6000 manual right away, great customer service! Their current models are the
Always good to see that one of the long time brands of beachcat is still around.
Here is the assembly manual for the Dart 6000.
@damon-linkous Hi Damon,
Thanks for sending the Brochure and the rigging manual. I had been searching, had located both of them as well, but the diagrams aren't always clear. ...So, I will still have to carefully figure out some details (like, below the trampoline, there is a shock cords system on two pulleys for the trapeze restraints and one for the "mast rotation arm" - never saw this before). I like the challenge, will get everything right - aye, Capt'n?
...then finally 🌊⛵️MAKE SAIL!
Appears like the Dart's mainsheet is similar to some Tornado main sheet setups. Added bonus is that the mast over-rotates against the mast rotation control. A good feature of this mainsheet is that the crew has better access to it.Â
I suppose the "better access" is because the mainsheet pulley (w/o) a cleat - is mounted in the middle of the trampoline. In this rig - the (6:1?) MA is designed w/ cascading pulleys mounted below the boom, w/in a sleeve. The line is then directed down the mast, then to the central pulley. I just ordered a rotating "snap" jam - cleat, since I won't constantly be qualifying for racing requirements.
Did you every sail a Cat w/ this kind of mainsheet? Did you find it to be advantageous?
\SalÂ
Did you every sail a Cat w/ this kind of mainsheet? Did you find it to be advantageous?
\SalÂ
No, I've merely seen some Tornados with a similar main sheet routing.Â
I would *guess* that unless the trampoline is extremely tight in all directions, the turning block/cleat in the middle of the tramp would offer a 'mushy' mainsheet tension and possibly harder to cleat and uncleat -- maybe. Hopefully that turning block is a ratcheting block so that the operator doesn't fatigue quickly and feel the need to cleat it in fun conditions.
Also having a large, floppy mainsheet turning block/cleat in the middle of the tramp may create a snagging obstacle for crew and other sheets.
I've only sailed on cats with the mainsheet block/cleat on the aft beam traveler. That doesn't mean that it is the best mainsheet system.
I'd say rig it in the way that you feel comfortable with. The cats that I previously owned all had rigging revisions throughout my stewardship -- they all became more complicated, but more instantly-tunable. It all depends upon how YOU want to sail the boat. If you're interested in recreational sailing (no racing), then rig it as simply as possible. If competitive racing is your goal, then I'd be studying more modern boat rigging like the F18 and Tornados, but still keep it as streamlined as possible for expedient sail handling with a view to snag-proofing everything, and use plenty of under-tramp take-up bungees to help 'automagically' organize the sheets/lines. You might need to install some through-tramp grommets to allow the take-ups to function smoothly. Again, those take-up elastics can take some time, study and failures to get just right for your rigging setup.
Case in point: I'm re-fitting a new-to-me 2010 F18 C2, and the tramp is being replaced as it is sun-damaged and tearing. The boat has a lot of take-up lines with tramp grommets that allow the take-up lines to be positioned under the tramp while organizing everything above the tramp. However, after a lot of study of other boats (F18's, Tornado's, etc), measuring, and pondering, I ordered the new tramp with a bunch more large-diameter grommets in places that I *hope* will provide me more line-tailing options. In my past sailing years I've enjoyed sailing in heavy-ish weather, and I do want to race the boat, so I want my running-rigging as fool-proof and organized and easy to access as possible for me and my crew in any typical position on the boat. I'm sure that the rigging will be modified as we get to know the boat better.
So in conclusion, I'd say to rig it with the parts you already have on hand. Get to know the boat during the sailing season, and make your rigging modifications as needed.
Thanks for taking the time to share information.Â
I do realize I will need to sit the boat on the beach, step the mast, rig the Mainsheet & Gennaker sheets, set up the "mast rotation bar", which attaches below the tramp - to a 2nd shock cord system (the other shock cord system attaches to the trapeze restraints). No diagrams / photos to be found on this overly complicated rigging below the trampoline!
 No diagrams / photos to be found on this overly complicated rigging below the trampoline!
There's plenty of diagrams of running rigging and take-ups on various more modern cat manuals. I wouldn’t go by just one old Dart manual.
Here's just a few manuals of more modern cats and their rigging suggestions:
https://www.harken.com/en/shop/one-design-deck-layouts/tornado/
There's a lot of info out there. Don't feel limited by only one cat design/manual.
I also study videos such as this to better understand rigging placements and best usage:
Yeah, this is an A-cat, but you can glean some good stuff from this too:
More F18 stuff, especially their teamwork and sail-handling:
Here's some different Tornado Mainsheet setups:
https://www.ronstan.com/us/mainsheet-systems
This is a three-part series on racing/sail-handling. Some good info:
When ordering my new trampoline, I took a bunch of ideas from Kean Edge Racing's, and others' vids for through-tramp grommet placements in addition to those of the stock Goodall C2 tramp. You can easily modify your existing tramp for whatever kind of take-ups that you want. Might need to remove the tramp from the cat in order to add grommets and other hardware if needed.
Wow, a lot of 🧐information and I will pick out some details that pertain to my ⛵️riggings.
Thanks for taking the time to send all of this😎Â
Here's another mainsheet rigging option, this from Texastuma on his well-modified Prindle 18-2.....
Appears that his cleat is on the boom near the mast and out of the way. Both skipper and crew can easily reach it, and the sheet's momentum wouldn't be hampered by other items when trying to uncleat it quickly while in an awkward position. Probably requires a relatively stout boom. A spindly light-weight old-style F18 boom (non-DS) might bend and/or collapse.
Maybe Texastuma can chime in to provide some background on his choice of mainsheet arangement..... He also has a bad-ass CM Tornado, so ....
In figuring out the rigging for this Dart 6000 - I kept the designer's intention of offering adjustability (for so many factors, in racing).
Photo 1 shows the elaborate "Main Luff Downhaul", allowing tensioning/easing from each hull (and requiring about 19' of line for each).
Photo 2 and 3 shows the dual cleats at each rudder, allowing adjustable rake angle. I had to replace both "Auto-Release adjustable Cam Cleats" (allowing adjustable rudder kick-up). I also had to replace the 104mm diameter access ports (took forever to find on line).
Photo 4, 5 show the trapeze restraint shock cords & blocks beneath the trampoline. The arrangement allows each trapeze restraint shock cord double the excursion of stretch on each shock cord.
Photo 6 shows the "Mast Rotation Bar" tethered to the "Shock Recovery System". This "Mast Rotation Bar" is tethered with "the Primary Mast Rotation Lines" below and "the Secondary Mast Rotation Lines" above and all tensions are adjustable via cam cleats.
Photo 7 shows the blocks for the Gennicker sheets (which I need to determine length for - when I sail).
Photo 8 shows the Gennicker tack line, on the block between the bridal wires