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Adjustable Outhauls

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Created by gh > 9 months ago, 25 Jan 2019
gh
NSW, 151 posts
25 Jan 2019 10:47AM
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Yes I know this topic has been covered in the past, but what I would like to know is, the people who have gone to an AO are you still using them or did they become a nuisance during rigging? Do the benefits on the water out way the extra time (if it does take extra time after you become used to them) in setting up?

Thanks

ka43
NSW, 3062 posts
25 Jan 2019 10:54AM
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If you set it up properly and use a Chinook "applecore" (or similar brand) then it makes rigging a breeze. Juts loop and go instead of threading rope through pulleys/cleats etc.
It doesnt matter if you use them for slalom, speed or just cruising. Its just easy adjustment.

MikeyS
VIC, 1506 posts
25 Jan 2019 11:37AM
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I've recently set up an AO for my race sails, mainly because I though it was a must-have. It's a bit more fiddly to rig, but so is frigging around with cams, so it's no big deal. It might add another minute to rigging time.

Frankly, it hasn't made the big difference I expected (so far, at least). Most of the time the sails (KA Race 7.1 and 7.9) feel better with no outhaul (or neg. outhaul) so the adjustment is usually "let it right off". Flattening the sail for hard upwind does help some, but maybe I'm not yet dialled into the subtlety. I'm sticking with it though. I expect I have more to learn, and the disadvantages, a bit of added rigging time, cam cleats right where you want to put your backhand for a gybe, dangly things here and there, aren't that bad.

And yes, get the Chinook applecores- preferably one for each sail.

I've been crewing on a keelboat in races recently and there's always heaps of tweaking and tuning all the time, so I expected an AO to be as useful and necessary as all the tuning controls on the boat. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

LeeD
3939 posts
25 Jan 2019 8:47AM
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I find them great for upwind/downwind, and useless for across the wind reaching.
Undoubtedly needed for course racing.
Doesn't work for me at all for reaching because set loose, the sail twists MORE, and has 3" more slack..making pumping barely effective.
Set tight, the leech is tighter so there is LESS twist on a flat twitchy sail...when overpowered.
If the wind changes 20mph while I'm out, I can drop in the water to adjust

Searoamer
NSW, 284 posts
25 Jan 2019 12:21PM
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Have used for years with slalom, formula and now foiling gear - essential IMHO, means you can access the big tuning range of modern sails - all upside, no downside once set up

Imax1
QLD, 4527 posts
25 Jan 2019 11:27AM
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I'm also new to OH and agree with above. . It's a bit strange grabbing boom and rope when jibing but doable . One thing I have noticed is it didn't Have much effect with a NP V8 9.4 . But makes a big difference on a dedicated Severne race sail 9.5 which can point much higher into the wind. So I only use AO in lighter wind on my RB . In over 13 kts I'm reaching on a smaller board and don't need all the extra hoo haa to get tangled in.

choco
SA, 3995 posts
25 Jan 2019 1:10PM
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Not having an adjustable outhaul is like a car stuck in 1st gear.

kato
VIC, 3340 posts
25 Jan 2019 1:44PM
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Love em, great for speedsailing

BSN101
WA, 2244 posts
25 Jan 2019 11:41AM
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Is there an Sdj OH made for narrow diameter booms. NP isn't suitable but now they have the inbuilt one for the race sails

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
25 Jan 2019 6:44PM
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Select to expand quote
BSN101 said..
Is there an Sdj OH made for narrow diameter booms. NP isn't suitable but now they have the inbuilt one for the race sails



Just get the correct size plastic cleat holder to suit the boom you use. 3 different sizes available. If it still slips use an old fin cover as a packer.

kato
VIC, 3340 posts
25 Jan 2019 7:46PM
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And wrap the boom in silicon tape first and it will never slip

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
25 Jan 2019 6:49PM
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I find ADJ OH great for gusty or variable conditions. Saves having to stop n untie rope when the wind strength changes n your fingers are tired. Can crank it or bag it on the fly. Also think its easier to rig using an apple core.

clarence
TAS, 979 posts
25 Jan 2019 9:31PM
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Almost an essential IMO.

I put thinner rope and some tiny plastic ronstan pulleys instead of the chinook ones.

A little bit fiddly to set up and get used to, but totally worth it.

I sail a lot offshore on all points of sail and wind conditions and adj outhaul is part of the tuning just like a centreboard and mast track.

Clarence

John340
QLD, 3047 posts
25 Jan 2019 10:25PM
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The AOs allow you to use a bigger sail and be powered up when deep off the wind, because you can reduce power in the sail by pulling on the AO when sailing back upwind to the start of the run

MagicRide
688 posts
25 Jan 2019 10:37PM
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I made a custom adjustable outhaul. No issues with the outhaul line on the areas where I grab the boom. I only have one cleat on the port side of the boom just in front of the boom tail extension clips. I shackle on a micro ronstan pulley at the clew of the sail which stays their at all times. When I rig, I send the outhaul from the end of the boom through the micro pully on the sail back to the end of the boom pulley back through the cleat in front of the boom clips. Works like a charm. Easy rigging in seconds. All my sails have a micro ronstan pulley shackled to the clew end of the sail. The only disadvantage is I can't adjust the outhaul on a starboard tack, and I can't pull the clew of the sail flush with the end of the boom, but with the small micro pulley, I'm not far off to the end of the boom. I'm just a recreational sailor, so I just adjust as needed when I return to a port tack. Beats going back to the beach to readjust. Best modification I ever made for my gear.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7917 posts
26 Jan 2019 10:50AM
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Select to expand quote
BSN101 said..
Is there an Sdj OH made for narrow diameter booms. NP isn't suitable but now they have the inbuilt one for the race sails



Cut some pushbike inner tube lengths up. Tape the boom first then put as many layers as you need inside the cleat setup and screw it tight..I found with the narrower boom it slipped a bit but this fixed it. I also taped a thick wad of tape around the boom closer to the end. If it does come loose the tape will hopefully stop it so i can get in and fix things.
Great for me. If the wind kicks in I can pull the sail on or let it off if it dies.
The downside is everything hanging off can be a pain packing away and sliding the boom in between the boards in the back of the van. I try to make sure I have the cleats facing away from the boards as I slide it in . I think the shoving in the van as I packed up can loosen the cleats and make them more liable to slip.

gh
NSW, 151 posts
28 Jan 2019 6:53PM
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Thanks for all the advice and comments. Definitely will set up an AO and persevere with it so that it becomes part of the rigging process.

Tony Polony
NSW, 337 posts
28 Jan 2019 8:18PM
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Hard to think of sailing without an AO nowadays... Very handy and super easy to rig.

segler
WA, 1597 posts
4 Feb 2019 12:43AM
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I agree that the AO is essential. It is the difference between rigging one sail and rigging three sails for a day of variable wind.

I use AO for all my foiling rigs, from 5.0 to 8.5.

Farang
43 posts
12 Feb 2019 12:35PM
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The best one is by Point-7. Check it out - it wont slip, easy to adjust in both ways, you can hardly feel it when you grip over it.

mark62
490 posts
12 Feb 2019 6:27PM
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Same as Farang, the Point 7 AO is very good, easy to fit and remove. The Unifiber version is good too. I prefer them both more than the traditional clam-cleat version.

BSN101
WA, 2244 posts
12 Feb 2019 10:17PM
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Select to expand quote
mark62 said..
Same as Farang, the Point 7 AO is very good, easy to fit and remove. The Unifiber version is good too. I prefer them both more than the traditional clam-cleat version.


How does it work? There's not one set up on the Point7 site.
Pix of yours

Farang
43 posts
15 Feb 2019 3:51PM
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Farang
43 posts
15 Feb 2019 3:54PM
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It wont slip any millimetre!! No pain - you can grip your hand on it. Pick up the newest version that comes with a plastic buckle as it will not scratch your carbon boom. Earlier version had a metal (spring loaded) locking system. Go for a plastic one....

choco
SA, 3995 posts
15 Feb 2019 7:17PM
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Loft used to supply similar AO for years with all their sails

sailquik
VIC, 6068 posts
15 Feb 2019 8:42PM
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Has anyone got a link to those AO's from Point7? I can't find them on their website.

summset
WA, 13 posts
15 Feb 2019 6:31PM
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point-7.com/

gh
NSW, 151 posts
15 Feb 2019 9:49PM
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Good video there as well.

BSN101
WA, 2244 posts
15 Feb 2019 10:27PM
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The booms look real nice too. Not sure about the cam cleat for realeading outhaul. But I guess it must work well

segler
WA, 1597 posts
16 Feb 2019 12:38AM
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This style of AO has been made and sold by Sailworks since day one. They still make and sell them.

dkeating
VIC, 253 posts
20 Feb 2019 3:40PM
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I bought the unifiber one some years ago and could never get it to work properly. It just seemed to keep slipping in the clip and slackening off. Any one else had this problem? or maybe i was setting something up wrongly.?



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"Adjustable Outhauls" started by gh