Using a headsail downhaul

[Moncoeur]

Hi all, I have a Spencer 30 and am keen to single hand. I've heard that a headsail downhaul can be useful in limiting time spent at the bow; advantageous in heavy weather. I don't have a headsail furler. What are other sailor's experiences using them - advantages and disadvantages? How are they set up?

[roverhi]

A downhaul can make dousing a headsail just a matter of pulling the sail down and hauling in the sheet so it lays on deck. If there is a lot of wind and waves are washing up on deck you still have to go forward and bag or gasket the sail as the loose part will wash/blow over the side. They also a really nice to have item if get caught with a too large sail up in high winds. The sail will try and climb back up the mast if you don't have some way to pull it down and keep the luff down. Don't run the line up inside the hanks though, the line will chafe through.

[GordMay]

See ➥ Jib Downhaul Project

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by GordMay

See ➥ Jib Downhaul Project

Similar set up to what I did many years ago and it worked well. Agree you eventually need to go forward to secure the sail. How quickly you needed to go forward depended on the conditions. After it was down, pulling the sheeting snug mostly kept it on deck.

To secure the sail, I preferred the sea sausage (long sail bag) that had tie down lines securing the bag to the stanchions or other spots on the deck vs trying to stuff the sail in a ready bag. Personal preference, each has its own merits.
The sea sausage is old school and you may need to look in older canvas project books to find how to make them.


Bill O.

[gwy]

Have used one many times and for many years before having boats with roller furling.

They are great and - it is a big AND. You need to be sure you have good piston hanks that do not bind, and where is your halyard going to be located? If you're doing everything from the cockpit these make sense, from the mast perhaps not so much. The Sleeve cover ( AKA, sausage cover) attached to the stanchions is really helpful. My schooner was triple headsailed; staysail, working jib, flying jig/yankee - the headsail haul downs made it quite easy. Head down to a close reach, harden the sheet half way, release the halyard and bring sail down with the down haul. The semi hardened sheet helps keep the head sail out of the water.

The whole set up works quite well as long as your hanks don't bind and while not roller furling, and the sleeve cover is "old school", it can be a great set up and much less money than a good furler.

gwy

[korchinsky]

I assume this can only be done with a hank on sail.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by korchinsky

I assume this can only be done with a hank on sail.

A sail with a luff tape (in a furler or foil) when pulled down with a downhaul will attempt to leave the vessel. The hanks keep the sail on the boat.

[Lippe]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

A sail with a luff tape (in a furler or foil) when pulled down with a downhaul will attempt to leave the vessel. The hanks keep the sail on the boat.

That a good point👍🏻

[Benz]

I use a jib downhaul. Works great. Use line big enough to be comfy in your hand--5/16" minimum. My 1/4" is hard to grip at times, gotta upgrade when budget allows.

[Cheechako]

I used one on my 30 footer. It worked fairly well. I ran the line through the hanks. Head the boat up, pull sail down. You still have to go forward and secure the sail. In the end, i wasn't too sure it was worth it, but it does allow you to get the boat under better control before you go forward.