Hi all Spring is on its way and am about to start work on the boat and have a problem for you all at the present time my jib turning blocks are mounted to a knee under the shrouds and during the summer I put some adjustable rope blocks to the mast to improve the angle and slot and was wondering if the was a measurement from the centerline to track as I want to fit tracks but don't know where to fit them I know to take a lead from 2/3's up but don't know how far out from the centre line. I have an old boat 2293 and live in Penzance in cornwall any help much appericated.

As far as I know you need to get them as near to 13 inches from the centerline of the boat.

does that 13 inches count regardless of the age of the boat

300mm is the measurement I have loged down, whats of note here is that when moving the sheeting position inboard on an older boat for it to be totally efective you must couple the alteration with aquiring a modern jib cut to suit with it's entry angle cut to suit.

Even the older merlin I owned (3215) had the jib sheeted on a longitudinal track screwed down to the land between the 2nd and 3rd plank & unless you have an odd design that's where to put it.  Should tally with the measurements above.  As to where to put it fore and aft, that you should determine with the boat rigged so you can work out where the jib should sheet to so as to give a nice parallel slot with no backwinding and all 3 telltales breaking at the same point in light to moderate conditions.  That will be the point 1/3 down the track as you don't ever want the leech much tighter but may want to depower with the block a fair way back when windy

I think

Andrew

Yes I do have an odd design it's a one off I have roughly done what everyone has said with a floating block made off at the bottom of the mast. It make a big difference to the last sail of the season. Just can't wait for it to start again thanks for youre help all

(should have been 2315 - spoonerised sail number)