Having deckstepped my boat I now want to change the round topped hoop to a square topped device. No catalogues seem to show these. Where can I buy one and how much do they cost please? Also I have noticed that some of them have traveller tracks on but others have what appears to be a large shackle sliding on a tube across the top. Does anyone have any comments on these two systems? |
I got one by advertising on this forum. It didnt have a track so I am going to use the shackle method. There are pics on this site on the rigging section that show you how to set it up. The track I'm sure is better, but the shackle seems to be simple and cheap to implement. |
Go for a harken track and car - it is far better than the sliding shackle method. I converted mine a few years ago. |
Use the 'search' box (on the right above the list of topics) to find other comments about hoops in the past - it has been discussed several times. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/default.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/3683 |
This gallery shows the sliding-shackle version. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/default.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/3489 |
I had the sliding shackle on Armed Forces. Functional, uncomplicated and cheap. |
The system shown in the link works well as I had a similar set up on my old boat 3478. Basically it was a largish ball block that had been bastardised with a neat little stainless bracket fixed onto the block which allows the block to stay on top of the hoop and fix your main block off. All rather difficult to explain. I can email you a picture of 3478 with this arrangement if it helps? I know that 3539 and 3549 have a similar set up assuming the owners haven't changed to a car system. The shackle set up is ok if the rig is not under load but is an absolute pig to use when fully loaded due to friction irrespective of a ball block purchase system lower down. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/rigging_guide/general&file=ct_top_view.jpg |
Interesting the photo of 3489 that Mags directs you to in one of the responses above shows the sliding shackle version which I ditched shortly after as the friction was much too great to pull the shackle over when under load. With the track, you can easily pull the car over while the mainsail is fully loaded. |
A sketch of my earlier dreadful explanation attached. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/building_and_repairs&file=homemade_hoop.jpg |
The friction problem with the shackle is usually the way it is rigged. On Richard's photo the rope that pulls it over is tied to the bottom of the shackle. This will never work becuase the rope will cause it to jam. The pulleys are unfortunately lined up so that it is impossible to do it any other way short of using a track. |
Usual good advice from Chris. Just to add my bit that with Heaven Sent the Harken track along the top of the hoop is very likely identical to Storm Cloud and there is a definite problem in light wind when there is not enough tension in the traveller rope to reliably uncleat the lazy side and cleat off the windward one. The old acronym KISS springs to mind, get the leads of things absolutely right, use the odd s/s lined bullseye here and there and the systems work correctly. |
For a while I was too tight to replace the life expired traveller on Smoked Salmon. I took the track and fittings off the horizontal on the hoop and tried a large round shackle but it was very hard to get the angles right and it kept on locking off rather than sliding - very frustrating and not fast. |