Monday, July 18, 2011

Poor Man's Roller Furling Jib

 I like to have the best jib set for the wind that I'm sailing in.  Consequently, I have several jib sails - but no roller furler.  However, I can still get the jib down quickly and easily with a dousing line.  The dousing line is a 1/4" line that runs from the cockpit through a block that is shackled to the stem fitting and then the line is secured to the head of whichever jib I'm using.  When I cast off the jib halyard, I can pull the dousing line a very quickly have the jib down and secured to the foredeck.  I don't have to run up to the foredeck to do this because both the dousing line and my jib halyard are both lead to the cockpit.  If you'd like a drawing of this setup, email me or comment below.
BTW: the above picture was taken at the new dock where the Clark Fork River enters Lake Pend Oreille.  Beautiful isn't it???