I have a 1982 Boston Whaler era Super 17 which doesn't have a downhaul set up with blocks and cleats.. there is only the main halyard uphaul on the starboard side of the mast.There is nothing else mounted to the mast. I sailed it last week and we just ran a line thru the downhaul grommet and down under and back up around the front tube and thru the grommet again and tied it off. I am not to cool about this set up and was wondering if any of you could enlighten me as to how I should set this up. Any photos would be great.Thanks,Mark. Picture attached above.

nice pic of a nice boat

warning warning warning

newbie about to espouse half baked knowledge

it is my understanding that all we read about the importance of controlling downhaul instead of mainsheet to depower is only related to modern masts with swept spreaders and diamond wires

like a hobie 16 it looks like your supercat has neither diamond wires or spreaders...

along with swept spreaders came masts designed to be bent fore and aft along their major axis by a combination of diamond tension and downhaul. many of these masts are tapered. and the final addition to the package was a sail designed to be used on a bendy mast with swept spreaders that could be savagely downhauled with powerful blocks

so just adding a modern powerful downhaul to an old cat and whaling? on that may just pull the bottom off your sail....

my nacra 5.2 is also a 1982 boat, it has diamond wires but a straight spreader and a 3 to 1 downhaul

about 1984 the 5.2 got swept spreaders

so i'd guess a simple 3 to 1 downhaul is all you need

apart from this forum experienced hobie 16 sailors should be able to tell you the best way to handle downhaul on a simple mast, as should the supercat forum, (if there is one)

Mark, here is a link to Aquarius Sails website (they built the SC17). http://www.aquarius-sail.com/

Either email contact, call or post a question on their user forum and someone will respond. Manuals and parts are still available.

There is an SC17 twin to yours parked next to my lift. I could shoot pics if needed.

Sail fast, Tom G

Thanks- I emailed Aquarius Sail.Also spoke with Jack Masor another SC17 owner out here on LI. He has also been very helpful. Mark.