I've almost convinced myself to go to a two line system.

Can I gain any speed by altering the diameter of the blocks?

I like the two line system because at A mark, when you pull the tack out first, you have also pulled half the spin out, so when you pull the halyard it comes up really fast and easy. And when sailing Uni, on the douse, if something happens (traffic!) where you have to stop snuffing for a minute to...um...steer (!) you won't shrimp the spinny, the tack line will keep the foot up out of the water and you can finish the snuff when you have it under control.

Yes, it takes a few extra seconds to pull the tack line release on the douse, but it keeps it simple and easy. And yes, a bigger radius block (in any application) will allow the line to run through it faster with less drag.

Pete, after Tradewinds someone handed me a trap handle with a ball hook on it for you. If you need it right away I can send it.

Thanks but that isn't necessary. I'll pick it up next time I see you.

Are you running the stock turning block, at the top of the hoist? I was thinking of replacing that with one larger but I'm not sure how much larger nor am I sure how much can be gained.

Karver KB6 here

Has anyone ever played with furlers on single handers? It occurs to me that with a furler and a modified retrieval setup. You could hoist the kite as you approach the mark (from Trap with little load), and simply grab the sheet and pull on it after bearing away, effectively allowing a set as fast as the 2 man boats. At the bottom mark you would furl the kite (again quicker and easier than dropping) get around the mark, get the boat going then drop the furled sail (similar to what you see on the big boats but with some form of retrieval rope). It would take some thought and setup but if you got it right you could eliminate the biggest hole in single handed performance.

Nope, replaced it with a slightly larger diameter Harken with a hole in the center where I run the line around the mast. Ask Matt what size it is.

Now there is an idea! Thanks. You too Tim.

29mm airblock. harken part h348. like 10$ done it on 3 boats and never had a problem.... however: at area D I had my line that functions as the bale and goes through the center of the block broke on day one (i saw it needed to be replaced when I set the boat up but didn't). Sailed awesome that day though... might say something about my sheeting angle for my spin though.

Okay:

Karver 45mm/$44

Harken 29mm/$10~

I'm thinking I need two so that's $88 v $20. Any idea what I get for the extra money?

Two? For the hoist block up on the mast??

don't know which karver block you are referring to, but no you don't need it. get the harken. Why do you need two????

I'm still using the original system. One of the things I find distracting is to pull from stern to bow when dousing. I want to put a turning block on the port side of the forward cross bar, then I can douse by pulling bow to stern.

Where is your spin halyard clete? On the mast or on the front beam, starboard side? And are you using the "all in one" halyard/tack line or two separate lines?

One thing I don't like is having all my 'strings' on top of the tramp, I find I'm usually sitting or kneeling on...something...and that's why it won't set or snuff.

The Vipers run a lot of stuff under the tramp and out the lace up sides to keep the strings out of the way, but since my tramp sides are in a grooved plae in the hull, I can't run much under the tramp, just the halyard coming up from the snuffer sock.

Pete-I think a two line system would work well to get it up faster. The block at the top of the mast could be a little bigger but it was working fine last weekend. Biggest problem with your system is that tapper on the halyard; it is getting stuck in the grommet in the back of the bag. If you fix that issue you should have no problem with the hoist. Dropping it was a breeze...loved the ease...wish mine was that fast and easy!
Thanks again for a great weekend of sailing!

You're very welcome, I was glad to have you aboard.

Joanna, would you be insulted if we had a Uni regatta, and do you think Jody would do it? And could you also sail Uni on your -extra- boat?

Just kicking ideas around.

I use a spinlock mounted on the starboard side of the front cross bar, as original.

my boat was originally set up like that. what I did was to string a block where the snuffer line would turn around after coming out of the spin sock. Then there is another turning block at the front right beam where there is an open triangle. Pulls down very easily. FWIW, I use a single tack/halyard system

The double line system Matt has on the Falcon now is very neat. I think I have some pics if you're interested.

Gill

I'd like to see them.