I'm getting a new front beam for my 5.5sl. I believe the control is called the barberhauler (one that pulls the jib block down towards the beam, to open the slot when going off the wind)

The current system on my boat stinks. Wondering If someone out there has some pictures of a neat or trick setup that works well. The 5.5 has adjustments fore/aft, and side to side of the jib sheeting blocks. This adjustment I'm talking about actually pulls part of the 2:1 purchase forward and out, effectivly opening the slot. Not sure if that is a good description of it or not?!?

Anyhow, if you have pictures of your setups, please post them. I'd like to make this nice, neat, and above all functional!

Thanks!

go to my homepage, click on "pictures" and go to the last two pics on page 4. These are the barberhauler set up on the H-20

EricsSailingPics@www.msnusers.com

Sorry, wrong link first time

http://www.msnusers.com/EricsSailingPics

Theo,

As a 5.5SL owner, I am curious why you are getting a new front beam. I have a 1991 and two years ago the 3 bolts holding one outside end of the dolphin striker bar pulled right though the beam. The beam partially collapsed when the now unsupported large bolt that holds the mast went partially through the beam.

A replacement beam from Performance Catamaran:
1) Had inner sheaves inside the beam in this area for reinforcement(that the original did not)
2) Had a barberhauler system pre-installed.

I have not had problems with the new barberhauler system.

I'm getting a beam from a performance dealer, but at the price I'm paying, I'm sure there is no barberhauler system installed.

My current system has to cams (one on each side) and has a block that runs the line through the beam. One continuous line for the system. Problem is there is no pully or block toroute the line in a straight fashion to the job block, so the line ends up getting chewed by the sliver doo-dad on top of the camcleat (fairlead?)

I think I'm going to try some of the new plastic fairleads from Harken. I don't know if my new beam is drilled or not, but I thought I'd try and figure this situation out before I got it.

Why new beam? Previous owner looks like they ran the boat into a piling on the front beam HARD. Bent flat. Since I'm going through the boat, and I want to sail it over to the bahamas this summer, I'm making sure every part I know that isn't in 100% condition is getting replaced. If you had a picture of the new "factory" system, that would be great

Arbo06,

Forget the barberhauler pics, I want to know where I can get a crew like the first photo!!

that is my sister....

TheoA, please keep me informed of your plans to go to the Bahamas this Summer. I've a G-Cat 5.7M I'm going through and would like to make that trip also.

Theo,

Attached is a photo of the barberhauler on the front beam I got from Performance Cats 2 yrs ago. Its not the best picture since the boat is stored for winter and cover was on. The white line with blue marks is the barberhauler. Knotted end would attach to block around jib lines. Line exiting cleat to center side of boat leads to other side barberhauler.

The white line with red with the small cleat below barberhauler cleat is for mast rotation control.