PDQ OWNERS FORUM

I see that Tom has a tackle instead of a winch on his main. What are the positives and negatives? I'm sure most of us have had tackles before. My thoughts:

Positive
* Frees up a winch. Possibly useful. Vital if you have only one starboard winch.
* Possibly faster to release, though so long as the line is kept out of the tailer and in a cam cleat, either is fast (I have 2 cam cleats on each side, one for each winch, even though they are self-tailers, so I can release and for housekeeping).
* Easier to continuouly fine trim in light to moderate air.

Negative
* Not as much power in heavy wind.
* Slower to coarse trim. I lighter winds I generally don't need the winch.
* Extra sheet whips around on jibes.
* More sheet length (6x vs 2-3X) for same boom travel.
* Sheet may get in the way of traveler.
* Sheet more likely to tangle with other sheets.

Thoughts?

Drew,

The Doghouse came with the 6 part tackle and I didn't know any better until I saw Gordon's (hull #3 I think)

It might come down to a Ford vs Chevy or Windows vs. Mac thing. It's what I'm used too. Of course, I drive a jeep and prefer Linux.

I've never seen any issues except the main sheet is now in the middle of the cockpit instead of where all the other lines at the helm. The best part is that the main sheet is now not mixed with all the other lines at the helm.

One advantage when someone else is steering or on autopilot I can stand at the traveler and look up at the sail while adjusting the sheet, better view of the whole sail.

I can see that. My Stiletto was like that. And many big boats and sport boats are like this.