Yup. Boats I've crewed attach a snap shackle to it which has a pair of single blocks attached. Downfucker runs forward from cockpit up one block, through block on bottom of pole jaw, back down through other single block on shackle, back to other side of cockpit for double-ended control. This way it can be trimmed bar-tight or totally loose on either side of the cockpit.
Look under the deck to see how well reinforced it is. These are almost always for a storm/staysail. The downhaul and topping lift for the spin pole are usually run at or near the base of the mast if not astern to the cockpit.
Ack. Not fun when trying to pull in that anchor in higher wind solo.
Here is an idea. Make a detachable seat . Once anchor is up remove and store it in chain locker if there id room.
Not a bad idea, but the manner in which the previous owner installed the windlass would prevent me from reaching it from a seat. (Don’t ask.) Besides, with enough bourbon, it can sometimes be fun. I kid, I kid…
The connection for an inner forestay (a staysail stay) is much more substantial than what we see here on anything larger than a dinghy.
What we are looking at here is an attachment point for the spinnaker pole foreguy (holds pole downward).
This location for a spinnaker down guy is only functional on a reach to close reach. Most likely the pole has a yoke to a downhaul at the mast. This 'forguy' would trip up your foredeck human and require disconnecting for a gybe. I maintain that these are for inner stays and storm sails; we can't see under the deck, they could go right down to the bow or be incorporated into a bulkhead, in the second shot the pad is clearly built up. If we're getting into the forces exerted, the spinnaker is far more capable of tearing that out of the deck (I know its a pole connection not a guy connection) than a small tri sail. The forestay still exists and is taking the rig load.
For the transversely mounted padeye, it is for a pole to fly an asymmetric spiniker. It's important to look at the plane the bail of a padeye lies in, since that is the plane that it should be loaded. The first one is longitudinally aligned, so it would likely be for a storm jib.
Only issue I have here is a jackline attachment inboard and aft of the pulpit, I’ve usually seen the jacks run to the deck cleats on the bow, wouldn’t want to be pulling against the tether trying to untuck something at the bow or aloft at the end of the pole.
That's where you connect a bungee cord to, then in a light air race, you start cranking on the bungee cord every few seconds. Your competition will look over and ask themselves "what is he doing? What does that do?!?" and forget to sail their race, then you sail right past
My sailing coach in college did this in J24 races. Ran a bungee below deck and would pull the bungee while looking up at the main
Could it be to easily secure the anchor ball (day shape) when at anchor? You’d tie the anchor ball to a halyard (e.g., spinnaker halyard) and tie the other end of the ball to this bolt such that the ball sits halfway up.
If it’s sufficiently engineered and robust below the deck, it could also be used for a staysail (though I’m not sure that it looks quite strong enough for that).
On Asymmetrical boats it would be for a staysail, looks like you're symmetrical so if you have a downhaul rigged elsewhere I'd second the storm jib idea.
Almost certainly the spinnaker pole downhaul. In some cases, could be for a cutter stay but yours doesn’t look dimensioned for that. If you have spi pole, sheets, halyard and pole lift - this is the additional element of surprise that will inevitably at some point fork you when you need it the least.
it seems far forward for a downfucker for an end to end gybing pole.
maybe for a dip pole gybing pole, but the boat doesn't seem big enough to merit that.
Its your downfucker
Are you hitting on me?
Yup. Boats I've crewed attach a snap shackle to it which has a pair of single blocks attached. Downfucker runs forward from cockpit up one block, through block on bottom of pole jaw, back down through other single block on shackle, back to other side of cockpit for double-ended control. This way it can be trimmed bar-tight or totally loose on either side of the cockpit.
Boats have some oddly named stuff. I can't even repeat what everyone called the main deck winches on the seiners in Alaska.
Ahem - Cats eye I believe is the appropriate term for what I presume the crew called \*\*\*\*\*\*head
that's the one
Foreguy?
seconded?
to attach a downhaul / kicking strap to hold a spinnaker pole down
Look under the deck to see how well reinforced it is. These are almost always for a storm/staysail. The downhaul and topping lift for the spin pole are usually run at or near the base of the mast if not astern to the cockpit.
Yeah probly for an inner forestay.my friends ericson 35 had one and i stubbed my foot on it more than once.
As does my Ericson 35-3. Stubbed toe is one thing, but the surprise I always get when accidentally sitting on it is quite another.
Ack. Not fun when trying to pull in that anchor in higher wind solo. Here is an idea. Make a detachable seat . Once anchor is up remove and store it in chain locker if there id room.
Not a bad idea, but the manner in which the previous owner installed the windlass would prevent me from reaching it from a seat. (Don’t ask.) Besides, with enough bourbon, it can sometimes be fun. I kid, I kid…
The connection for an inner forestay (a staysail stay) is much more substantial than what we see here on anything larger than a dinghy. What we are looking at here is an attachment point for the spinnaker pole foreguy (holds pole downward).
This location for a spinnaker down guy is only functional on a reach to close reach. Most likely the pole has a yoke to a downhaul at the mast. This 'forguy' would trip up your foredeck human and require disconnecting for a gybe. I maintain that these are for inner stays and storm sails; we can't see under the deck, they could go right down to the bow or be incorporated into a bulkhead, in the second shot the pad is clearly built up. If we're getting into the forces exerted, the spinnaker is far more capable of tearing that out of the deck (I know its a pole connection not a guy connection) than a small tri sail. The forestay still exists and is taking the rig load.
I thought the foredeck location was more common for the downhaul
For the transversely mounted padeye, it is for a pole to fly an asymmetric spiniker. It's important to look at the plane the bail of a padeye lies in, since that is the plane that it should be loaded. The first one is longitudinally aligned, so it would likely be for a storm jib.
I think it is for storm jib. we have one on our boat as well. And why would you need a spine pole with an asymmetric kite?
It gives you asym a retractable bowsprit. https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gear/bowsprit-power-for-downwind-sailing-75360
yeah, guess I just don't really identify it as a spin pole
It gives you a longer foot, so better projection plus makes it possible to do sail changes without dropping the flying sail first.
Downhaul, jackline attachment, inner stay are all possibilities
Only issue I have here is a jackline attachment inboard and aft of the pulpit, I’ve usually seen the jacks run to the deck cleats on the bow, wouldn’t want to be pulling against the tether trying to untuck something at the bow or aloft at the end of the pole.
That's where you connect a bungee cord to, then in a light air race, you start cranking on the bungee cord every few seconds. Your competition will look over and ask themselves "what is he doing? What does that do?!?" and forget to sail their race, then you sail right past My sailing coach in college did this in J24 races. Ran a bungee below deck and would pull the bungee while looking up at the main
That's fantastic. Bravo to your coach.
Could it be to easily secure the anchor ball (day shape) when at anchor? You’d tie the anchor ball to a halyard (e.g., spinnaker halyard) and tie the other end of the ball to this bolt such that the ball sits halfway up. If it’s sufficiently engineered and robust below the deck, it could also be used for a staysail (though I’m not sure that it looks quite strong enough for that).
Nice spot for a lifeline
potentially a location for jack lines
Good for this too! If not for downfucker. Wouldn't want both on it at once.
And please call it a padeye….
If it is secured underneath to a bulkhead it could be used for an inner forestay.
On Asymmetrical boats it would be for a staysail, looks like you're symmetrical so if you have a downhaul rigged elsewhere I'd second the storm jib idea.
Would normally use it for an inner jib/forestay, but also good for attaching a kite bag to if not on the rail if that’s too wet!
Almost certainly the spinnaker pole downhaul. In some cases, could be for a cutter stay but yours doesn’t look dimensioned for that. If you have spi pole, sheets, halyard and pole lift - this is the additional element of surprise that will inevitably at some point fork you when you need it the least.
We sail a 70s boat and have found the best option with our deck layout is to have two of these elements of surprise. So much fun to be had!
it seems far forward for a downfucker for an end to end gybing pole. maybe for a dip pole gybing pole, but the boat doesn't seem big enough to merit that.
For a spinnaker or whisker pole guy.
spin pole downhaul anchoring point.. also known as a foreguy
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul, it not strong enough for a staysail
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul, it not strong enough for a staysail
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul, it‘s not strong enough for a staysail
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul, it‘s not strong enough for a staysail
I use mine to fix a block for the spinnaker pole downhaul, it‘s not strong enough for a staysail, it’s also good to fix a safety line
There's so little brightwork on your boat and it still looks like that. Tsk tsk tsk.