Mast Rotator Bungee

Put this under the catagory of learn something new everyday. In my endless pursuit to tweak my sweet ol' 18 I asked "John Lunn C A" what the "Mast Rotator Bungee" was -

Here is his helpful comment-

The 'new' style mast rotator is one piece, and the rotator line runs from the boom cleat, forward to the end of the rotator, through the metal 'loop', then back to the boom jam cleat. Okay so far?

Now hype it up. Thanks to Harry Murphey of the Hobie Forum. Tie a small pulley to the end of the metal loop. (Or get one of those pulleys where you can remove the axle, remove the wheel, slip the metal fitting over the end of the metal loop, then re-assemble. The rotator line will 'run' much better through a pulley than through the 'metal loop.' )

Next, once the rotator line has passed through the jam cleat, we normally tie a figure 8 knot and that's it. No, tie the end to a piece of bungee, and the other end of that bungee is tied off along the boom, further to the stern.

When you want to 'flatten' the mainsail, tighten up the rotator line per normal. When you reach the mark and turn downwind, lift the rotator line out of the jam cleat, and the mast will rotate (to the desired amount).

So instead of a rotator line flopping around, the bungee keeps it in line, and makes it easier to re-tighten when you reach the next mark and head upwind again. Essential? No, not really....nice? defintely.....useful? we think so....

I have to rush out of here to pick up my new sails....once you are comfortable with this, could you post this on the Forum?

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1984 Hobie 18

One of the problems with adding a pulley to the rotator bar is that it has a tendency to get twisted with the rotator line or spun around when the rotator line goes slack during a tack or jibe.

Adding a bungee to the tail of the rotator line can also cause problems. If you make the bungee too tight, then it will inadvertently tighten the rotator line when you tack or jibe, or when you're trying to run with the rotator loose while going downwind. If you loosen the bungee so it doesn't over-tension the rotator line, then you end up with a sagging loop of line coming off the boom for the crew to get strangled in.

IMO, the rotator system on the H18 needs no improvement and the fewer gizmos you have on your boat, the happier you'll be.

sm