Control lines

In the process of assembling my new (to me) Finn, I am at a loss:
There are the usual suspects - kicker, outhaul, cunningham, plate up and down plus loads of other obscure but understandable bits like toe strap tensioners and transom flap closers but there is also one I have never come across before: a tack tensioner. Why would one use that in addition to foot outhaul and cunningham?

Edited by snowleopard - 30 Oct 17 at 8:49pm

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
snowleopard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 17 Location: Cornwall Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote snowleopard Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Control lines Posted: 30 Oct 17 at 8:48pm
	In the process of assembling my new (to me) Finn, I am at a loss: There are the usual suspects - kicker, outhaul, cunningham, plate up and down plus loads of other obscure but understandable bits like toe strap tensioners and transom flap closers but there is also one I have never come across before: a tack tensioner. Why would one use that in addition to foot outhaul and cunningham? Edited by snowleopard - 30 Oct 17 at 8:49pm
	One hull good, two hulls better.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Oct 17 at 9:22pm
	Ask the Solos
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Oct 17 at 10:12pm
	Inhaul flattens the lower entry of the mainsail; also efficient way of putting fullness into the main without having to let the outhaul off. In the Solo you simply let the inhaul off at the windward mark and pull it on to a preset at the leeward ... well that’s what I do. I suspect that Finnfare has plenty on this.
	Happily living in the past

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Oct 17 at 1:14pm
	Have you tried the Finn UK Class Assoc? They are a friendly bunch of guys in my experience. If you are on Facebook they have a good page there.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Nov 17 at 8:32pm
	I have also recently bought a Finn, and took it to a cvrda meeting with some other h lpful Finn sailors who say the kicker and the inhaul are the most important controls in the boat, and the Dow haul the least important. Pull the inhaul on upwind but have the kicker off - use the mainsheet and the traveller to control power, keeping the sheet right most of the time. Offline put the kicker on to create power, release the inhaul to put shape back into the sail. There is useful information on the BFA website, including information about mast rake which is also important, but you have to match it to mast and sail.
	the same, but different...

KazRob Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Oct 16 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 245	Post Options Post Reply Quote KazRob Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Nov 17 at 5:25pm
	The inhaul can just be the coolest control there is. If you ease it, it flattens the entry low down on the main, which can make it quicker but gives a very narrow groove to steer in. Pulling it on does the opposite being a bit more draggy but with a much wider and easier to sail groove to sail in. It also helps open (pull it on) and close (ease it off) the lower leech which can help you point or foot (remember on a Finn the boom is sheeted down so a 'closed' leech as you look at it can still be open relative to the boat centreline). If you have a sail with two telltales with one around a foot or so behind the mast and a few feet up from the boom and the other a foot or so directly behind the first you can use those to help fine tune the sail entry by adjusting the inhaul. Have fun
	OK 2249 D-1 138

snowleopard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 17 Location: Cornwall Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote snowleopard Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Nov 17 at 5:30pm
	Some interesting food for thought there. All the boats I have sailed for the last 30 years have had loose-footed mains and fixed tacks so it will be a new experience. Investing in a shed load of telltales sounds like a good starting point.
	One hull good, two hulls better.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Nov 17 at 5:56pm
	Does tack inhaul make no difference to loose footed mainsails then?
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

KazRob Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Oct 16 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 245	Post Options Post Reply Quote KazRob Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Nov 17 at 10:32pm
	I've no idea about loose footed mains as never had an inhaul on one but no reason why moving the tack wouldn't work if sail was cut for it
	OK 2249 D-1 138

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Nov 17 at 11:24pm
	I guess it must change the shape of the bottom of the sail whether it has been cut with that in mind or not. Will experiment on the Blaze, the normal systems just attache the tack to the mast with either a rope or bungee and no specific length is recommended. I have a dynema strop which keeps the tack roughly in line with the luff but wouldn't any more than a little cunningham tension make an adjustable tack inhaul redundant?
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"