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Bud Brown
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4/30/2021 4:35 AM
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Gay,
I have a full description and drawing of the main sheet system at home. Unfortunately, I am away from home right now, but that is certainly something I can share with you early next week. I hope that’s not too late.
The Harken 205 is a swivel cleat. In the system I use, the one we discussed, it is mounted on the boom.
Mounting a cleat on the floor in the cockpit was class legal at one time, but no more. Of course, an owner may rig an Ensign any way they desire if they’re never going to race, but many believe it’s better to preserve the one design nature of the boat.
Best regards!
Bud Brown #1085
ECA Commodore
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Gay De Hart
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4/29/2021 7:01 PM
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Bud-- Do you mount the Harken 205 in the cockpit or off the boom? In either case, what block do you use it with?
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Vic Roberts
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9/30/2020 5:46 PM
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Gay,
I installed a Schaefer 2-foot by 1-inch T-Track (Defender 608932SIL002), a Schaefer T-Track Slide (Defender 602656) and a Schaefer T-Track End Stop (Defender 603241), at the aft end of the track, so I could change the position of my Oxen Block to fit the number of crew: 1, 2, 3, etc.
The single cap at the aft end of the track prevents the slide from coming off the track if I do something stupid, but allows me to easily remove the slide for the winter by sliding it forward.
The track is attached with flat head stainless machine screws of the size recommended by Schaefer, using holes drilled and tapped in the boom.
My notes say the aft end of the track is 42 inches from the aft end of the boom, while the forward end of the track is 66 inches from the front of the boom, but I have not confirmed this by checking the boat.
Vic Roberts #2032 Quoted Text
So Bud, For the mid-boom main sheeting do you recommend the Harken 205? And do you have a specific placement? Or are you suggesting mid-boom sheeting is generally undesirable?
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Bud Brown
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9/30/2020 2:37 PM
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Sent you an email. We can discuss this too... On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Ensign Sailing Forum < ensignsailing@ensignclass.com> wrote: So Bud, For the mid-boom main sheeting do you recommend the Harken 205? And do you have a specific placement? Or are you suggesting mid-boom sheeting is generally undesirable?
-- Best regards, Bud Brown 281.468.6909 cell and text
410.489.5426 home and office
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Gay De Hart
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9/30/2020 1:30 PM
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So Bud, For the mid-boom main sheeting do you recommend the Harken 205? And do you have a specific placement? Or are you suggesting mid-boom sheeting is generally undesirable?
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Bill Murphey
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5/26/2018 7:04 AM
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Correct.
Bill Murphey
Chowder, #176
Fleet Captain
Fleet 63, Barnegat Bay, NJ
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Zeke Durica
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5/25/2018 8:30 AM
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Roger That
It was 150.00 right?
Zeke
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Bill Murphey
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5/25/2018 6:57 AM
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Zeke,
I looked at both Oxen Blocks and they are in good shape.They lock and unlock and spin smoothly. Mail me a check and I'll reply with a block.
Bill Murphey
Chowder, #176
Fleet Captain
Fleet 63, Barnegat Bay, NJ
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Bill Murphey
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5/21/2018 7:01 AM
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Probably used for 3-4 years. I will take a look at them tonight and see if there are any differences.
Bill Murphey
Chowder, #176
Fleet Captain
Fleet 63, Barnegat Bay, NJ
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Zeke Durica
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5/15/2018 10:58 AM
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I’ll take one. How many years have you used it?
Zeke.
Bud Brown's analysis is correct. We raced with one for a couple of years. It was inaccurate for up wind trimming. You have to trim in just a little farther than your desired spot to allow the block to back up and engage the ratchet. It also didn't develop enough grip in light air down wind to hold the boom. Also, his heavy air scenario has really happened more than once. When I built a new boom I went with the traditional head knocker (which I have never been knocked with).
The oxen block works fine for medium air cruising and to be trimmed any position in the boat. Meaning you don't have to be line with the block to release or set it.
With that lack luster review, I have 2 oxen blocks which I will sell for $150 each to any lake cruiser that wants one. Send me a private message.
Bill Murphey
Chowder, #176
Fleet Captain
Fleet 63, Barnegat Bay, NJ
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Bill Murphey
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5/14/2018 10:14 PM
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Bud Brown's analysis is correct. We raced with one for a couple of years. It was inaccurate for up wind trimming. You have to trim in just a little farther than your desired spot to allow the block to back up and engage the ratchet. It also didn't develop enough grip in light air down wind to hold the boom. Also, his heavy air scenario has really happened more than once. When I built a new boom I went with the traditional head knocker (which I have never been knocked with).
The oxen block works fine for medium air cruising and to be trimmed any position in the boat. Meaning you don't have to be line with the block to release or set it.
With that lack luster review, I have 2 oxen blocks which I will sell for $150 each to any lake cruiser that wants one. Send me a private message.
Bill Murphey
Chowder, #176
Fleet Captain
Fleet 63, Barnegat Bay, NJ
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Bud Brown
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5/12/2018 8:37 AM
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It just cannot be placed closer to the mast than 5.5 feet. It can be placed aft of that point.
It would seem 'proper location' would be about leading it to the person who is playing it, but also keeping it out of the way of everyone who is not. In heavier winds, pulling horizontally on a mid-boom main sheet with a 4:1 system can result in the movement of the entire boom to weather, and no actual line coming through the cam cleat. When this happens, actual movement of line through the cam cleat requires someone pushing against the boom while the trim is attempted. The solution to this problem would be a higher purchase system, a cleat located so that trim occurs more in-line with the boom, or a more vertical effort. Moving the cleat aft puts trim effort more in line with the boom, but then it becomes a head-knocker for the skipper, and becomes ever more difficult for the main sheet trimmer to reach while hiking/sitting on the rail.
Don't forget about the main sheet tail... you know it has to live somewhere... dangling obstacle that it is.
Through the use of a swiveling cam base (Harken 205), the main can be played from either main sheet or skipper position.
BTW... There may be many who like the oxen block, but I consider it a real and dangerous hazard in windy port-starboard crossings (to the point that I want to know which of my competitors are using one). If the main does not go out in windy conditions, there is very little that itsy-bitsy trim tab on the back of the keel is going to do to significantly alter the course of an Ensign. If you don't uncleat the main sheet before you bear away in strong wind, there will be Hell to pay getting the main sheet uncleated as the loads start to skyrocket. Second, third and fourth attempts to uncleat the main when the skipper was expecting the first attempt to be successful results in an ever increasing pucker-factor and associated adrenaline release for everyone on both boats. The absolute worst collisions (several) I have witnessed involved oxen blocks that would not come uncleated when they absolutely needed to be.
I won't even take one for a ride on my boat, much less use it.
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Zeke Durica
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5/12/2018 1:21 AM
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Get an Oxen Block best main sheeting system ever for an Ensign. Mount it 4 1/2 ft from the aft end of the boom.
Zeke
Class rules say mainsheet mid boom (head knocker) block cannot be any closer to the mast that 5.5’. Seems like 7.5’ (in my case under a foot forward of the end of the tiller) would be more ideal for a helmsman to handle the main sheet.
Curious as to what the preference is.
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Ted Genard, Volare
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5/11/2018 4:34 PM
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Class rules say mainsheet mid boom (head knocker) block cannot be any closer to the mast that 5.5’. Seems like 7.5’ (in my case under a foot forward of the end of the tiller) would be more ideal for a helmsman to handle the main sheet.
Curious as to what the preference is.
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