On MC-Scows with board pull-down lines (boats from around #2477 to around #2680), you can add an extra board release line to give you more options for manipulating the boards.
Current Design
A cam cleat near the forward end of the cockpit holds the board up by securing the board pull-up line (white line in the picture above). The pull-down line (blue line in the picture) releases the pull-up line from the cam cleat by pulling on a ring that encircles both lines. The pull-down line allows the sailor to ensure the board goes fully down for upwind sailing. This is an advantage over the older-style boats (before #2477), which had a release line, but no pull-down line. However, the current design has a few limitations:
- If you want to lower board slightly (for example, from full up to partially down for downwind sailing), you must use the pull-down line, possibly overshooting the desired position, and then re-adjust with the pull up line. In the older style boats, you could simply release the board and let it fall to the desired position, stopping it with the pull-up line. This required fewer actions by the skipper.
- In the earlier boats in the post-2477 series, the pull-down line was not separated enough from the cam cleat to always release the pull-up line. Melges tweaked the design and the fix seems reliable, but there may still be some boats that have not received the fix. Contact Melges for further information.
Modification
You can add a release line independent of the pull-down line to give your boat the advantages of both the new and old designs. The modification requires only two pieces of line and a few knots.
Installation
- Use a piece of 2.5 mm spectra or any narrow, flexible line.
- Tie one end of the new line to the ring that encircles the existing board lines near the front of the cockpit.
- Run the new line through the fairlead just aft of the ring.
- Tie the other end of the new line off at the eye strap that holds the block for the pull-down line. You don’t need much slack in the line.
- Repeat on the other side of the boat. That’s all there is to it!
Thanks to John Porter for this idea!
Sailors Helping Sailors
Will you share your knowledge with your related Comments below?
Thanks for the article! So is the idea that one would pull on that second release line to let the board fall, and then clip it at the desired angle by pulling on the board up line? How is that different then releasing the board by pulling on the existing board down line?
It’s easy to overshoot the desired angle using the board pull-down line. If you overshoot, you have to re-adjust using the pull-up line, which is an extra step. The extra release line allows you to release it without pulling it down. I don’t have this type of boat, but I can see the advantage. John Porter, who suggested the item, says it’s helpful in this regard.