Turning centre main system to rear main on a Gull

   We are looking for a Gull to buy and have seen a possibility, my daughter has physical special needs so struggles to cross the boat and duck beneath the boom, she is v tall too. Has anybody any idea how we would convert a centre main system (Probably on a Hartley boat)to a rear facing one please to give my daughter more room in the boat!

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SueW Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 20 Location: Oxford Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Post Options Post Reply Quote SueW Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Turning centre main system to rear main on a Gull Posted: 20 Jul 20 at 11:31pm
	We are looking for a Gull to buy and have seen a possibility, my daughter has physical special needs so struggles to cross the boat and duck beneath the boom, she is v tall too. Has anybody any idea how we would convert a centre main system (Probably on a Hartley boat)to a rear facing one please to give my daughter more room in the boat!

maxibuddah Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1760	Post Options Post Reply Quote maxibuddah Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 6:50am
	If you look on the Hartley page for the Gull, https://www.hartleyboats.com/index.asp?p=class-detail&cid=3, and the second picture with the Union Jack on the sail it looks like that one has been converted to rear sheeting. Yes there is a block on the boom but I can't see the mainsheet going through it, also there appears to be a ratchet block with a becket on the bottom of the transom strop giving a 3:1 purchase. It looks quite a simple job. You could use something like this - https://www.pinbax.com/index.asp?Details=28723&mc=Hardware&sc=Blocks&ssc=Blocks%20Ratchets&sssc=&ordering= if you want a ratchet or go for a simple block with becket. Tie the mainsheet to the becket, up to the block on the boom and back down to the lower block and you're done.
	Everything I say is my opinion, honest

Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 7:06am
	A gull is very small to have centre sheeting and aft main would have been a standard thing for many decades on these. A simple stern bridle would suffice - have a look at photos of N12s, Enterprises, Mirrors etc :) Its very do-able.

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 9:56am
	The standard (as in designer's drawings) system for the Gull was to have a fairlead bolted to the transom about a foot each side of the rudder, and a mainsheet dead ended on the port one, up to a block on the boom, down to a block on the fairlead on the other side, and to hand. A 3:1 seems way over the top, and even a ratchet block maybe an unnecessary luxury. By the look of it though the recent production boats are now fitted with fairleads much further apart, so a shortish bridle between the two fairleads with a block and Edited by JimC - 21 Jul 20 at 5:35pm

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 10:37am
	For years I sailed a Mirror with the triangular method JimC describes. It is very simple and works very well. You should be able to find lots of photos of Mirrors to copy on the web.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

SueW Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 20 Location: Oxford Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Post Options Post Reply Quote SueW Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 10:47am
	Thank you I have looked at the photos and will look at a Mirror too which should help. Yes I don’t understand how Hartley’s boat is 12 ft rather than 11ft, definite mystery.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 10:53am
	Blurb written by marketing people, not sailors, maybe?
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 5:36pm
	Hartley Gull page corrected now:-)

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 7:17pm
	That was quick!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 20 at 8:13pm
	I emailed them to let them know.