Upgrading the Deck Gear and Systems on a Standard Beneteau First 34.7 or any other tipical Cruiser / Racer

Making the systems on your boat more efficient will make a large difference to your boathandling and will make you faster around the race course. This series of articles is aimed at illustrating some areas for attention on a standard production cruiser/racer, using the example of a new Beneteau 34.7.



By Sam Bourne, Technical Manager, HARKEN UK Ltd
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MAINSHEET

The standard 5:1 mainsheet will get you round the course, but for that added edge you can't beat a powerful coarse-tune / fine-tune system. This gives you more power for fine trimming without adding miles of line to the system.

We looked at a number of options and finally worked out we could add a very neat 6:1 / 24:1 system by simply adding a few blocks. We fitted a double HAR2602 57mm Carbo block to the car, with another 57C double and a HAR2600 57C single on the boom (see photo B). We then fitted three HAR349 29mm Carbo stand-ups between the swivel base and the track, with HAR150 Cam-matic® cleats mounted on the stainless foot bar. (see photo A) The floating fine-tune block was a HAR342 29mm double. This gives plenty of coarse-tune power to set the sail with a powerful fine-tune to allow easy trimming. The fine-tune is easily to hand and requires minimal work to install.

A: Fine tune blocks
mounted on pod

B: Boom end detail

TRAVELLER

The standard boat comes with a standard Harken Midrange Captive Ball Traveller system set up to give a 3:1 purchase with the cleats on the car. The owner of this particular boat had sailed with a Harken Windward Sheeting car previously and was keen to fit one to his new boat.

The unique feature of the Windward Sheeting car is that it automatically releases the leeward control line cleat, allowing you to pull the car up to windward without having to remember to release the leeward line. One less thing to think about when you have enough to do as a trimmer! This also allows you to increase the traveller purchase to 4:1. To add this system to the existing car is easy. Simply unscrew the existing fittings from the car and fit the Windward sheeting adaptor kit, part HAR1637, to the top of the car. You keep the existing single end controls fitted to the track. I would also recommend the addition of a stand up toggle to support the block properly – part HAR1561.

The Windward Sheeting car is particularly well suited to boats with traveller tracks that span the cockpit across the seats on boats such as the 34.7, Sigma 33, Elan 37, J/109, etc, etc.

Windward Sheeting car mounted
on High Beam track.

Note: Text and images courtesy of Harken Yacht Equipment.
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