Installing Cunningham

[Dave Mauney]

Hi All,
I want to install a cunningham on my O'Day 35. Once I get the cringle in the main for the cunningham I am trying to figure my way through the best way to rig the cunningham through the cringle with some mechanical advantage. I already have a soft vang that is rigged to the mast collar. I have looked through a lot of the usual references including the apprentice and have not turned up any layout ideas. Any thoughts, guidance, experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

GoodWinds
Dave
s/v DAMWEGAS

[TomP]

I am trying to figure my way through the best way to rig the cunningham through the cringle with some mechanical advantage.

Dave,

There are a couple of ways to approach this. Both equally effective. It all depends on the complexity you want to enjoy. The first would be a pad eye made to the mast then a measure of line thru the cringle then made up on the other side of the mast. Simple and effective, but does not have a great deal of purchase. Another is to rig a small tayckle with a hook to the cringle and made fast to the collar. You can put any size purchase you want. We have rigged cuninghams like this all the way up to 32:1 for large cats. Though 4:1 or 6:1 are the most prevelant.

HTH

Tom

[Dave Mauney]

Appreciate the guidance. That gives me enough to get started.

Dave
GoodWinds
s/v DAMWEGAS

[AaronS]

I would suggest some form of cascade for your cunningam. The Harken catalog or website has a good diagram available if you're not familiar with a cascade. Simply put, a pendant of high modulus line would terminate at a deck/mast padeye, pass through your cringle (or a block hung from the cringle), and attach to a small purchase, say of 4:1. The pendant forms the cascade, essentially doubling the power of your purchase (4:1 x 2:1). This allows for a simpler, lighter purchase, with a great amount of control. Ronstan makes some great 40mm fiddle blocks for this, but any reputable block maker will work. Hope this helps, and any cunningham will greatly help with sail shape. Good luck...

Aaron

[Dave Mauney]

The Harken website helped a bunch. A cascade makes a lot of since and puts the top block below the boom, which I like. That is part of what I was concerned about. I think that the fixed end of the cascade I will attach to the mast collar on the side and take it through the cringle as illustrated and then to the top fiddle and attach the bottom fiddle to the mast collar on the other side/aft.

Good Winds
Dave M
s/v DAMWEGAS