Its amazing reading all these ideas.

Some of them I have also considered: Re the pulley system instead of a screw.
As was pointed out by DL you some how have to get the rope between the mast and the sleeve.
Thats why I keep coming back to the screw.

Another thing is that you want this baby to be easy to use and adjustable. I quickly rigged my sail tonight and realised the bottom eye at the foot of the sail is a good 4 inches away diagonally from the bottom of the mast extension. How do you close that gap and extend the base in one move?

The "seabreeze Grinch" would have to do this otherwise you're just making work for yourself.

There must be a way. We just have to stop thinking 'mast extension' in its current form.

My head's hurting now, i'm going to look at some porn!

what if????

ok, the bottom half is a sealed in ratchet jack which when rachetted (is that a word) pushes the top half upwards.

quote:

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Originally posted by Gestalt

what if????

ok, the bottom half is a sealed in ratchet jack which when rachetted (is that a word) pushes the top half upwards.

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Gestalt, beat you to it, something like this?.....been working on it for a whole 10mins!!!

www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=4684

I'll get back to you Grinch, just on line with patent office!!!

Gestalt,

I'm sure the design could be improved....don't expect too much on a friday night after 6 or 10 coopers pales!!! I'm doing very well just sitting upright at the moment.

A better version of the pulley idea. I like the idea of pulleys instead of ratchets or screws, as pulleys are probably less likely to get jammed with sand.

It's animated!

Yeah, between the top pulley and the base of the red bit, you could put as many pulleys as you want to get the desired reduction ratio.

That looks bloody heavy and it doesn't yet accommodate the downhaul line cleat. I think the earlier one with pulleys at the top was better - simpler and lighter. Theres no difficulty about getting the line from the pulleys at the top down between the mast and the sliding collar. You just need a cap at the top of the extension that fits the mast. The extension can be suitably narrower to allow room for the ropes.

quote:

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Originally posted by DL

A better version of the pulley idea. I like the idea of pulleys instead of ratchets or screws, as pulleys are probably less likely to get jammed with sand.

It's animated!

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THIS IS GENIUS!!!!!!!!!

It will revolutionise windsurfing as we know it.

First one with a working prototype... The race is on....

It's like Oppenheimer all over again!

Jeeze NotWal loosen up...

Of course I realise its not the cure for cancer!

Just trying to get some enthusiasm...

Sound to me like you haven't read the whole thread, or you just don't understand.
It has nothing to do with getting the sail lower on the mast!

The idea is to be able to adjust your downhaul without having to reset the size of your mast extension.
The sail will ALWAYS be at the lowest point on the mast.

Also when you rig a sail you dont have to remember what extension setting you used the last time.

To talk about "too heavy" and "to expensive" is just defeatist bollo#ks.
If that was the case we'd all still be using pinhead sails and "roped on" wobbly booms.

Everything can be improved.

quote:

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Originally posted by The Grinch

Jeeze NotWal loosen up...

Of course I realise its not the cure for cancer!

Just trying to get some enthusiasm...

Sound to me like you haven't read the whole thread, or you just don't understand.
It has nothing to do with getting the sail lower on the mast!

The idea is to be able to adjust your downhaul without having to reset the size of your mast extension.
The sail will ALWAYS be at the lowest point on the mast.

Also when you rig a sail you dont have to remember what extension setting you used the last time.

To talk about "too heavy" and "to expensive" is just defeatist bollo#ks.
If that was the case we'd all still be using pinhead sails and "roped on" wobbly booms.

Everything can be improved.

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*He he* jeez you're touchy. Don't worry I get it. As I said before its not an original idea.

You have suggested 2 models. A light one and a heavy one. You are promoting the heavy one.

Impressive little animation by the way DL. Can you do one with pulleys at the top?

Here ya go.

If the pulley system broke while on the water, the extension would collapse to minimum extension. You'd still be able to sail because the sail would still be downhauled (just not as much as you had before it broke).

With regards to re-threading, the bottom block would need to be detachable. You could thread the pulleys when they are hanging out the top of the extension, then dangle the threaded set of pulleys back down the middle. Then reattach the bottom block to the base of the extension.

dunno. you'd have to host it somewhere, then post us the link.

Awesome! It looks so much more credible when drawn properly.