Cunningham/Outhall Rigging

Paul Kirst

New Member
Hi all. I have sailed a variey of boats, but just got my first Sunfish and am new to this forum. The instructions for rigging the cunningham and outhall on the racing sail include a complex series of looping lines back and forth before securing to the cleats. Why not just run the line from sail through boom end hole and directly to cleat? Isn't simple better?
 
Generally, yes, simpler is better, but in this case, the purchase allows you to snug up more. The pulley effect.
 
The three to one method isn't really as bad as it sounds once you play with it and definitely is easier to adjust than just a straight line.

My secret is to use Harken 236 clam cleats. It has a roller nose. That and using a SS thimble where they say to just use a bowline makes the pulling really easy to adjust on the fly when you are sailing. Routing is from the outhaul or cunningham around the roller nose then through the thimble tied into the original run and back to the cleat.
 

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