A bungee net for holding a furled mainsail

[tom ricks]

The other day a friend took me out on her Hereshoff 12.5. The furled mainsail was held in place by a neat bungee cord net--one long line with four or so short cords that came off it.

She doesn't know what it is called or who made it because it came with the boat. Does anyone know who makes it, and what the proper name is? I'd love to get one for my Typhoon's mainsail.

Thanks,
Tom Ricks
Deer Isle, Me.

[Jim Walsh]

Go to sailcare.com and take a look at their sail jockey.

http://sailcare.com/sailjockey.shtml

[John Martin]

We call ours a centipede. I came up with our design many decades ago. And, have used it on many different boats. It is easy, and inexpensive to make your own.

You need: 2 clips, either plastic or metal; a length of light line that will reach form the boom end to the goose-neck; about 30' of one inch polypropylene webbing; sail needle & whipping twine.

Attach the 2 clips to the ends of the line. This line will hook to the ends the boom, and under the boom. Make about 5 sail-ties, each of them, the maximum length for your furled mainsail. Sew the sail-ties to the centipede line at equal distant intervals. The centipede should have no front or back if all of the sail-ties are the same length.

I have used shock-cord and hooks before, but I think the polypropylene webbing works better.

Just before dropping the main-sail, attach the centipede under the boom. Lower and furl the main-sail and tie off the sail-ties.

It works perfectly and no chance to lose a sail-tie. Good Luck. JM

[ronkberg]

Hi Tom, I have the Sailcare Sailjockey on my Typhoon and it is a nice addition to help manage your mainsail. It is a reasonable price also but if I bought another sailboat, I would make my own with little effort. There are other items on ebay that function the same but the Sailjockey is stowed under the boom without any dangling cords.

Checkout these two solutions on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAIL-TIE-SEGELE ... 67&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAIL-TIE-Boom-s ... ad&vxp=mtr

Regards, Ron

[Joe Myerson]

Hi Tom,
My 25D came with a "centipede" that the PO had made. It was shot, and I bought another one, pre-made, at West Marine. It worked well enough for a few seasons, but when the UV got to it, I ordered the Sail Jockey from SailCare. It's cheap, effective, and you don't have to remove it when you're sailing.
BTW, I have no financial interest in SailCare, although I do like their prices and customer-friendly service.
Best,
--Joe
P.S. I love the 12 1/2. We've got an active fleet of them here on Buzzards Bay. Most are now glass versions.