Scott, good to hear from a 5.2 owner. The downhaul in question is open to a good bit of customization. I've included a picture from the Nacra manual for the 5.2 (I belive this is a 5.8 though). I used this for a short while before I realized the obvious shortcomings (i.e. adjustability while in motion). I do not use this pictured system but now use (and am quite happy with) the following setup (no pic yet). I use a harkan micro triple block (for 1/4" line - 22-0228 at Murrays) and use the two "head-banger" cleats at the bottom of the mast (I think these are stock although mine were missing when I bought my boat - got lucky and found someone with extra at a regatta - let me know if you need manufacture, etc). My triple block is mounted directly to the eye on the sail with a threaded d-shackle. I also use the two stationary sheaves at the bottom of the mast. The way I have the cord run allows adjustment from both sides of the boat and is one continuous line with a 6:1 purchase (7:1 is class legal). I tie the excess lead to the crew's trap handle so he/she always has it. The routing goes like this: tied to the port trap handle then through the port headbanger up to the triple block down to the port stationary sheave up to the triple block (middle sheave) down to the starboard stationary sheave up to the triple block down to the starboard head-banger and finally to the starboard trap handle. I hope you understood all that.
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<br><p>[img]http://members.home.com/jakekohl/pictures/downhaul.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="front.jpg (65223 bytes)[/img]</p>
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<br>I have blocks at the ends of my front crossbar tube but I don't know if they are factory issue or not. They are used for the barber hauler. A barber hauler is a seperate line that runs through each of these to a pulley attached to the jib leads. This allows you to pull the jib leads farther outboard (toward the blocks) when sailing down wind. The stock jib sheet positions will not allow the jib to be placed far enough out in light wind. The barber hauler let's you force the jib way out for down wind screamin'. How you terminate the barber hauler is also open to customization and I haven't figured out a good system for that yet. A buddy of mine attaches both lines to a single line through another 'head banger' attached to the center tube that goes from the front crosstube to the rear cross tube (if your boat is post '83 you probably don't have this knee banger). I realize this is a lot of info in text - questions? le'me know.<br><br>[color:blue][b]Jake
<br>[color:blue][b]Nacra 5.2 (2112)
<br>waaaanaaa coookie?