Hello everyone, my first post. Just picked up a used 2011 TI last week, traded some cash and my Pro Angler for it. I used to sail my Pro Angler but this TI is a whole new ball game.
Anyway, was reading the threads and really liked the third hand idea and was about to run to Lowes.
Then I found these two plastic hooks...and I noticed on the back of the amas there is a small eyelet. So I had the idea to ziptie a plastic hook to each rear amas eyelet and see how that works.
Well, it worked perfect. My downwind speeds were increased and my sail had a much better shape. I just used my stake out pole (or you can use a paddle with a notch in it) to put the lines into the hook. Easy to disconnect too, just slack a little line and push it out with your paddle or pole. In the last picture it looks like the hook is leaning toward the boat because there is no tension from the wind as I am sitting in a canal. When there is air in the sail, the hook is pointing to the sail.
Should I be concerned with the strength of the eyelet? There doesn't seem to be very much stress at all on the line. I sailed around for a while and everything was easy-breezy.
Any other reason I should not do this?
Thanks!
-Matt
(and in reverse when wanting to use it as a boom)