Wayfarer Magic Box Replacement

thingiverse

Unlike most other small racing sloops, the Wayfarer class does not rely on tightening the forestay to tension the rig. Instead, it uses the jib hoist to apply 300-400 pounds of tension to the rig. The issue is that my dad's new boat has spent its life as a cruiser, resulting in only a bare halyard and a crew member (me) who must put as much tension on it as possible. This challenge is further complicated by routing the free end of the halyard out of the bottom of the mast, through a turning block, and then pulling it upwards to tension, relying on the crew's muscles (minimal in my case). Most racing Wayfarers use either a 40:1 block and tackle set to tension the halyard after hoisting the sail or a worm-driven friction winch contraption affectionately known as a "magic box". My dad was hesitant to invest in one of these solutions since he wasn't sure if he would keep the boat. Additionally, I'm not exactly svelte or graceful, so I dislike bulky solutions that could make me even more likely to run into things during fast racing maneuvers. Now, thanks to my new gear, those challenges are a thing of the past!