Flopper stoppers are an integral part of the gear on the FPB64. While we typically use them less then 50% of the time, they are a lifesaver in a rolly anchorage. When we do deploy, we typically have just had to deploy one and that has been effective enough for us to date.
On passages, the flopper stoppers are lashed between the laterals in the forepeak – one to port and one to stbd. They fit beautifully and are easy to get out.
Once we reach our cruising grounds, we simply store it in the dink between uses.
When the dink is launched, they sit on the deck between the dink bunks out of the way.
Launch is straight forward. The boom(s) are deployed and the halyard on the boom is tied to the flopper bridle with a bowline.
While I tail it with the halyard, Steve release it over the side and I ease out until it is submerged and then set the rope clutch. The following is a picture of the stopper in the deployed condition. You can see that we tie a line on the section of the halyard along the boom to stop slapping. Steve Dashew uses a figure eight knot as a stop against the block at the end of the boom to accomplish the same thing.
Retrieval is also straightforward. The booms are retracted with the flopper stoppers still deployed. Steve grabs the flopper stopper line from the aft deck and we both raise it up. I tail it to the back deck where it is removed and stored.
The halyard is reattached to the boom and pulled tight.
The boom is secured and we are ready to go.
I will do a separate post on launching and retrieving the dink, but we can complete the whole lauch and retrieval process for both the dink and flopper stopper in less then 10 minutes under most circumstance.
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