Fulcrum Speedworks Rocket Rigging Tutorial

How do I rig The Rocket sailboat? | Rigging The Rocket, by Fulcrum Speedworks

So you’ve just purchased your Rocket sailing dinghy and you’re eager to get out on the shimmering sea. “But wait a second, how do I rig a lateen sail?” you ask. Don’t worry, you’ve come the right place! The Rocket rigging tutorial above will break down each and every step of the process. Lucky for you, it’s not much of a process at all, it’s actually quite simple. Let's take a look! 

You will not be able to rig your sail without a couple of knots. There are only a few knots to know for The Rocket, so put away that notebook. Here are the knots you will need to know: 

Square Knot 
Bowline Knot 
Hitch / Clove Hitch
Rolling Hitch 
8 Knot 
Overhand on a Bight (Optional) (AKA: Trucker Hitch)

If you have any questions about rigging your Rocket reach out to us at contact.fulcrumspeedworks@gmail.com 

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4 comments

Why does my center board not stay down?

Brad Myerson

The Rocket has many issues. The owner, who I have been in contact with, admits this. I own a first version Rocket. Here are some fixes for you: Hull: Lightly sand hull edge because it is sharp. Halyard: the rope I got slipped right through the clam cleats. I bought a softer rope that held and then installed 2 standard cleats and did not use the manufacturer’s parts. The Boom/Mast junction with a ribbed rubber sleeve does not work. Use bungie cords to lash the boom to the mast…unless you want your boom dragging in the water. Rudder? The stock setup has a poly cord leading to a cleat that does not hold. Replace the cleat with a standard cleat. Replace cheap, poly cord with a thicker poly/dacryon cord. This will keep the rudder down. Release as you approach shallow water. Replace all 3 cords tying the sail to the boom and mast. They are cheap, weak poly. Replace what passes as a bow rope handle with 1/4 in dacryon rope with a sleeve. * My issues with the rocket are regarding a 2022 “beta” version. The owner sent me info that he has corrected the issues I stated to him. He has not offered a “fix” to his beta owners nor the parts to fix the issue any honest, recreational sailor would have known using COVID as his excuse. There is a club in NY that races these boats with satisfaction. They have the corrected boats. Fulcrum also offers a Rocket with a much larger sail and has a proper boom/mast junction and a few fixes for past issues. For most, the standard will be fast enough.

Peter Stanton

Hello, we are heading into our second summer with the Fulcrum Rocket. All went well last year except we could not figure out how to rig the rudder so that it will stay down when we want it to stay down (most of the time we are sailing) and stay up when we want it to stay up (when we are hauling the boat out of the water on a small trailer). Our old Sunfish solved this with a spring, as you probably know. Is there a trick for the Rocket? Thank you, Peter

Peter

Hi, I purchased a rocket last year and now am finally in a situation where I can take it out. I was going through the video to rig the sailboat and am stuck with the Rolling Hitch knot to attach the halyard. I find it slips and doesn’t hold – very frustrating!! Even in your link for a rolling hitch it mentions that it doesn’t work well with modern line. Any other knot you would recommend? Also, do you have an instructional manual on how to rig the Rocket? I think that would be helpful for us novice sailors. Thanks

Bill Brondyk

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