Since my mast was down this winter for some repairs and upgrades I decided to also install an additional halyard for use with a future cruising spinnaker. I ran the halyard through one of the port side sheaves at the base of the mast, then through the mast and out the port side sheave at the masthead. I don't have a cruising spinnaker yet but I figured that this was a good time (with the mast down) to add the halyard. I've done some additional reading about flying spinnakers and I've noticed that it is recommended that the spinnaker halyard exit the mast at a point ABOVE where the forestay is connected. As anyone who has a 285 will know, the forestay connection is above both sheaves at the masthead. However, there is a "loop" at the very top of the masthead where, I suppose, I could connect a free swiveling block for the spinnaker halyard to run through after it comes out of the sheave. OR, should I not be going through the mast at all, but instead running the spinnaker halyard OUTSIDE of the mast (not using the sheaves) to a block connected to the masthead loop? As you can see I'm a bit confused about the rigging for a cruising spinnaker. I've attached a photograph of my masthead taken when it was in the marina mast rack for repairs. I've turned the image 90 degrees so the masthead is in the correct position (as it would be when on the boat) and you can see the forestay connection, a bit of the halyard and the "loop" at the top of the masthead. I would appreciate the advice from all you sailors who have a 285 or a similar set up on your boat. Thanks in advance!
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Your answer
You want to install the Spinnaker halyard on the loop on the top of the mast above the forstay. The reason for this is simple. When you gyb the spinnaker you want the halyard to swing over and clear of the forstay other wise it would snap back and forth and could chafe and or break or get stuck. You will then need to run the spinnaker Halyard external. I then drilled and tapped a pad eye at the base of the mast on the front of the mast. Then the halyard runs through a block and then to the deck organizer and aft. All around the base of the mast ther is an alumium plate. So drilling and tapping is easy. Do you know about the Hunter 28.5 group on Yahoo? Cliff H 28.5 Red Dog
You want to install the Spinnaker halyard on the loop on the top of the mast above the forstay. The reason for this is simple. When you gyb the spinnaker you want the halyard to swing over and clear of the forstay other wise it would snap back and forth and could chafe and or break or get stuck. You will then need to run the spinnaker Halyard external. I then drilled and tapped a pad eye at the base of the mast on the front of the mast. Then the halyard runs through a block and then to the deck organizer and aft. All around the base of the mast ther is an alumium plate. So drilling and tapping is easy. Do you know about the Hunter 28.5 group on Yahoo? Cliff H 28.5 Red Dog
Sender
28.5 should have the spin sender already in place. Look around for a thin string. Nice photo, by the way. If you'd like free pix and directions on an 8-foot bowsprit for the spinnaker, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
28.5 should have the spin sender already in place. Look around for a thin string. Nice photo, by the way. If you'd like free pix and directions on an 8-foot bowsprit for the spinnaker, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
Thanks, but a few more questions.
Thanks for the info guys! Cliff, I kind of expected your answer but I needed to "hear" it from someone who really knows. Right now I do have the spinnaker halyard running throught the mast but I'm going to have the yard pull it out and then just store it on the boat. When I do finally get a cruising spinnaker I'll go up in a bosun's chair and hand the block. You say that you "...drilled and tapped a pad eye at the base of the mast on the front of the mast. Then the halyard runs through a block and then to the deck organizer and aft. All around the base of the mast ther is an alumium plate." I didn't know a plate was under the deck in front of the mast to do that. About how far out from the mast did you place the pad eye? Bill, there was no sender line in the mast when I ran the halyard through. I used an electrician's wire snake and it worked great for that and some additional wiring for the TV antenna. I plan to use the rolled up jib and parrel balls (spelling?) to attach the cruising spinnaker to the boat. For the haul down I'm going to attach it to a new custom "bow plate" that I installed this winter. (See "Bow Plate" in the Photo/Projects Forum.) Thanks again guys!
Thanks for the info guys! Cliff, I kind of expected your answer but I needed to "hear" it from someone who really knows. Right now I do have the spinnaker halyard running throught the mast but I'm going to have the yard pull it out and then just store it on the boat. When I do finally get a cruising spinnaker I'll go up in a bosun's chair and hand the block. You say that you "...drilled and tapped a pad eye at the base of the mast on the front of the mast. Then the halyard runs through a block and then to the deck organizer and aft. All around the base of the mast ther is an alumium plate." I didn't know a plate was under the deck in front of the mast to do that. About how far out from the mast did you place the pad eye? Bill, there was no sender line in the mast when I ran the halyard through. I used an electrician's wire snake and it worked great for that and some additional wiring for the TV antenna. I plan to use the rolled up jib and parrel balls (spelling?) to attach the cruising spinnaker to the boat. For the haul down I'm going to attach it to a new custom "bow plate" that I installed this winter. (See "Bow Plate" in the Photo/Projects Forum.) Thanks again guys!
top plate
hello, where did you get the top plate with ring on it for spinnaker halyard? i fly a regular spinnaker but have to make sure halyard goes out in front of headstay, i would really like a plate or something to keep it out there with a swivel block anyway, good luck and good sailing rick "maverick"
hello, where did you get the top plate with ring on it for spinnaker halyard? i fly a regular spinnaker but have to make sure halyard goes out in front of headstay, i would really like a plate or something to keep it out there with a swivel block anyway, good luck and good sailing rick "maverick"
Bob, your mast looks like a Kenyon,
Nice photo. (I'm not sure about the UFO) Anyway Rigrite.com should have the top plate. Another way to keep your halyard internal and tidy is to do it the way I did. Go to my web site. Click on 'next' twice and you will be on the third film strip. Scroll down and you will see a picture of the mast head. Note the spinnaker halyard exit method. Also note the needed top plate. That plate also allows you to store the halyard snap shackle, forward on the bow pulpit where it's convenient. It's also safer for the B&R rig, in case of headstay failure. I use one of the starboard lower exit blocks but that's just me. Using this upper exit method means your halyard is internal, (cool) and you get to lead it aft as you want. To make the hole in the front of the mast, make sure nothing is installed there, like wires. If so, they will have to be moved. Locate a good spot that seems to be fair. Drill a hole at the top of the slot that you previously drew on the mast with a marking pen. Then drill at the bottom of the slot. Cut the hole with a basic sabre saw. Be sure to tape the shoe or the mast to prevent marring. After the saw work, bevel the top and bottom of the exit, with a rat tail file. All you need to do is insure that the hole is fair to prevent chafe. Stainless exit/entry plates are also available but I found that they aren't needed for this job. Good luck.
Nice photo. (I'm not sure about the UFO) Anyway Rigrite.com should have the top plate. Another way to keep your halyard internal and tidy is to do it the way I did. Go to my web site. Click on 'next' twice and you will be on the third film strip. Scroll down and you will see a picture of the mast head. Note the spinnaker halyard exit method. Also note the needed top plate. That plate also allows you to store the halyard snap shackle, forward on the bow pulpit where it's convenient. It's also safer for the B&R rig, in case of headstay failure. I use one of the starboard lower exit blocks but that's just me. Using this upper exit method means your halyard is internal, (cool) and you get to lead it aft as you want. To make the hole in the front of the mast, make sure nothing is installed there, like wires. If so, they will have to be moved. Locate a good spot that seems to be fair. Drill a hole at the top of the slot that you previously drew on the mast with a marking pen. Then drill at the bottom of the slot. Cut the hole with a basic sabre saw. Be sure to tape the shoe or the mast to prevent marring. After the saw work, bevel the top and bottom of the exit, with a rat tail file. All you need to do is insure that the hole is fair to prevent chafe. Stainless exit/entry plates are also available but I found that they aren't needed for this job. Good luck.
Came with the boat
Rick, The mast came that way when I bought the boat used so I thought that all 285s had the same set up.
Rick, The mast came that way when I bought the boat used so I thought that all 285s had the same set up.
Can't do it
Fred, My 285 have a wire raceway (a plastic tube) that runs along the foward insdie edge of the mast and re-locating it and all the wires inside would be a big pain or next to impossible. I'm gong to run the halyard outside of the mast when I find a cruising spinnaker that I like. Thanks for the advice!
Fred, My 285 have a wire raceway (a plastic tube) that runs along the foward insdie edge of the mast and re-locating it and all the wires inside would be a big pain or next to impossible. I'm gong to run the halyard outside of the mast when I find a cruising spinnaker that I like. Thanks for the advice!
Mast conduit
Bob, the 28.5 Kenyon mast has pop rivets holding the internal conduit to the inside of the mast section and slightly off to one side. I would look to run an internal spinnaker halyard on the opposite side of the centerline with an exit slot a couple feet down from the mast head, and the halyard running up to a swivel block attached to the masthead tang.
Bob, the 28.5 Kenyon mast has pop rivets holding the internal conduit to the inside of the mast section and slightly off to one side. I would look to run an internal spinnaker halyard on the opposite side of the centerline with an exit slot a couple feet down from the mast head, and the halyard running up to a swivel block attached to the masthead tang.
Just ran my new halyard...
I just ran a spinnaker halyard on my 28.5 and the bolts holding that "helpful" loop at the mast head block the exit where the halyard would exit the mast to pass through it! I just went out the other side above the top of my roller furling jib and it works great. My only compliant it that its tricky securing the halyard when its not in use so that it doesnt foul the top of the roller furler...
I just ran a spinnaker halyard on my 28.5 and the bolts holding that "helpful" loop at the mast head block the exit where the halyard would exit the mast to pass through it! I just went out the other side above the top of my roller furling jib and it works great. My only compliant it that its tricky securing the halyard when its not in use so that it doesnt foul the top of the roller furler...
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