Adding a spinnaker

[Bill Jones]

My H40.5 does not have a spinnaker halyard. Is there a technique used to add one without unstepping the mast? It is an internal halyard, correct?Bill Jones

 

[Michael Cohn]

You could

You could make it an external halyard if you really wanted to, but this gets a bit awkward...If there is a spare sheave at the top of the mast, then I guess you could try removing the sheave and dropping a line down from the top and see if you can grab it at the bottom - not easy to do.Best bet, if you really want one, is to unstep and remove the mast, unfortunately. At least this will give you the chance to do some other things to the mast, like checking all the fittings, maybe paint it if it needs it, etc.MC

 

[Ron Hughes]

40.5 spinnaker halyard

Bill, the 40.5 has a spinnaker halyard sheave box just above the forestay. It is very possible to drop a weighted string down to the fairlead in the side of the mast. There should be one that is labeled 'spin halyard' on the starboard side at about 7ft. off the deck. Have someone hoist you and your string with 1/2 inch nut or something attached, up to the forestay and lower away! They should be able to fish out the string with a bent wire or other hook of some sort. If the boat is lying fairly still, there should be no problem with the string wrapping around one of the other lines inside the mast. You will need to add a block on the mast just below the sheave box that can articulate so as to have the spinnaker halyard run fair in use. Ron S/Y Best Revenge

 

[Roger Magill]

Sometimes you feel like a nut....

Bill, I agree with Rons suggestion to drop a small line with a nut attached. We did it on our 35.5 and found that we were able to get hold of it with a magnet.