Adding spinnaker halyard to mast

[flynhi4u]

We are hoping to build our spinnaker from a Sailrite kit this winter and I am starting to think about how to add the extra halyard to our mast. I would really like to have it run internally like our jib and main just to keep it cleaner and more quite. Being a fractional sloop the spinnaker halyard would be above the forestay cable. Does anyone know if I can buy the parts I need to run the line internally or should I just plan on mounting the top pulley externally? If I have to mount the pulley outside the mast could I still the run the line internally and have it exit the mast below the pulley?
We have yet to see anyone fly a spinnaker on our home lake so we don't know of any boats locally that have one for us to check out their set up. So many of our sails are evening sails after work where we tack down the lake into the wind, cook dinner aboard, then sail back to the slip with the wind usually aft of us. Most times the wind speed has dropped and we wind up ghosting with the wind till we run out of time and have to motor. Our boat has rather small sails and does not run with the wind very efficiently. Those slow runs with the wind would be ideal times to have a chute to fly. We can't wait!

Sam in IN

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Easier to run outside the mast, not internally. Generally, I would suggest the tang or metal strap which the Spinnaker Halyard block would be attached to can be pop riveted in but suggest using the heavier pop rivits. If you do not have a pop rivet gun, just ask some friends who do and do not use stainless steel screws because a pop rivet is stronger (aluminum) plus stainless steel or steel is a disilimar metal and will cause corrosion over time with aluminum for what you are trying to dol

 

[flynhi4u]

Thanks again Dave,
I figured that running it outside would be the easiest. I have gad the mast all apart and working on our small boat is not that bad so I did not mind running it internally. Need to run a coax for the masthead vhf antenna this winter anyway so thought that would be a good time to run the spinnaker halyard since I would have it all apart anyway. My primary concern was finding the parts to run it internally and weakening the mast if I did so.
I do aircraft sheet metal work so I have plenty of pop rivets and guns. As far as getting the parts I need, what are my best options there?

Sam in IN

 

[Jackdaw]

Maybe Dave would know, but most small Hunters I've seen use a combo-box at the forestay as shown below. This box has sheaves for both jib and spin built in as well as the attachment for the forestay. If this is the case on your boat, you simply need to cut a halyard exit in the mast.

 

[flynhi4u]

The Hunter 20 is a fractional sloop and I want the spinnaker to attach to the mast as high up as I can get it. I don't remember my jib pulley looking like that when I was looking down the mast. If I remember correctly it was simple single pulley block. That would have been sweet had our boat been a masthead sloop and it had that block installed. That would have been too easy. I very seldom get the easy way...

Sam in IN

 

[Jackdaw]

The Hunter 20 is a fractional sloop and I want the spinnaker to attach to the mast as high up as I can get it.

On fractional boats, do NOT mount a spin head sheave above the hounds (where the stays attach). The mast is totally unsupported here against reaching loads and can fail.

 

[flynhi4u]

The aft stay attaches at the top and the outer shrouds attach at the top of the mast as well. Would that not be enough support to handle the pulling and side loads of the spinnaker?

 

[Jackdaw]

The aft stay attaches at the top and the outer shrouds attach at the top of the mast as well. Would that not be enough support to handle the pulling and side loads of the spinnaker?

You boat is fractional, right? Maybe I'm wrong.

If it is fractional, then your shrouds terminate the same place your forestay does. Above that the mast is unsupported against reaching loads of a spin. 99% of all fractional boats fly fract kites for this reason. The other 1% have spars engineered for the extra loads.

 

[flynhi4u]

My apology, you are correct. I had to look at picture but yes, the upper shrouds do attach at the same level as the forestay. If we go with a furler for the headsail it will have it's own internal halyard. So could we use the jib halyard for the chute? Would I have to modify it and make it exit the mast above the forestay?

 

[Jackdaw]

My apology, you are correct. I had to look at picture but yes, the upper shrouds do attach at the same level as the forestay. If we go with a furler for the headsail it will have it's own internal halyard. So could we use the jib halyard for the chute? Would I have to modify it and make it exit the mast above the forestay?

Its not recommended at all. Ideally a spin halyard is ABOVE the forestay; it allows it to fly free without winding or chafing. Below it is asking for trouble.

You WOULD be able to re-purpose the jib halyard. If you place the new spin sheave within a foot of the forestay you'll be fine. Just check your forestay box first!

 

[isaksp00]

My 23 does have a combo box like pictured by Jackdaw. It has a sheave in the upper section, just above the fitting for the forestay t-ball. I don't have any exit in the mast for an extra halyard, which is fine with me since I lack a spinnaker. The 22 may indeed have the same setup. After all, how much different is 1 foot?

 

[flynhi4u]

Thanks for all the info. I will check out our forestay box and hopefully it is like the one pictured. Out boat is a 20 footer and the mast is quite a bit smaller than a 23 footer's mast. Hopefully there is a place for a spin sheave in our mast.

 

[flynhi4u]

Sail rite got back with me on the quote for the asymmetrical spinnaker kit and 130% genoa kit. I thought it was very reasonable. I will wait to order it we bring her home and have the mast off so I can make sure running the spin halyard won't be a bug issue.
One advantage to a smaller boat is that the spinnaker is only 24 panels instead of 50 or more like on a larger chute.
Wish I could find someone local who flies one so I could see the whole operation in action once but I am sure we can figure it out. I am sure I will have more questions but thanks so far for all the help.

Sam in IN

 

[flynhi4u]

Being doing more research on the spinnaker halyard. I have found the sheave block I need and now I am trying to find the plate that the halyard will exit out of the mast through at the base of the mast. Can someone please tell me what that plate is called?
Our sailing season is quickly coming to a close. Already planning for next season!

Sam in IN

 

[Jackdaw]

Being doing more research on the spinnaker halyard. I have found the sheave block I need and now I am trying to find the plate that the halyard will exit out of the mast through at the base of the mast. Can someone please tell me what that plate is called?
Our sailing season is quickly coming to a close. Already planning for next season!

Sam in IN

Halyard exit.

http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/Zspar/Z-Exit_Plates.html

 

[flynhi4u]

Your kidding me! Halyard exit? That is too simple. I was expecting something more creative. LOL Thanks Jack