Genoa halyard

[pneirik]

I have a Beneteau 323. Main Halyard and Jib Halyard are good. Its my Spinnaker / Genoa Halyard. The jib halyard is a fractional coming out of mast about 2 feet or less from the head. The Spinnaker / Genoa halyard comes from the same place about two feet from the masthead. When i put up the genoa (a north sails C1 that must be rolled on a tension luff ) it gets too close at the top end with the furled jib. No problem with the spinnaker since it does not need to be rolled. The genoa tack is on a short sprit out front, about two feet, so there is clearance at the lower end. Its the upper end. I see a photo of what another owner has done with a "lift out" sheave. I asked two different riggers at a boat show. They said two options, the lift out and run the halyard up and over the sheave. Or "more simple" that there may be one or two sheaves at the very top of the masthead already and all I need to do is thread the halyard upwards in the mast from the fractional set up and out the mast head. In the photo I have, I do not see where the sheave may be exiting the masthead. I was also advised if I find a sheave up there, there will be sharp edges near the mast or on the mast that will shred a halyard in seconds. One rigger said it was a half day job no matter which way done.

My boat is up the BC coast and not near any rigging businesses and it would take a long time to get the boat near a rigger in Vancouver, so I am considering an owner job.

So questions: anyone else with a stock 2008 Beneteau know if there are sheaves up there.

What does one do to take the cap off the masthead with all that windvane and antenna gear up there to look for sheaves

If I find out if there are sheaves there, What does one do about the sharp edges?

If I do a "lift out and sheave" What type of hardware would i take with me from Vancouver, to do that. Stock hardware? What type of screws or bolts are used on an aluminum mast? Stainless or other? Screw in or bolt through only due to loads involved?

 

[Ron20324]

This is what you probably have. Pic, curtesy of Doug, i believe: Your mast maker and model number should be on a sticker down around eyeball level.THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS THE FRONT OF THE MAST, AND YOU CAN SEE aline of holes in each "partition. You'd place a sheave, put a pin through it. Do a second sheave while you are at it. I have a spin using the OEM setup, but for your situation, maybe hang a sheave from that masthead on about a foot of wire/rope, put a block on the end to lift up (and away from the mast) the halyard from the OEM outlet.

My mast is a "US Spars" Z401. Look up part #165 to see if that would help. Otherwise, there are a number of parts you could use. 162/113/114 look like a good idea.

 

[pneirik]

Hi Ron and thanks Doug, the photo is good. I have a US spars mast. Is the masthead the same as the mast when one identifies the product by serial numbers.? That is helpful as it would appear I only need take the right sheaves and pins.

It looks from the grainy photo I have there is a bolt pattern for installing two sheaves. Do you know the size of sheave to install? They are rated by load, diameter, width and bore.

Then the pin, is there a particular installation method, so nothing comes loose?

I am attaching a photo I found and harvested from another posting at Beneteau Owners. It looks like a crane (I now know that it what it is called). It looks like one can be made up and place two bolts through the bolt pattern meant for the sheaves. I suppose I only need to find out the dimensions of the opening for the sheaves. Width and length front to back so I capture the bolt pattern. I have to have this made up before I go to boat since it is far away from riggers but i could find a machine shop. A A crane like this may function even better. Any comments?

 

[Ron20324]

My 323 is a 2006. You might go on the USspars web and get their catalog. On page 48, they list the part # 1618 which is the sheave used for the fore and aft of the masthead. It list them as delrin, dia 60; w, 16; pin, 8 (mm, i suppose).Also they have delrin with ball bearing, or "hi-Tech" aluminum with composit bushing. I figure that makes the pin you need as 8(mm?), but of unknown length. It is probably a hammer-in pin, though on my pic it looks like a thru-bult with caps on them?

That part #165, used on this mast and the larger ones, looks like a u-bolt that is made for hanging a spin block from. You'd have to drill the top plate, but I would think that is the OEM way. Come out the OEM way, through the block, and you're clear.

Update

 

[pneirik]

thank you. i will get my serial number for the us spar and then go to that catalog

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="] I will get my serial number for the us spar and then go to that catalog[/QUOTE]\
I see they have the 16x8 sheaves in a 70 diameter. Might be better than a 60. Also, I suggest getting the OEM cleats while you're paying for shipping. I had a guy up a mast (not mine) and the OEM nylon one broke. Get the metal one(s). I placed one on the mast to tie off spin lines, then another on the boom oposite from the OEM. Gives me a place to attach an awning.

 

[Slider]

I had a 2007 323. I ordered the sheave and pin and installed myself. You just place the sheave and put the pin in the existing hole. Then you just use a hammer to set the pin. The sail has more room and is easier to handle. I was lucky the existing halyard was just long enough! Good luck.