Jib Halyard jumps off Masthead Jib Block

[Cheboygan]

Anyone had this same problem? How do we fix it? Our first summer sailing this boat, the jib halyard would jump off the jib block in the masthead. We got around the problem for 20 years by installing a separate block on the front of the masthead ... used that separate block and not the one in the masthead. This year, we installed a Harkin furling jib, and needed to use the block in the masthead. The jib halyard has jumped off the block and is stuck between the mainsail block and the jib block. Any suggestions to fix this halyard jumping problem permanently?

 

[Mike1956]

correct size halyard?

Are you using the correct sized halyard? If your line is too small in diameter, it could jump and snag like the problem you have. Maybe the sheave could be replaced if your halyard line is in good shape. That would be the least expensive way to go.

 

[Cheboygan]

Got halyard back on track

Thanks, Mike, for your response. We got the halyard back on track, tighten the sail (maybe new sail stretched a bit?), and the furler seems to be working properly. Someone else said they have an extra block on the mast at the top to encourage the halyard to stay in place allowing the furler to also stay aligned, and keeping the halyard from wrapping at the top. So far, we are not going to take further action, but may need to if the furler fails another time.

 

[Lauraine3557]

You didn't by some chance switch to all

rope halyards from wire/rope without changing the sheave in the masthead? As Mike suggests, that would make the sheave too small for the rope.

 

[Don]

Masthead Sheave Divider

You could make a divider to fit between the sheaves in the masthead to keep the halyards from jumping the sheaves or you could buy the stainless steel divider from Catalina Direct. If the space between the sheaves is particularly large, put more than one divider between the sheaves.