Do you have an opinion on the best length for halyards led to the cockpit? I used 2.5x my mast height, and there's more rope after the clutches than I need for the winches and tailing. So I'll ask someone who can cut and re-splice the Flemish/reeving eyes, and would appreciate your thoughts before cutting. My first thought is 6 feet after 4 wraps on the winch. Thank you.
Length of halyards
- Thread starter gregclapp
- Start date
Use a heavy string or 1/8 rope in place of the halyard. Mark it where you want the lenth as needed, then buy and/or cut the working line to the needed length.
Sounds reasonable. I just replaced my topping lift - only had two feet extra, so added 5' to the new line.
@Ron20324 has a good way to measure the length.
Remember there are many rope shortening devices, however, I am not aware of any rope lengthening devices. A few bucks spent on a few extra feet of line is good insurance.
Splicing a reeving eye or a shackle will consume several feet of line.
Remember there are many rope shortening devices, however, I am not aware of any rope lengthening devices. A few bucks spent on a few extra feet of line is good insurance.
Splicing a reeving eye or a shackle will consume several feet of line.
It sounds like you already have the halyard and it is over-long. That's probably a common condition. I don't know why you would put up a substitute line, measure and mark, when you already have your line in place. The only thing you need to consider is that the length you want will only be affected by the end of the line when you have the sail down. Many people take the shackle off the head of the sail and fasten it somewhere on deck. If that is what you do, then fasten it on deck where you would normally stow it and then go back to the cockpit and make a cut a comfortable distance away from the clutch. 6' sounds fine, maybe a bit more. It all depends on your comfort level. I don't think there is any need to add length of turns around the winch. You are only turning the halyard around the winch when the head of the sail is at the top and all that tail end of the line is in the cockpit! Why would you wrap the line around the winch when you have most of the tail end going up the mast and the sail is down? 
Are you asking for a good equation to use when purchasing new halyards? If so, a standard equation such as 2.5x is really just an estimate. Either measure as @Ron20324 says or always buy some extra and cut off if you have excess.
@Scott T-Bird post is pretty right one.
Perhaps the easiest way to measure the halyard length is with a long tape measure, one that is at least 75 ft. Hoist one end to the mast head and measure, multiply by 2 add the distance from the mast base to the winch and add enough to get several wraps around the winch and to tail the line.
Remember the formula for the circumference of a circle, pi x D. Each wrap on a 4" winch drum will take up about 1 foot.
Remember the formula for the circumference of a circle, pi x D. Each wrap on a 4" winch drum will take up about 1 foot.
I am probably quibbling over a small issue
but do you start your hoist with the halyard wrapped around the winch? I normally hoist nearly the entire sail before wrapping the winch to finish the hoist. Therefore, at least half the halyard is already on the cockpit floor by the time I wrap the winch ... no need to add 3 or 4 feet at that point. If it wasn't for the fine points we'd have not points at all.I am probably quibbling over a small issue
When using a halyard to hoist some one up the mast the halyard will need to be wrapped around the winch at least 3 times for both safety and hoisting ease.
To add to Ron20324, dlochner and Scott T-Bird..........the best way to determine what halyard length you need is to run the old halyard to the cockpit, with anothe line connected to the end, if required, onto a winch with at least 3 wraps as dlochner indicated plus a few extra feet. Then remove the halyard (leaving a tag line in itys place and measure the length (with additional line atttached, if required). I have never found general guidelines like the links below work.
Guidelines for length of mooring lines, halyards and sheets. (premiumropes.com)
Lengths of Sheets and Halyards (yachtsandyachting.com)
A few extra feet of tail isn't such a bad thing if you want to end-for-end the halyard on a schedule. Furling sails probably should get switched regularly because they are vulnerable to Sun damage and are generally tensioned over a sheave for as long as a season. After we had a spinnaker halyard part at the top of the mast we asked the line guru whether it was chafe or UV damage. The answer was "Yes."
Plan to use the halyard for anything else? Like hoisting a dinghy where you might need some more length.
Thank you all. I should have been clearer that I installed new halyards (using the 2.5x rule), and when the shackles are fastened to the deck, there is 15' of excess halyard after the clutch cluttering up the cockpit, times four halyards.
I'll leave something like 6-8' (a couple of coils) on all but one halyard, and keep one longer for a just-in-case, for example the hoisting scenario that J pointed out (MOB).
I'll leave something like 6-8' (a couple of coils) on all but one halyard, and keep one longer for a just-in-case, for example the hoisting scenario that J pointed out (MOB).
I just replaced my main halyard and added 10 feet so I can use a primary winch for raising my butt up the mast. Hoping a 2-speed primary lets us use my Milwaukee right-angle drill and winch bit. It wont pull me up with the cabin-top single-speed winches.
Greg
Greg