line routing, rigging.

[anchorclanker]

Oday 222. Ive been reading everything and anything I can find, yet when it comes to some of the more basic things I just dont see what im looking for. Im hoping someone can offer some suggestions rather than just trying to figure it out through trial and error.

Head Sail. Should the head sail tack be shackled directly at the deck, or should the tack have some sort of leader attached to allow the sail to rise fully to the top of the head stay. Fastened at the deck there is a good two feet left on the halyard, leaving the sail pressed against the bow pulpit and life lines. If it were drawn all the way up I believe it would clear everything and let it out over the side. What would be proper?

Main sheet tackle. The sheet is just lying on the floor of the cockpit in a filthy heap. If its pulled or stepped on it instantly comes off the cam cleat allowing the boom to swing. Ive noticed on some boats the sheet goes up into the boom somewhere, but they all have sailcovers so I cant see how they're rigged and I wont go aboard anyones boat snooping around. I also see other setups where the cam cleats at the top. I assume one of the two is correct and am thinking it should be at the top?

There is a another halyard of much lighter line which has a light duty shackle. Its obviously not heavy enough to raise a sail. A Spinnaker sock perhaps?

There is a fourth halyard tied to a pad eye at the end of the boom. Its light 1/4 inch cord like clothes line, not very strong. There is a short length of cable hanging off the aft stay that clips to the boom, which I assume is the actual topping lift, any suggestions what this fourth line is for? I was thinking using it for a flag, but there is a cable attached to the starboard shroud with what appears to be a flag clip.

Any help would be welcome.

 

[justsomeguy]

About the foresail, I like being able to see ahead, so I keep mine up off the deck. Proper? I dunno. Smart? I think so.

If you could get some decent photos of your running rigging posted, that may help, eh?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Yes, you can use a leader to allow the tack to be off the deck and clear the pulpit rail and/or lifeline. It isn't chic for racing, because you need a deck sweeping genny with a full length luff if you want to fit in, but cruisers will recognize your priority and give you a nod.

Usually a main sheet is led through a cam cleat beneath your boom (for smaller boats like ours), exactly where depends on your set-up. Mine is cleated at a block and cleat assembly attached to the traveler car. The traveler track resides at the edge of my bridge deck. My mainsheet ends up on the floor of the cockpit, too, unless somebody bunches it and lays it on the bridge deck. I don't think it would work well to cleat it at the boom height and I can't say that I've noticed any boats set up that way, either.

It sounds like you have a topping lift which isn't being used and a pigtail to hold your boom up. I don't think you need both. Much as I don't really like the topping lift, the pigtail is even more objectionable. If it were me, I would get rid of the pigtail and use the TL. People use them, but I see no good coming from hanging the boom off the back stay. BTW, my TL isn't a halyard .... it is a plastic-coated wire that is fixed to the top of the mast and the rig uses a small block assembly and line at the end of the boom. This is soon to be replaced by a rigid vang, I think. I wouldn't waste a halyard for a TL, either. But I have heard a few sailors who like the TL on a halyard because they insist on using it when reefing. As you will learn, there are many ways to set-up your rigging based on your own personal preferences. Just because the boat manufacturer did it one way, doesn't mean it can't be modified to suit your preference.

The other halyard is simply a spare if you have no other use for it. It can be used for any purpose you have in mind (you can probably use a larger dia line), including raising a spinnaker sock. But you problably shouldn't use it for a spinnaker if it is coming out of a sheave at the top of the mast where it can chafe. You'll have to describe the position of it better for anybody to comment, unless they are familiar with this particular boat.

Do you have internal halyards? If you have a total of 4 halyards, you must have 4 sheaves at the top of the mast and it makes sense that all tail ends run internally and exit the mast near the base. Masts with 4 sheaves typically are set-up like the wheels of a car. I currently have only 3 halyards, the spare drapes over the two port sheaves so the spare halyard is external at both ends while my main and genny halyards are internal. I have a spinnaker crane for a spinnikar halyard, which I'm currently not using now (the crane is just an external metal loop at the top and forward of the mast that a block would be attached to). You might look up to see what you have up there. JSG is right ... pictures are worth 1000 words.

 

[Merlin Clark]

I'm with justsomeguy on the headsail position, I have a penant that was left by the PO and I can see what's out in front of the boat.
I don't think I lose any speed this way but if I do it's worth not running into things. I'm bad enough on foot!

 

[Joe]

Using a tack pendant is purely optional if your headsail is not full hoist. One of the advantages is visibility, important if you single hand a lot. The other is that if keeps green water(water coming over the deck) from sluicing down the deck towards the cockpit.

The mainsheet.... just coil it up what you don't use for that particular point of sail... buy a large sheet bag if it's really bugging you. You can attach it to the bench to stow the extra line.

When the boat is not in use I coil my mainsheet, put on a few wraps and use the remaining line to tie the bundle to the boom...... if you look under the mainsail covers of the boats you've mentioned you'll see that it's a storage method..not a new sailing technique. Don't put the cam cleat at the top........just don't. Ask yourself how you will cleat the mainsheet when the boom is let out all the way.

The pig tail holds the boom in basically one neutral position. You have a topping lift to hold the boom up and allow movement..... and you can stabize the boom position by tightening the mainsheet.... so...what do you need the pigtail for? Wrap it around the backstay and forget about it... or just get rid of it.

Most quality sailboats came with at least 2 jib halyards, if the one you mention adjacent to the other, that's what it is..... A spinnaker halyard, if you have one, will be run to the top through a block on a SWIVEL that is fixed to the masthead IN FRONT of the headstay attachment point, allowing the sail to fly out ahead. BTW a spinnaker sock is attached to the head of the spinnaker and is hoisted by it's own internal control line.... The second halyard you mention could be replaced with a stronger halyard if you choose.

The clip on the shroud is for a flag halyard that is supported from the spreaders... look up and see if you notice any eyestraps or small block fittings. Whatever...... do NOT fly the national ensign (american flag) from the spreader halyard.... Its proper place is at the stern of your boat.... either a flagpole or flown from 2/3 up the backstay (or as high as you can get it)

 

[Stu Jackson]

Whatever...... do NOT fly the national ensign (american flag) from the spreader halyard.... Its proper place is at the stern of your boat.... either a flagpole or flown from 2/3 up the backstay (or as high as you can get it)

Thanks and I wish i could copy this and drop it off on all the boats in my marina who do this. And then, to top it off, they leave the flags up 24/7 even when they're not there. They all can't be out-of-the-country visitors.

Almost as bad a slapping halyards!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Oday 222. Ive been reading everything and anything I can find, yet when it comes to some of the more basic things I just dont see what im looking for. Im hoping someone can offer some suggestions rather than just trying to figure it out through trial and error.

Any help would be welcome.

If you've been reading everything you can, you may have missed this. Also, add a jib downhaul if you don't have jib furling.

From Pat Royce's Sailing Illustrated, one of the best small boat books I've ever found. In fact, it was the ONLY book we had for two years. Great stuff.

 

[anchorclanker]

To answer a few questions.

Yes, I have a pig tail attached to the back stay.

I do have 4 halyards, none are internal. I knew I could change the lines to heavier grade, just wondered if there was some particular reason for each of them. I will have to look at them, I thought three came off the top and one lower at the head stay, but now im not sure.

I do have fittings on the starboard shroud. What is generally flown there??

So it would be proper enough to fly the National ensign off the aft halyard using a pendant attached to the back stay chain plate?


AS to the mainsheet tackle. Installed as it is to cleat the sheet you have to draw it at an upward angle, almost vertical. Pulling it out or down instantly un-cleats it. If the tackle were reversed with the cleat at the top, drawing the sheet toward you would automatically engage the cleat. I believe if the boom were out and I gave the sheet a flip it it would un-cleat to allow it to go out further, or pulling it upward would likely un-cleat it as well. I guess I can play with it and see which way I like it? Maybe the Vang and mainsheet tackle got swapped around, I'll have to take a look at that. I have seen bags for line storage, that might be handy. Or I could just teach myself how to coil lines and hang it properly.

Pictures. Yes, I have to get them off my camera and post them. I'll try to do that this evening, though I'm not sure if I have any of the forward top of the mast that would give enough detail.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I do have fittings on the starboard shroud. What is generally flown there??

So it would be proper enough to fly the National ensign off the aft halyard using a pendant attached to the back stay chain plate?


I believe if the boom were out and I gave the sheet a flip it it would un-cleat to allow it to go out further, or pulling it upward would likely un-cleat it as well. I guess I can play with it and see which way I like it? Maybe the Vang and mainsheet tackle got swapped around,

Courtesy flags, burgees...

Nope, not off a halyard.

Joe was right. It won't, but you could try. Let us know. Could be they got switched.

Coiling line is easy.

You might try that book I suggested, answers all your questions for less than a boat buck.

 

[anchorclanker]

Stu, that page you posted refers to taking down the jib and leaving it on the deck. With the Luff hanked to the fore stay, does the downhaul attach at the head, so you can haul the sail down? I am not understanding how that would work otherwise.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Good question, come sup all the time. Tie the line, or use a small clip, to the top hank, NOT to the shackle on the head of the sail, or else it will cock off and drag and not work. You do NOT have to reeve the line thru the hanks. I used it for years on both our C22 and C25.

 

[anchorclanker]

Copy.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Great. See reply #6 here, also a good discussion about this.

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=143948&highlight=heave+to

 

[davenlynn]

The downhaul on the jib is most helpful, so much so that we rigged a "haul down" on the main and now don't have to go up on deck when lowering sails. Makes life easier for an old man. (and some younger ones, too)

Dave

 

[anchorclanker]

Stu, I would never intentionally fly the flag wrong. It must come down at night, always, and it must come down when not attended, always. In fact I havnt ran it up yet because I wasnt sure of proper protocol. But its in the boat and its ready to fly. I just need to know where and how best to accomplish.

Jib. Okay, so I run a jib downhaul off top hank (not head), and run both jib halyard and downhaul to Port side. Attach blocks to stanchion bases to route Jib downhaul, or, use fair leads that are already in place on the deck for which I wasnt sure why they were there.

Mainsail halyard. So I route it to starboard, but how do I raise it from the cockpit? There are no blocks at the mast, the line comes down through a fair lead about 4 feet above the tabernacle and then to a horn cleat. I assume then, I need to attach blocks to feed it back to the cockpit where I can use the winches placed either side of hatch, correct? Does anyone use a downhaul on the main??

There is a winch on the port side of the mast, a few feet above the tabernacle. I assume with everything controlled at the cockpit there is no longer any need for that winch in that location?

 

[Joe]

The Oday 222 is a "fractional" rig.... the jib halyard will be below where the headstay is attached. If there is another halyard facing forward, and at the top of the mast... it is for the spinnaker. A boat your size doesn't need a spinnaker sock for launching the sail. You can just set it on the deck and hoist right out of the turtle bag.

Don't use a halyard for the flag... You can fabricate a flagstaff from a section of 1" dowel and zip tie it to your pushpit to fly your flag.

You mainsail is not rigged for cockpit control. you'll need a longer halyard and a few extra blocks to get it back there. take a few steps forward to the mast and handle if from there.... not that big a deal.

Tie the jib downhaul to the top hank with a buntline hitch. Do not thread the line through any other hanks........ rig it like the furlig line on the boat in this picture... http://www.texassailboatads.com/2012/02/04/oday-222-sailboat-lake-travis-texas/

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Winches on the cabin top ...

those are for the jib sheets.

I agree that on small boats like ours, it is better to hoist the halyards from the cockpit. The problem is that the coach roof is not a good place to stand on a small boat when waves are pitching the boat. I was nearly pitched into the water when raising sails on a J30 we rented on Lake Michigan a few years ago. There is more security, less pitching, and often good hand-holds around the mast on larger boats ... but the problem you will have is as you stated. You need to install blocks at the base of the mast and deck organizers outboard on the coach roof. It looks like the hatch rail may interfere so that makes it even more complicated. Then you will need clutches in front of the winches because you can't leave the halyards permanently wrapped around the winches and then be able to use the winches for the jib sheets.

I suppose that if you just have one winch on the mast, you have to leave the main halyard wrapped on the winch after you hoist (unless you have a clutch mounted on the mast ahead of the winch?) That must mean that jib hoists and spinnaker hoists are without a winch ... with small headsails on a small boat w/ fractional rig, I guess that is logical ...

 

[Stu Jackson]

Mainsail halyard. So I route it to starboard, but how do I raise it from the cockpit? There are no blocks at the mast, the line comes down through a fair lead about 4 feet above the tabernacle and then to a horn cleat. I assume then, I need to attach blocks to feed it back to the cockpit where I can use the winches placed either side of hatch, correct? Does anyone use a downhaul on the main??

There is a winch on the port side of the mast, a few feet above the tabernacle. I assume with everything controlled at the cockpit there is no longer any need for that winch in that location?

Good about the flag.

Joe answered the question on the mainsail halyard. It's also in the pages of the book I posted. Buy the book (again?) or not your choice. Main downhaul covered in earlier post.

Port mast winch - most likely used by the PO to tighten his jib luff.

On small boats like yours you do not need winches to tighten anything, although racers prefer the ability to tension things beyond belief.

Your assumption is correct.

Scott - his single winch is on his MAST not the cabintop. But then, I note, he does have winches on his cabintop, too.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Yep, I think I noted that ... the cabin-top winches are for the jib sheets (there are no cockpit winches) and the mast-mounted winch is for the main sail. Assuming that the mainsail has a bolt rope, a winch would be necessary to stretch it out properly, a la Rich's frequent discussions of halyard tension.

 

[Freedom77]

Royces Sailing Illustrated is great. I would also encourage all readers to get a copy of SAIL POWER by Wallace Ross. A lot of technical stuff but a great reference for rigging, sails, etc. I bought mine in early 70's and refer to it still.