Masthead Question

[Spence]

Hello everyone. I'm new to rigging and have a few questions as regards to the top of my mast.

I was wondering what the two holes are for in "A" in the top of the mast. No ropes or cables were in them. There is an opposite hole on the other side. Looking in to the other side there doesn't seem to be a pulley in it.

"C" seems to be the main sheet halyard.

"D" I don't know what this halyard is for.

"B" is either a lightning rod, or radio antenna hold down. If its a radio, I assume the cable runs down along the mast, but then I don't see clips going down the mast to hold it.

The cables I know are fore and backstays.

Thanks for the help.

 

[whatfiero]

A for standing rigging

Your cable standing rigging the ones that come off ends of spreader should be keyed to fit in A and twist to lock

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Well ... I think it looks like D is a spinnaker halyard and C would be the halyard for the head sail. The questionable part is that the swiveled block, which is normally used for a spinnaker is usually ahead of the forestay.

I'm making this assumption because it looks like you have 2 sheaves for internal halyards. Your comment about the mainsheet halyard seems to indicate that the aft end of the mast is where the swiveled block is. But the mast head makes it look to me like it is the front side of the mast. I can't tell but it looks like the shape of the mast is symmetrical.

So, here is what I think ... The forestay may be rigged wrong. The block for the spinnaker halyard should be mounted to the front-most pin. The forestay should be attached at the pin where the spinnaker block is now (it should be aft of the spinnaker block). It would actually be better if the spinnaker block were mounted to a crane, but that's a separate issue. It looks like you have 2 internal halyards, one for the head sail and one for the mainsail (shown under the arrow of A). B would be the mounts for a VHF antennae and A looks the penetration for the COAX cable, which should run inside the mast and penetrate the coach roof either just outside the mast at the base, or possibly underneath the mast thru the center of the foot. I assume you have a coach roof-mounted mast.

Looking at previous comment, it does appear that the shrouds have to be attached either at A or B. I don't recognize those mounting features. What's on the other side of the mast? It may also be feasible that A is a slot for the spinnaker halyard to run internal (but not likely based on the position on the side).

If I have the front and the aft edges of the mast mixed up, you may have to clarify. More description may be helpful.

 

[Spence]

Well ... I think it looks like D is a spinnaker halyard and C would be the halyard for the head sail. The questionable part is that the swiveled block, which is normally used for a spinnaker is usually ahead of the forestay.

I'm making this assumption because it looks like you have 2 sheaves for internal halyards. Your comment about the mainsheet halyard seems to indicate that the aft end of the mast is where the swiveled block is. But the mast head makes it look to me like it is the front side of the mast. I can't tell but it looks like the shape of the mast is symmetrical.

So, here is what I think ... The forestay may be rigged wrong. The block for the spinnaker halyard should be mounted to the front-most pin. The forestay should be attached at the pin where the spinnaker block is now (it should be aft of the spinnaker block). It would actually be better if the spinnaker block were mounted to a crane, but that's a separate issue. It looks like you have 2 internal halyards, one for the head sail and one for the mainsail (shown under the arrow of A). B would be the mounts for a VHF antennae and A looks the penetration for the COAX cable, which should run inside the mast and penetrate the coach roof either just outside the mast at the base, or possibly underneath the mast thru the center of the foot. I assume you have a coach roof-mounted mast.

Looking at previous comment, it does appear that the shrouds have to be attached either at A or B. I don't recognize those mounting features. What's on the other side of the mast? It may also be feasible that A is a slot for the spinnaker halyard to run internal (but not likely based on the position on the side).

If I have the front and the aft edges of the mast mixed up, you may have to clarify. More description may be helpful.

The closet to us is the aft of the mast which is oval. It has the main groove. Your right about A, I found the two cables with the "T"attachments.

The RF antenna lead must be simply taped to the mast, unless it's passed through the inside. If so, a connector should be close to B with the wire visible and ready to contact the antenna when clamped, but there is none. Guess I'll need to do more searching. (Just now while examining my cables, I noticed two "U" swivels for my turnbuckles are missing, probably spun out of the fitting, Drat!)

On the other side of the mast at the same location there's only the sister oval as you stated.

OK. Tallying my cables I have the 2 spreaders, the 4 central cables two per side which attach from the hull to mid mast, and finally the 2 stay cables, back/front which connect to the stern traveler and prow respectively. I'm left with an extra cable with a "T" section. Could there be one that runs from the mast head to the end of the boom, that is, the end furthest to the gooseneck, or should that be a rope halyard setup?
It could be a spare too.

D is at the rear of the mast and it would ride very near the sail if not against it judging by the pulley location.

Anyway, best I just do some sail setting on my lawn and find out what's up.


Thanks everyone .

 

[Davidasailor26]

OK. Tallying my cables I have the 2 spreaders, the 4 central cables two per side which attach from the hull to mid mast, and finally the 2 stay cables, back/front which connect to the stern traveler and prow respectively. I'm left with an extra cable with a "T" section. Could there be one that runs from the mast head to the end of the boom, that is, the end furthest to the gooseneck, or should that be a rope halyard setup? It could be a spare too. D is at the rear of the mast and it would ride very near the sail if not against it judging by the pulley location. Anyway, best I just do some sail setting on my lawn and find out what's up. Thanks everyone .

In you inventory it sounds like you only list one cable with a T end? If so then I'd assume that's one of your upper shrouds, but you should have one for each side. Sounds like you're right about the lower shrouds and headstay. The backstay should attach to a fitting on the stern, not the traveller, which is for the mainsheet. Perhaps D is an adjustable topping lift, connecting on one end to the back of the boom, and the other end running down the mast to be adjusted. If so, then it's no problem that it's close to the leach of the sail. Once you raise the sail you can let the topping lift go slack, so it does not interfere with the sail shape.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Ok, I see that I didn't notice the sail track for the mainsail, which can be seen in the photo. So, I think that the block is used for a topping lift. That would be a line that is used to hold the end of the boom up. Some people do set that up like a halyard. I didn't think of it right away because mine is done differently with a small diameter cable. There is another way to do the same think with a wire rope and maybe that is what the extra wire is for (or it's just a spare stay).

That bracket for the antennae may have been an add-on. Nobody really runs the Coax down the outside of the mast anymore. If you want to run a coax, you could drill the holes through the mast at the appropriate locations to run the coax internally. It shouldn't hurt the mast if the holes are located correctly for the purpose.

The terminology for the shrouds is "upper" shrouds (that run the full length and pass over the spreaders). The "lower" shrouds attach below the spreaders. It sounds like you have 2 sets of lowers ... fore lowers and aft lowers. Many boats have this configuration, others, like mine, have just 1 set of lowers which attach to the same chainplates as my uppers.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

That's a sturdy-looking small boat. It looks like the stern railing is set up to serve as the anchor point for the back stay and the traveler. Where are you going to sail that little beauty? She looks like she was made to handle quite a bit and I imagine the motion is pretty sweet for a 20' boat, what with the double end and the full keel.

 

[Spence]

Thanks everyone for your help.

I guess it's time to get down and dirty and simply lay it all out on the lawn, then have my son and I rig it in my backyard on the cradle.

Scott, I intend to do the st. lawrence gulf, and do some snooping along Labrador and hook me some halibut for camp fire fish n' chips. I'll anchor and do some mineral prospecting too and exploration. I heard the cold waters here favor bottom fish. PEI and Cape breton is enticing too and there are a lot of sheltered bays. As you know my rigging know-how needs some work and I'll need some navigation experience also, for that I'll spend some time on the great lakes first.

Kite cam video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=495u-1lHHSc

Spence

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Sounds great ... I envy that! Have fun. I think Joe made a valid observation earlier ... Do you have 2 halyards that run inside the mast to the base, or does one halyard pass over both sheaves to run external at both ends?

 

[Spence]

Sounds great ... I envy that! Have fun. I think Joe made a valid observation earlier ... Do you have 2 halyards that run inside the mast to the base, or does one halyard pass over both sheaves to run external at both ends?

Joe/Scott. I found out the main halyard runs over two sheaves inside the masthead. They were belayed on either side at the base of the mast.

Good news. As an aside, I mentioned on another thread the mast groove problem below the luff opening for the mainsail. Coincidentally i found a full photo of the repair i will need to do to fix it. The gooseneck in the photo is riveted to the mast over the groove. I'll need the sail layed out to tell me the exact point of attachment.

http://sailing.about.com/od/sailasm...-Small-Sailboat-1-The-Parts-Of-The-Boat_5.htm

 

[Joe]

Looks like you're on your way. Before you start hoisting the main, determine if you have an attached foot or loose foot sail. If there is a rope sewn into the foot of the sail, it must be threaded into the boom's slot before you begin inserting the luff into the mast gate. If there is no rope in the foot, then the sail attaches to the boom at the clew and tack only.

You have a good link to help with the other stuff so I won't repeat it..... oh, another suggestion.... make sure all your sail fittings, i.e. outhaul, halyards, downhauls, tack etc... open on the same side. Most of us make that the starboard or right handed side.

BTW... that looks like a pretty cool boat.. kind of like a "Flicka"... anyhow, take your time, and read as many sailing books as you can get your hands on.... If I may, I recommend John Rousmaniere's "The Annapolis Book of Seamanship"..... and don't be slack on learning the nomenclature. Study the diagrams and try to name everything on your boat as soon as possible.... it will pay dividends right off.