I have a beautiful 1975 Pearson 30, hull 69. I would like to run my halyards inside the mast and also run them back to the cockpit. Anyone done either of these projects before? I am assuming on the standing/spring blocks, that I am going to have to deck mount them, yes? I look forward to the insight. Hope you are all having as wonderful sailing season as I! Anyone out there make it to Race Week Charleston? What a blast...
P30 standing block and mast rigging concerns
- Thread starter Fifth Starr
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I led my halyards internally on my P30, it was pretty easy but I had the mast all apart at the time. Fishing them and getting a fair lead is the hard part.
As for leading them back, I'm not a fan but if I wanted to do that I think I would get a plate made that would go under the mast step and angled up at about a 45 degree angle when it comes out from under the step. That way I could shackle turning blocks to that rather than just screwing turning blocks in the the deck that will probably pull out.
As for leading them back, I'm not a fan but if I wanted to do that I think I would get a plate made that would go under the mast step and angled up at about a 45 degree angle when it comes out from under the step. That way I could shackle turning blocks to that rather than just screwing turning blocks in the the deck that will probably pull out.
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did you use specific eyelets on your mast where the lines penetrated and were there any obstructions in the mast (like over sized winch bases or something) I am considering keeping the mast stepped and using gravity to feed weighted leads. Also there is a nice sized access panel at the base (starboard) of my mast that I assumed would make threading the leads through the bottom of the mast easier. I am curious as to why you aren't hip to taking the halyards aft? Anything in particular, or just don't like the set up. I tend to sail my boat single handed a lot and I am on a lake which means lots of tacking and jibing. Also I race a significant amount and two out of the three boats that I race regularly have the halyards run to the cockpit (the third is a Melges 24 so the lines are already in the cockpit without additional deck hardware). Anyhow, an additional deck step plate sounds like a good idea, though it is a lot of effort to avoid holes in the deck. What do you feel about a plate that is affixed to the deck around the mast that is affixed with a plate under the the cabin top. That (though it is more holes) should be pretty bomb proof and I wouldn't have to worry about how the mast steps with my additional plate. Thanks for the input
First, not liking halyards lead aft is a personal preference that not many people share. I particularly like my main halyard at the mast because that's where the reef lines and the tack are. I can reef without running back and forth. Also it's closer to the bow cleat to blow the main halyard when sailing onto the mooring. As for the Jib halyard, we have roller furling so having that big coil of line hanging around in the cockpit all summer is just in the way. Spin hals - I'm at the mast anyway, why do I want to go back to the cockpit to hoist. So, that's just my thoughts, I'm usually outvoted on this one. My personal opinion is that hals to the cockpit work OK when you have full crew but if you have short crew (we double hand race) and you have to be at the mast anyway, why not have everything in one place.
But as for internal halyards. To get in at the top, no problem, they just lead right in. Since I still go to the mast winches my exits are above there, staggered so as to not create a weak sectoin of mast. When I lead mine through the mast, the mast was brand new so I didn't have to get around the spreader bar, wiring bundle spin track screws, etc. but I think your plan will probably work OK.
And to turning blocks. I avoid drilling a hole in my boat in any way I can, especially one that can leak and/or cause wet decks. Of course it can be sealed so that this is not an issue but no hole at all is less to worry about. Beyond that, you will have through bolt with backing plate on the inside and remember, there is that headliner that will probably have to be cut back to get a backing plate onto something solid (there is a void between the bottom of the deck and the headliner). Putting the ring under the mast step will be cleaner and much, much stronger. Also, if you make it with attachments all the way around, you can put on more turning blocks for whatever you haven't thought of yet.
Purely opinion and I've been wrong LOTS of times.
-randy
But as for internal halyards. To get in at the top, no problem, they just lead right in. Since I still go to the mast winches my exits are above there, staggered so as to not create a weak sectoin of mast. When I lead mine through the mast, the mast was brand new so I didn't have to get around the spreader bar, wiring bundle spin track screws, etc. but I think your plan will probably work OK.
And to turning blocks. I avoid drilling a hole in my boat in any way I can, especially one that can leak and/or cause wet decks. Of course it can be sealed so that this is not an issue but no hole at all is less to worry about. Beyond that, you will have through bolt with backing plate on the inside and remember, there is that headliner that will probably have to be cut back to get a backing plate onto something solid (there is a void between the bottom of the deck and the headliner). Putting the ring under the mast step will be cleaner and much, much stronger. Also, if you make it with attachments all the way around, you can put on more turning blocks for whatever you haven't thought of yet.
Purely opinion and I've been wrong LOTS of times.
-randy
i dig what you are saying though. One complaint I have about lines on the mast is that there is only so much room for big coils on the mast. I have all 1/2 lines/halyards and when coiled (especially when stiff) they are cumbersome and tend not to want to stay on the cleats. Where as when I am on boats with lines aft, you can pocket them (cloth pockets), throw them down the aft hatch, or just coil them and lay them neatly on the deck. I caught that you said "all summer long" I hate it for all you up north. I can't imagine having my sailing season restricted to only the summer! Granted, it is always great to by a northern boat cause they have only seen a few months a year generally. how does your P30 compete locally? I don't race mine at all, but she sails like a dream
We hold our own racing 
The P30 has a favorable rating.
How do you fix your halyards? We start the coil about a foot away from the cleat, once the coil is complete, reach through the coil, grab the line between the cleat and the coil, pull it through the coil, put a few twists in it and hang just that one bight of line on the cleat. Sounds really cheesy but it works.
Yup, we have some nice boats up here, they get a lot of shop time. Rita P is in the water 5 months a year. That's also why Maine has so many skilled boat workers, lots of time to practice!
The P30 has a favorable rating.How do you fix your halyards? We start the coil about a foot away from the cleat, once the coil is complete, reach through the coil, grab the line between the cleat and the coil, pull it through the coil, put a few twists in it and hang just that one bight of line on the cleat. Sounds really cheesy but it works.
Yup, we have some nice boats up here, they get a lot of shop time. Rita P is in the water 5 months a year. That's also why Maine has so many skilled boat workers, lots of time to practice!
I stow my hals the same way. It just always seems that there is either more line than I want hanging around the mast (mostly unsightly, but it can also get in the way) and then other times, let's say when my spin hal is made forward on a stantion base or something, then there is too little line to get a tidy loop made. I know it sounds finicky, rather, it is finicky. I may just like the look and ease of having hals, cunningham, and even top lift (boom) run back. I'd love to replace my top lift with a vang, but i have a flying dutchman sail flaking system that relies on it. anyhow. thanks for the info and have a great season. I am sure we'll speak again!
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