Spare halyards.... 423

[NYSail]

Hello all.....

My new to me 423 has no spare halyards and I find this to be a problem if I ever need to quickly get up the mast to change light or do maintenance. Have an in-mast furling main so that halyard will always be attached, a head-sail furling (obviously) that will always be attached and an empty spin halyard spot. Question is that I would like to run a new halyard before I pull my sails and was wondering if the lines go through a conduit inside the mast so as not to foul the main furling?? I have not inspected the mast as boat is wrapped and a few hours away (winter storage paid in CT as part of sale).

Thanks!

 

[Philip_Oceanis 361]

The furling mechanism is always in a different compartment of the mast.

 

[Gunni]

Your halyards run through the open center of the mast between the top sheave and line exit ports. Your mast wiring is in a conduit to protect it from halyard movement. You can drop a weighted signal line from the top and hook it out at the desired slot at the mast base.

You have a topping lift right? Change it out to 7/16" or similar and you have a spare halyard or safety line.

 

[NYSail]

Thanks! We have got real good at fishing lines out of the mast over the years..... me up and the wife doing the fishing.

 

[JimLanter]

Your halyards run through the open center of the mast between the top sheave and line exit ports. Your mast wiring is in a conduit to protect it from halyard movement. You can drop a weighted signal line from the top and hook it out at the desired slot at the mast base.

You have a topping lift right? Change it out to 7/16" or similar and you have a spare halyard or safety line.

That would be one very thick topping lift!

A 5/16" Dyneema line would be more suitable for that and perfectly safe to climb.

 

[Gunni]

If you want to spend 3x as much, fine! And yes, that would be cooler looking.

 

[JimLanter]

I wouldn't have any concerns going up on 5/16" Sta Set either, if in good condition, with a 3,800 lb. average breaking strength.

Of course, with any rope, one always wants a safety line of some sort.

At APS, Sta Set is $.76 for 5/16 and MLX is $1.47 for 5/16. Yes, it is twice as much for the Dyneema, but in some cases, such as a topping lift that will serve to haul people aloft, the extra cost for the reduced size and weight aloft and higher breaking strength may well be worth it. We're not talking hundreds of dollars, we're talking maybe a $50 - $60 difference. Not even a boat buck.

 

[NYSail]

I agree.... I'm in it for the long haul so want to do I right.

 

[JimLanter]

If you weren't going to use it to go aloft, I'd use 3/16" for the topping lift. I have 5/16" jib and spin halyards and use them to go up all the time. Just take the usual precautions.