Spinnacker halyard

[inthesprings]

Hey folks,

My wife and I got an 86 ODay 31 this spring and we're having a great time with her. I have some work I want to do this winter, including installing a 3rd halyard for a spinnacker (only have 2 now, main and jib).

Has anyone done this? Can I do this? I dont like the idea of having to take down the roller furling jib to hoist an asymmetrical spinnacker, which is what I plan on getting.

Thanks very much!

-Shawn

 

[jibes138]

I've done it

The key is this halyard needs to go in front of the headstay as tacking an asymetrical you bring the clew around the front of the boat versus through the slot between the headstay and the mast. I bought a plate that bolts to the top of the mast from Rig Rite that has twoholes in it that you attach a block to. The halyard for the asymetrical is then run through the block, it is external of the mast since you only have sheaves for two halyards for headsails. I tie it off at the bow so it doesn't slap the mast at the slip. Check out rig rite for this plate.

 

[Mike4116]

Dave is right in that the block needs to be in front of the fore stay. My OD 28 has a fitting attached to the top of the mast head which has a block fastened to it with a shackle. Simple really... It is important that with this system that you store the spinnaker halyard behind the spreader so that when the jib is furled and unfurled it won't chafe the spinnaker halyard and the jib halyard. Securing the spinnaker halyard forward will also bind the furler at the top and make furling difficult. Some boats have a halyard sheave for the spinnaker. Are you sure yours doesn't?

 

[jibes138]

Good point about the furler

Before I set sail I move the spinaker halyard to the ring car on my mast to keep it from jamming up the furling jib. Good observation.

 

[inthespring]

hey guys, thanks. Not sure if there is a halyard sheave for a spinnacker. I guess I would have to look at the mast head? From the deck, it looks like there might be another sheave up there. The way the headsail halyard is set up, it runs down the mast a half a foot or so, such that a 2nd halyard would be infront of the 1st halyard (if that makes any sense). Im not sure if it would clear the forestay though. Id have to check. I guess I have to get someone to hoist me up there to take a look. Thanks for the help.