Spinnaker in top pulley-is it a concern?

[Jeff2650]

I'd rather ask than not ask, so I appreciate your knowledge on this subject.

I just purchased a used/in very good condition, asymmetrical spinnaker to use on my 26ft capri. Other than the standard sheet set up questions, should I be concerned with the hoisted halyard carrying my spinnaker from being pulled into pulleys atop my mast and potentially getting jammed? I've seen halyard stop blocks,...ist this necessarily a concern?

 

[dlochner]

Spinakers are typically flown from an external block on a mast crane, a part of the masthead from which the block hangs. Getting jammed in these blocks is typically not an issue. If you plan to use a halyard that was originally designed for a jib, there can be an issue with the halyard riding up over the edge of the sheave and getting jammed.

 

[PaulK]

If your crew is strong enough to pull the halyard shackle into the sheave and jam it there, send him over to one of the America's Cup recruiting offices -- they're looking for him.

 

[garymalmgren]

A halyard knot (halyard hitch) will prevent binding into a masthead or other block.

halyard knot - Search Videos

www.bing.com

 

[BarryL]

Hi.

If you're worried, you can use a halyard ball.

Ronstan Halyard Stopper, OD20mm (3/4") ID10.5mm (3/8"), Black

Buy Ronstan Halyard Stopper, OD20mm (3/4") ID10.5mm (3/8"), Black, sailing gear, sailboat parts, sails and running rigging at Vela Sailing Supply. Technical support, customer service and product information. Vela and sailing supplies.

www.velasailingsupply.com

Barry

 

[Jeff2650]

Thanks for the responses, Annapolis installed the spar and halyards, and designated one as a spinnaker hoist, so very likely it was designed for that purpose soley.
I appreciate the insight, and will likely just get a "stop" to be on the safe side, I mostly solo in the Chesapeake Bay, so an ounce of prevention will be worth keeping me from fighting a "stuck" hoist alone.
Cheers.

 

[Sailfanatic]

Thanks for the responses, Annapolis installed the spar and halyards, and designated one as a spinnaker hoist, so very likely it was designed for that purpose soley.
I appreciate the insight, and will likely just get a "stop" to be on the safe side, I mostly solo in the Chesapeake Bay, so an ounce of prevention will be worth keeping me from fighting a "stuck" hoist alone.
Cheers.

I just have to say that some riggers just term a second jib halyard as the "spinnaker" halyard. The critical characteristic of a spinnaker halyard is that it flys from a crane projecting it in front of the forestay. This allows for the un-impeded jibing of a symmetric spinnaker, and of a asymmetric spinnaker flying off a sprit. These sails must jibe in front of the forestay, ie ahead/outside of the foretriangle.

If you are flying a cruising chute from the stemhead, and jibe it inside the foretriangle, then such a halyard (located next to the jib halyard) works fine.

 

[kloudie1]

here is what the spin halyard on a crane looks like:

You can see the spin block is forward of the halyards and forestay. Some fractiionally rigged boats have the spin halyard on one of the masthead sheaves, but that is kinda rare.

 

[Joe]

The spinnaker halyard block should be "swiveling", and attached to the top of the mast so the sail will float out ahead of the forestay. If it is fixed and inserted into the body of the mast, (an unusual set up, but I have seen it,) there would be a kind of fairlead built into the opening to prevent jumping out of the sheave and discourage abrasion.

 

[jssailem]

there can be an issue with the halyard riding up over the edge of the sheave and getting jammed.

Spinnakers have been flown from mast head sheaves. While jamming is a possibility, I would gave greater concern about chafe. The sail does a lot of lateral movement when in use. Your halyard will rub against the exit block and sheave. To prevent this use a crane and a block. The halyard will be free to float with the head sail and the block will rotate as needed providing a fair lead.

 

[thinwater]

This is pretty normal on boats <26 feet. My cruising cat had a swivel. Just keep an eye on the sheeve; some handle this better than others.

 

[Jeff2650]

here is what the spin halyard on a crane looks like:
View attachment 213609
You can see the spin block is forward of the halyards and forestay. Some fractiionally rigged boats have the spin halyard on one of the masthead sheaves, but that is kinda rare.

That's an excellent visual showing what a crane looks like, thank you.