treading a new halyard for spinniker

[tom r. evans-kennedy]

i would like to install a new haylard for a spinnikerfor my 1980 hunter 27//is it possable to install the spinniker halyard with out taking down the mast//at presenti have two halyards running in the mast one for the mainsail and another for the roller furling///what size halyard shouldi use//if i have to take the mast down i will //but its more crane time/any suggestions ? i have the crew who do not mind the climb to the top of the mast/still in the grips of winter//but january the coldest month is now historytom

 

[David Foster]

Bail, bosun's chair

Our rigger installed a stailess steel bail (loop) sticking out horizontally on the front of our masthead fixture. This was a simple matter of the hardware, a drill, and a couple of wrenches. A simple block is then mounted on the bail, with the spinnaker halyard rove through it.The key is that the spinnaker halyard be well forward of the headstay/roller furler.If you can get a couple of people to help, you can easily and safely go up the mast with a bosun's chair. The marine stores carry them at a reasonable price. One halyard is rigged to the bosun's chair, and the normal winch will haul you up. The second halyard is attached as a safety line to a harness on the rigger (in this case you) and tended over a winch by the second crew.By the way, our local rigger offers the sames prices as the local marine stores, and gives free advice, sometimes free used gear, and installation at a reasonable price if I don't want to go up the mast. It's sure worth a visit if one is near.We lose our asymetric cruising spinnaker. I figure it replaces the engine for about 20 pecent of our cruising time on Lake Erie.DavidLady Lillie'77 h27

 

[Ed Schenck]

Inside the mast?

You can use a block on a bale as David points out. But maybe you have unused sheaves at the top like my H37C. I added two internal halyards. One is a spare and is used to adjust the topping lift. The other is for flying a drifter. I did this on the ground but it could have been done with the stick up(not by me, I can't climb).The first trick is to figure out where you want the halyard to exit the mast. Then you have to drill three large holes, dremmel that into one larger oval, use an Exit Plate for a template. The Related Link to Rig-Rite will get you the parts. Don't rivet the plate until after you pull the halyard.Now someone can go up the stick and drop down the halyard. With a piece of coat hanger bent just right you can snag the halyard and pull it out the exit hole. Now install the exit plate with a couple of rivets and all done.