I have been using a spare jib halyard for my cruising spin but the problem I have is getting the sail all the way to the top of the mast. Usually the sail is blown to the side of the boat and forces the halyard to exit the masthead at a sharp angle. This makes hoisting the sail very hard. There is a lot of friction at the top of the mast. My question is can I attach a block (that can swivel) at the mast head to provide a better lead for the halyard? If so what would be the best way to attach the block without out having to do to much drilling and tapping for the block? The boat is a Catalina 30, 1989. Has anyone done a similar thing to their boat ? Thanks CM
Using spare halyard for spin.
- Thread starter cmorin
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Spinnaker Bail
You need to install a spinnaker Bail at your masthead to accommodate the block. The bail should be able to be installed with only a couple of holes. Many boats come with an arrangement for a spinnaker halyard and I am surprised the Cat does not.
You need to install a spinnaker Bail at your masthead to accommodate the block. The bail should be able to be installed with only a couple of holes. Many boats come with an arrangement for a spinnaker halyard and I am surprised the Cat does not.
Bad idea
That friction is coming from the sharp exit at the genoa sheave. The friction is damaging the halyard each time it is used. Eventually the halyard will fail. My suggestion is to install a proper spinnaker halyard, which means that it exits above the headstay and can articulate whichever way it chooses. This will make raising and dousing your spinnaker much easier and save you having to replace a prematurely parted halyard
That friction is coming from the sharp exit at the genoa sheave. The friction is damaging the halyard each time it is used. Eventually the halyard will fail. My suggestion is to install a proper spinnaker halyard, which means that it exits above the headstay and can articulate whichever way it chooses. This will make raising and dousing your spinnaker much easier and save you having to replace a prematurely parted halyard
Spinnaker Crane
Hi CM; You can purchase a spinnaker crane from Catalinadirect or perhaps from the chandlery right here at Sailboatowners.com. The one I purchased from Catalinadirect was predrilled so it attached to the Catalina 30 masthead using existing hardware, no drilling or tapping necessary. Simple to install if the mast is down, a little more difficult, but doable if mast is still up. Unless you have a lot of experience climbing masts, I would do it with mast down. Fair winds Dave
Hi CM; You can purchase a spinnaker crane from Catalinadirect or perhaps from the chandlery right here at Sailboatowners.com. The one I purchased from Catalinadirect was predrilled so it attached to the Catalina 30 masthead using existing hardware, no drilling or tapping necessary. Simple to install if the mast is down, a little more difficult, but doable if mast is still up. Unless you have a lot of experience climbing masts, I would do it with mast down. Fair winds Dave
Send up a Block with a new external Halyard
The preferred way of course is to install a spinnaker block crane which could be as simple as a bent ss bar welded to a flat plate bolted to the top of your mast head fitting. but if you are looking for a quick fix just haul a swivel block up on your spare jib halyard, tight up into your jib halyard sheave, with a new external spinnaker halyard, That block would swivel and flex, and eliminate your side load problems.
The preferred way of course is to install a spinnaker block crane which could be as simple as a bent ss bar welded to a flat plate bolted to the top of your mast head fitting. but if you are looking for a quick fix just haul a swivel block up on your spare jib halyard, tight up into your jib halyard sheave, with a new external spinnaker halyard, That block would swivel and flex, and eliminate your side load problems.
Adding a crane
I appreciate the link to the catalinadirect website. The crane I saw looks like it would be a fairly easy install. Once I attach the crane and put a swivel block on it, can I use my spare halyard ? I would guess I would need to either, re-run the entire halyard through the block and than down the mast or cut the shackle off feed it through the block and than tie the shackle back. Am I missing something ? Thanks CM
I appreciate the link to the catalinadirect website. The crane I saw looks like it would be a fairly easy install. Once I attach the crane and put a swivel block on it, can I use my spare halyard ? I would guess I would need to either, re-run the entire halyard through the block and than down the mast or cut the shackle off feed it through the block and than tie the shackle back. Am I missing something ? Thanks CM
You should have a separate external Spinnaker Halyard
Several suggestions you already have say to use an external halyard. Any use of that internal halyard is going to produce a wearing, dragging friction on your halyard and it will eventually part. --- Leaving you with a chute in the water, no spinnaker halyard, and a rats nest inside your mast. Additionally when you get a block for your crane or to haul up on the spare halyard as a temp solution, it should be a Spinnaker block and not just a swivel block. A spinnaker block has a elongated hole for the shackle so the pin end is away from the block. With that any mousing wire on the pin is away from the block , the Spin. Halyard and the spinnaker. If you want to do it right that is. By the way the spare halyard is ideal for double headsails, changing sails when racing, or when its blowing hard. It is also a safety line when going aloft on another. So why don't you just keep it as is?
Several suggestions you already have say to use an external halyard. Any use of that internal halyard is going to produce a wearing, dragging friction on your halyard and it will eventually part. --- Leaving you with a chute in the water, no spinnaker halyard, and a rats nest inside your mast. Additionally when you get a block for your crane or to haul up on the spare halyard as a temp solution, it should be a Spinnaker block and not just a swivel block. A spinnaker block has a elongated hole for the shackle so the pin end is away from the block. With that any mousing wire on the pin is away from the block , the Spin. Halyard and the spinnaker. If you want to do it right that is. By the way the spare halyard is ideal for double headsails, changing sails when racing, or when its blowing hard. It is also a safety line when going aloft on another. So why don't you just keep it as is?
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