Spare Halyards?

[Dockhead]

I've got my mast down, for the first time since my boat was built 12 years ago, and I hope for the last time for the next 12 years.

Among dozens of other jobs, I had planned to put in an extra halyard. If for no other reason than for climbing the mast. I have all roller furling including the main, and so have only one free halyard -- the spinnaker halyard. In order to have a safety line, I have to strike the yankee down on deck in order to free up that halyard -- a real PITA.

And anyway it seems to me a good idea to have an extra halyard. But which one?

I have four halyards, three at or near the masthead. The yankee halyard exits the mast below the forestay connection. The spin halyard is rigged to a block attached to the masthead crane. The main halyard occupies one of the four masthead sheave box sheaves.

The masthead sheave box has four (4) sheaves in it, only one of which is being used.

My first impulse is to use the other aft masthead sheavebox sheave so that I have a spare main halyard. This could be used to hoist a storm trisail besides backing up the main halyard (and I have a special track in the mast for a storm trisail). Could also back up the topping lift (which is presently a static wire with a block at the end terminating a couple of meters above the boom; the tackle is all inside the boom), although I have a rigid vang so maybe topping lift doesn't need any backup.

Or maybe I should use one of the forward masthead sheave box sheaves? Or attach a block to the masthead crane, for another halyard like the existing spin halyard?

What do you guys think? The purpose is (a) safety line for climbing the mast; (b) back up other halyards in case of failure or loss at sea; (c) maybe general lifting tasks like MOB or outboard motor.

I am installing a whisker pole on a track, but don't need a halyard for a pole topping lift -- I will use the staysail sheet for that, which exits the mast about 25 feet above the deck and has a block on a swivel -- looks like it was designed for dual use as a pole topping lift. To boot this, unlike all the halyards, is lead back to the cockpit.

Any good advice?

[daddle]

A spare main halyard is a good thing to have. You might be able to remove that old-school wire topping lift and use the second halyard ... depending on how you do things.

I would avoid climbing the mast on a halyard thru a free hanging spinnaker block because of the numerous failure modes of that setup.

[ozskipper]

I would use the highest point possible. As long as is isnt going to go "tink tink tink" all night.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Could also back up the topping lift (which is presently a static wire with a block at the end terminating a couple of meters above the boom; the tackle is all inside the boom), although I have a rigid vang so maybe topping lift doesn't need any backup. Any good advice?

This is how ours is rigged (Kemp / Selden mast). I use the spare topping lift to rig a webbing strap mast ladder and then bring the spinnaker halyard round the mast for the safety harness. I don't know if you can do that with 75ft of mast.

It could also raise a tri sail, except we don't carry one for coastal stuff.

How are you going to feed it down the mast? might be easier with the mast raised and a piece of chain or small fishing weight to pull it down.

Pete

[jmackay]

I would opt for the main. If you lose a halyard at sea during a sail change then it makes it easier for someone to go up the mast and retrieve it. While you are at it I would put a messenger line in for electronics and one for a halyard. All of this is like insurance, it's a comfort to have and even more so if you never have to use it.

[barnakiel]

In our boat the topping lift can be re-used as a main halyard while the jib halyard can in emergency be used to hoist the genoa (and vice versa).

Now I have seen a boat with two blocks - one each side of the mast - a line thru any of them could serve as a backup main or fore halyard, very smart.

If your mast is out only once every 12 years then think if adding mast steps might add value - then you can fix things and check all rigging etc.. You can also go up and hang a block for a halyard, should need be.

b.

[hpeer]

I would do two, one fore and one aft.

Fail to see the downside.

[S/V Alchemy]

Same here. More halyards, more options.

Keep in mind that a tensioned halyard can act as a temporary fore or backstay, also, if your mast is deck mounted. It's better than having it come down on deck.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by hpeer

I would do two, one fore and one aft.

Fail to see the downside.

Probably a good plan, but there is a big downside - cost, windage, and clutter at the base of the mast.

[maxingout]

I have a spare halyard forward that is about twenty feet longer than it needs to be. I use the extra length to lift things on board and it can also be used to recover waterlogged people who fall overboard.

In rough seas, I sometimes clip the spare halyard to the person working on the foredeck rather than use a jackline. That way if someone goes overboard, I can immediately winch them back on board.

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Probably a good plan, but there is a big downside - cost, windage, and clutter at the base of the mast.

Why not fit 6mm cordage, shortest length possible, as messenger lines, and keep a halyard sized line in the locker, to be run through when needed.

And +1 for mast steps at the top of the mast if you dont already have them, really does make working at the mast head a lot easier

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Probably a good plan, but there is a big downside - cost, windage, and clutter at the base of the mast.

We have spare Main and Jib Halyards. For the sake of convenience, the working end of the halyards are connected to 1/8" messenger lines and then hauled to the masthead and the tails of the messengers secured to small cleats about waist high on the mast. The running ends of the halyards are secured in the cockpit in mash bags until needed. Alternately, one could merely have messenger lines only to which one can attach the running end of a halyard and hoist it to and through the masthead as/when necessary (we also have a couple of these just for backups). FWIW...

[Stumble]

Personally I like having at least two extra halyards. With the order of preference being extra spin halyards, then jib, then main. Because a spare spin can hoist a jib, but not the other way around.

As long as you are in the process, I would highly recommend running messenger lines in every place you can. It only takes a few minutes, won't cost more than $20, and if you ever loose a halyard, or just want another one, it makes installation a breeze.

[markpierce]

My motorboat has roller-furling jib and main sails and came equipped with two jib halyards and two mainsail halyards. Consider the extra halyards as spares, but helpful in securing someone climbing on the mast steps and for hoisting a dinghy.

[Andrew Troup]

Dockhead

Is your staysail provided with a self-tacking track? I presume that's why the sheet goes up the mast...

I've sailed on a few boats set up like this, and one thing which is sometimes overlooked by the people who set this system up is the greatly increased load on the block which diverts the sheet up the mast. And on the track, and the car ....

This increase (for the sake of anyone reading this who might be puzzled) is due to the sheet being deflected through maybe 150 degrees, instead of maybe 30 for a conventional sheet lead block. And the rationale for sending the sheet up the mast is so that the sheet length (and correspondingly tension) does not change significantly during the tack.