Don't know what you call it, I want to fly my spinnaker

[Halifax Sailor]

I want to fly my spinnaker this summer. However, I only have 1 fore halyard at this time. Halyards run internally. I use the 1 fore halyard for my head sail furler, have a second sheave but inadvertently pulled the second halyard out all the way. I have attached a pic (not my masthead) for reference), looks the same as mine with a spinnaker bail?. I have run my spinnaker prev by using the secong halyard but unless I do the dangle the halyard all the way down the mast (I left it in this year) then my question is...is it practicle to use a pulley attached to the bail? as a halyard for the spinnaker? instead of trying to reinstall the halyard while the mast is in? Dont really want to drop the mast and I don't climb masts and not quite confortable with having someone up there for extended time to try and feed halyard internally. Would a quick and easy fix to the bail work?

signed...sailing for a while but newby with spinnaker sailing

[Sailmonkey]

All of our halyards are external, including the spin halyard like in the photo. Been just like that for 45 years and still works.

So I say go for it.

[StuM]

Don't try to feed the halyard from the top.



Have someone go up the mast and drop a fishing line with a weight attached. Once you have retrieved the weight at the halyard exit point, attach the halyard to the fishing line and pull it through.

[Jim Cate]

Spinny halyards are normally run through a block on that bale at t he masthead, a block with a swivel built in. Using a fixed sheave for the spinny will lead to chafe in the halyard because the spinny presents loads well off to the side and the sheave can't follow and the halyard rubs on fixed parts of the masthead. Having the fall of the S halyard external is quite OK, so a new block and bit of rope and one short trip to the masthead will get you going with a better setup than before.

Jim

[cal40john]

While the pulley on the bail is the correct place for the spin halyard, it seems getting either or both usable is a trip up the mast.

If well prepared the above method of weight with a fishing line will have you up the mast almost as little as attaching the pulley and running the spin halyard.

Might as well do both while someone is up there.

[Mikado]

I useful tip on running a wire, halyard etc inside the mast, use a 12” or so piece of bicycle chain tied to small dia paracord or hi test fishing line. It wiggles past obstructions much easier than a big nut, etc for a weight

[SaltyMetals]

I agree w Jim that it is essential to have a block at the top which can swing frm one side to the other. If not you wld have serious problems using a fixed sheave inside the mast but that would be OK if the halyard leads from a fixed sheave to the swiveling pulley block.

Not sure i agree w Jim about having the fall outside the mast since in any sort of wind this would be constantly slapping against the mast and drive you and yr crew crazy.
Andrew

[MicHughV]

what Jim sez......

[SaltyMetals]

OK, Jim. Comment pls. Maybe some can close their ears to slapping halyards but it is something i personally dislike and would hate that my boat were to inflict such noise on my neighbours.

Is there another solution?
Andrew

[tilostahl]

Originally Posted by SaltyMetals

OK, Jim. Comment pls. Maybe some can close their ears to slapping halyards but it is something i personally dislike and would hate that my boat were to inflict such noise on my neighbours.

Is there another solution?
Andrew

When you're not underway you can tie off both ends of the halyard at the pulpit or lifelines to keep them away from the mast.

[MicHughV]

what tilostahl sez......I use bungy cords...to tie 'em off...

[guyrj33]

My external spinnaker halyard does not slap against the mast. Neither do my other external halyards.

[jmschmidt]

Internal halyards for spinnakers are a bad idea. If you are not going directly down wind a spinnaker halyard may chafe on the adjoining sheave, the edge of the mast opening or even the headstay. Lost one that way a mile from the finish line once. The halyard was cut about a foot down for the sheave.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by jmschmidt

Internal halyards for spinnakers are a bad idea. If you are not going directly down wind a spinnaker halyard may chafe on the adjoining sheave, the edge of the mast opening or even the headstay. Lost one that way a mile from the finish line once. The halyard was cut about a foot down for the sheave.

This is the problem to which I referred earlier, and that prob isn''t because of the internal halyard, but rather because of the fixed sheave in the masthead.

If the internal halyard leads from the masthead sheave to a proper swiveled block on the bale, all will be well.

And others have dealt with the banging halyard issue... one simply ties off both ends of the thing.

Jim

[skipgundlach]

Anti-slap spare halyards (or any at anchor):

Extend them, foul them around the/a spreader, and secure in a diamond shape for more than one, as viewed in-line.

Never a slap...