How Is Your Main Halyard Attached ?

[Scare_Rab]

My last boat, a 24' Tri, simply had a bowline tied to ordinary shackle. Seemed to work fine for some thousands of miles.

On the Main halyard, this boat has a "Fico" shackle (pull_the_pin & the_gate_opens).

There was no knot, just one "hitch" around a stainless eye, and the end then 'whipped' along-side the standing part.

that whipping was perishing in the tropical sun, & un-doing.

I've cut it off; yet how to re-attach?

my Question is:

how is your main halyard attached?

• with a knot?
• 'bent' & 'whipped' (no knot)
• what type of shackle?

.

[Bash]

On all my halyards, the halyard shackle is eye-spliced. On the main, we use a headboard shackle.

[Stillraining]

Eye Spliced to a snap shackle ( the later a no no Im told )

[TEE]

An eye splice should be attached to a headboard shackle. Snap shackles are used to attach jib halyards but should not be used on the main.

[cat man do]

I always had a bowline on spectra

It costs less than a splice
It costs less than a gated shackle
It weighs less than a gated shackle
It doesn't hurt as much as a gated shackle when/if it hits you in the face

[Hudson Force]

Sure, I'll be quick to admit to what is often not thought of as proper, but has been long time functional for me. I keep a bowline on a bight to a snap shackle with the end whipped on my main and mizzen. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by Scare_Rab

how is your main halyard attached?

• with a knot?
• 'bent' & 'whipped' (no knot)
• what type of shackle?

.

Well my main halyard is rigged 2:1, so there is a block which attaches to the mainsail head, and the halyard itself deadends at the mast head - with a buntline hitch (strong and compact).

The normal 'seamanship' answer is a double braid splice to a shackle, but I don't really like splices on things I end for end each year (as I do the main halyard). The jib halyard I do use a splice on because I don't end for end it (it's tapered, so one end is thinner than the other).

For shackles I use 'trigger shackles' (Tylaska or wichard or sparcraft) for almost everything because they can be opened with one hand. I have never had one come open on its own.

[roverhi]

I don't like shackles on halyards. They hurt like hell when they hit you in the head and, given enough momentum, could even kill you. They are especially bad because the ends of the halyards pretty much live at head height.

For the past 35 years and going on 20,000 miles of sailing, I've used nothing but the halyard knotted to the sail head board or cringle. Used to use a bowline but have switched to a Buntline Hitch Buntline Hitch | How to tie a Buntline Hitch | Boating Knots as they are more secure. Never had a problem with a bowline coming undone on a halyard but have had one or two let go on jib sheets.

By using knots to secure almost all my halyards and sheets, have saved the money and weight of shackles and saved my head.

[CAELESTIS]

Mine is on a 2:1 Antal block terminated with an eye splice at the mast crane.

[steve_hendry]

I use a Wichard headboard shackle
WICHARD 002_060_004_507 at West Marine

and a buntline hitch Buntline Hitch
According to Brion Toss, the buntline hitch holds with hi-tech ropes with minimal strength loss.

[SailFastTri]

2:1 spectra halyard secured at the upper dead-end with a bowline, sail is attached to a Tylaska trigger shackle on a block. Just end-for-ended it yesterday -- the rope still appears in good shape after 10 years.

[Roaring Girl]

We use the main halyard for other things sometimes so use a shackle with a locking pin, itself held on with a buntline hitch and the end of the knot seized on to the standing part. Has worked fine for 8 years. Use the same arrangement on jib, chute and mizzen halyards.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

2:1 spectra halyard secured at the upper dead-end with a bowline, sail is attached to a Tylaska trigger shackle on a block. Just end-for-ended it yesterday -- the rope still appears in good shape after 10 years.

I had to look thoes up.....Dang! thoes are spendy..

[Jim Cate]

Here's another vote for a Buntline hitch to a snap shackle, used on all our halyards. Like Evans, we require a one-handed device, especially for the main halyard, since I must assune an awkward and uncomfortable posture whilst hooking/unhooking it.

We've done this for many years, many miles and several boats... no failures, no head bangs. Touch wood...

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Airlie Beach, Qld, northbound

[sabray]

closed shackle spliced to sta set x with locked in dual thread screwey bolt that is in most shackles. what are they called (pin)? seems okay.