Cruising spinnaker rigging

[Gulfislander]

I have just ordered a cruising spinnaker for my Niagara 31. I would like some pointers on attaching a block for this spinnaker at the top of the mast. I have an extra internal halyard that exits beside the furling headsail halyard. Thanks.

[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

[Faster]

You should hang a swivel block off one of the two "wings" shown in your second pic. (whichever side you want the halyard to come down on) The block should have a swivel to accomodated the various leads required for the different angles of halyard pull as you go from run to reach.

Then you can choose to run the halyard fully external, or put a entry slot up high and an exit slot below to run the halyard inside the mast.

The second jib halyard that you already have is not really set up to handle any loads except in the straight-down pull of a sail on the headstay. You'd have significant chafe issues on the cheeks of the assembly that holds the masthead sheaves if you tried running the cruising chute from that halyard.

Using the higher, outside halyard block will require you to gybe the sail around the forestay, rather than inside the foretriangle to avoid wrapping the halyard under the forestay.

[sanctuarysam]

forestay gybe is the only way to go on asymms..remember, you get what you pay for..think heavy loads when choosing a block.
there is a cool rigging vid on North Sails site..lemme see if i can find it..

http://na.northsails.com/video_gen/

great vid and helps you avoid making some roller furl jib sheet/tack-line crossovers..
i get to go sailing next week..yeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaa

Originally Posted by Faster

You should hang a swivel block off one of the two "wings" shown in your second pic. (whichever side you want the halyard to come down on) The block should have a swivel to accomodated the various leads required for the different angles of halyard pull as you go from run to reach.

Then you can choose to run the halyard fully external, or put a entry slot up high and an exit slot below to run the halyard inside the mast.

The second jib halyard that you already have is not really set up to handle any loads except in the straight-down pull of a sail on the headstay. You'd have significant chafe issues on the cheeks of the assembly that holds the masthead sheaves if you tried running the cruising chute from that halyard.

Using the higher, outside halyard block will require you to gybe the sail around the forestay, rather than inside the foretriangle to avoid wrapping the halyard under the forestay.