Need advice on adding mizzen staysail

[patrickstickler]

I want to add a mizzen staysail to my 33' ketch and am unsure about how best to attach the halyard block to the top of the mizzen mast.

I assumed that a fitting such as the following would be the right thing to use:



but then started worrying about how much force the rivets (monel) could take and whether something more substantial might be called for, which would be through bolted.

Suggestions?

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by patrickstickler

I want to add a mizzen staysail to my 33' ketch and am unsure about how best to attach the halyard block to the top of the mizzen mast.

I assumed that a fitting such as the following would be the right thing to use:



but then started worrying about how much force the rivets (monel) could take and whether something more substantial might be called for, which would be through bolted.

Suggestions?

You're right, that would be too light for the forces involved. I'd use a spinnaker block crane - it's a S/S plate with one or two bails (loops) out the front. You bolt it down to the top of the masthead fitting or weldment - whatever you have - so the two bails protrude ahead of the mast. Hang blocks from the bails and reeve your halyards. I prefer external halyards in this application. Any decent S/S capable machine shop can build one for you - it's a very simple piece.

[overbored]

If you do not want to attach to the mast head you could use a mast hound which can be through bolted or riveted and the fasteners are in sheer load.