Lines to Cockpit/Shareing the Load

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

The Harken rendering is optimal. Lines led back to the cockpit get a lot of friction added in. On my 1/4 Tonner everything came aft and both the Gennie and the Main had to be winched for the last 1/3 of the hoist. The halyards exited at the bottom of the mast so you couldn't "jump" them. Secondary winches in the cockpit of a boat under 30' are a luxury but I'd have two halyard winches for sure.

I recently added two line reefing (one for the tack and one for the clew, for two reefs equals four lines).

Even though the clew reefing lines are separate, you need a winch to get them tightened, especially when it's blowing (which is when you're reefing of course!). The winch allows more control over tension, and hence sail shape.

I believe most of the friction is from the line passing through the eye in the sail - a block there would cause less friction.

The sail goes up fast until you hit the reefing points then it has to be winched (pulling four reefing lines causes a lot of friction).

Apart from that it all works beautifully - glad I didn't try to get away with single line reefing.

[Squidd]

I ran the two Halyards to the cockpit this spring...

I just added a Headsail Downhaul back to the cockpit and it has cut My "running forward" almost in half....

[rhr1956]

Port side Jib Halyard & Spinnaker Halyard.


Starboard side Main halyard & Spinnaker pole downhaul.


Mast base with four blocks. I didn't have to remove the mast to install this setup. Working very well so far.

[4arch]

Very nice! Did you buy the mast bases or are they custom?

[rhr1956]

I made them out of 1/8" aluminum plate. Used aluminum pop rivets to attach to mast.