[rjg23]

Looking for advice on rigging for external spinnaker halyard. Should I install cheek blocks on the mast to direct the halyard to the designated block at mast base or just let fly freely?

Thanks

 

[knothead]

Looking for advice on rigging for external spinnaker halyard. Should I install cheek blocks on the mast to direct the halyard to the designated block at mast base or just let fly freely?

Thanks

I'm not really sure why you would need to install cheek blocks to direct the halyard.
What's your reasoning?

 

[Gary M]

Generaly you have a cheek block attached to the plate your mast sits on, that is all you need to turn the halyard horizontal and over to the deck organizer.

If you have two jib halyards consider using one of them for the pole topping lift instaerd of a dedicated topping lift. Less weight and expense and you do not need two jib halyards going down wind.

Gary

 

[knothead]

Generaly you have a cheek block attached to the plate your mast sits on, that is all you need to turn the halyard horizontal and over to the deck organizer.

If you have two jib halyards consider using one of them for the pole topping lift instaerd of a dedicated topping lift. Less weight and expense and you do not need two jib halyards going down wind.

Gary

That wouldn't be a cheek block. But you're right is so far as the halyard usually comes to a turning block at the mast base and then to the organizer.

 

[sailingfool]

...
If you have two jib halyards consider using one of them for the pole topping lift instaerd of a dedicated topping lift. Less weight and expense and you do not need two jib halyards going down wind.

Gary

I wouldn't think it a good idea to use a jib halyard as a topping lift...when the pole is trimmed back to the shrouds, you are likely to start chafing the halyard, especially if you are trimming the lift under a full loading.

 

[Gary M]

Knothead you are correct that would not be a cheek block. Maybe I am the knothead

Sailingfool you are also correct you might get a little chafe on the halyard but I have had mine set up like this for two seasons and have not seen any. This is a very common set up for racers, reduces windage and weight aloft and costs less to install initialy.

Gary

 

[knothead]

Knothead you are correct that would not be a cheek block. Maybe I am the knothead

Hey, is you disparagin my screen name?

 

[sailingfool]

...is is a very common set up for racers, reduces windage and weight aloft and costs less to install initialy.

ary

All the racers I know are more concerned about equipment working correctly and would never use such a compromised setup just to save a little money. Racing is so fundamentally expensive, it would be pennywise-pound-foolish to use a jib halyard as a topping lift. If it works for you, great...but if someone feels they can't afford a working topping lift, you darn well bet they can't afford a spinnaker and the other assorted gear.

 

[patrickrea]

You won't want to use a jib halyard if it is internal to the mast. That sheave is designed to put the halyard at an angle for the jib or genoa only. If it has to come to far downwards, it'll chafe on the lower lip of the exit plate. Then you have no spinnaker topping lift AND no jib halyard. This is the arrangement on my masthead. The thin line is a messenger line for the winter. The other halyard had yet to be removed for storage.