Attaching main halyard

[david_e]

Is there an ideal way of attaching the main halyard to the headboard?

I currently use a shackle with a captive pin with a simple but unusual stopper knot (can't describe it) - this was fitted by a top race team so I presume to be OK.

However, others say they use a bowline, others a slipping knot.

Boat is a First 31.7.

 

[Achillesheel]

bowline works for me!

 

[machurley22]

My halyard is whipped and stitched onto a snap shackle. As for whether it's ideal or not...

 

[Robin]

Personal preference but I would retain a shackle as we always take the halyard out to the boom end when not in use. The halyard is usually eyespliced onto the shackle, but we have just changed to a Dyneema one which has a soft loop spliced in it which is then cow hitched to the shackle. The alternative to a splice that I considered was a form of half blood knot probably similar to what you have seen, recommended by a local rigger. The advantage being that a knot is shorter than a splice which can hang up in the masthead sheaves before the sail is at full height and the luff taut, our old halyard was like this and full upwind luff tension was only achieved with a cunningham pulling the bottom down. Our soft spliced Dyneema halyard works OK with or without using the cunningham so the knot method will wait until we end for end the halyard whatever should it get chafed.

 

[claymore]

We have an eye stitched in and the shackle permanently attached.
I used to put a stopper knot in a plastic bead then make a loop to go through the headboard and pop the bead through the loop. That has to be the worst description of anything anyone has ever made!
It was a dinghy system anyway!

 

[jimi]

I use a twist and lock shackle. However I leave it on pernamently usin a karabiner on the halyard back to a lazy jack uphaul to stop frapping. Reason I dont use a knot is so I can undo it easily if halyard wraps so I can attach topping lift as halyard

 

[david_e]

Thanks all, can see the benefit of a compact knot now. Like others tend to lead the halyard to the end of the boom after sailing. The half blood knot description fits with the knot although not quite as big as:
http://www.scubadivecharters.com/knots.htm#Half%20Blood%20Knot

 

[Ships_Cat]

I use a captive shackle with a bar - this exact one actually http://www.wichard.com/catalogue/catalog...mp;SSFAMILLE3=0.

The shackle is just through a small loop spliced into the end of the halyard.

John

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.scubadivecharters.com/knots.htm#Half%20Blood%20Knot

[/ QUOTE ]
Excellent animations of complex knot tying, what a great site!

 

[tome]

Same one we use

 

[Neraida]

Had various mishaps with shackles so we stick to bowline.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

And me....

 

[Ships_Cat]

Have never seen a problem with the Wichard ones I linked to - in fact I cannot imagine what sort of problem one could ever have with them.

Are widely used and we use also for genoa halyard as well.

Perhaps you could tell us what problems you have had from 1/4 turn captive pin shackles with bars?

John

 

[TonyD]

Not had a problem on a halyard, but once used one (without the bar) to attach jib sheets. Seemd like a good idea at the time. The tang on the pin caught on the baby stay during a tack and undid itself. Amazingly, once the jib was tamed again, we found the shackle laying on the foredeck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Went back to bowlines immediately - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Tony

 

[Ships_Cat]

Hardly a halyard application. I once lost the pin out of a shackle over the side when I threw it at the cat - wasn't an excuse to write off Wichard captive pinned/barred shackles for halyards though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

I would be interested if anyone has had any problem with these particular Wichard shackles on halyards - they are widely used and I am unaware of any issues whatsoever. I am surprised by the number of forumites who seem to use more "primitive" means of attaching the halyard to the headboard - haven't come across anyone who uses anything other than a shackle out here, but there again it is not something I particularly look at on others' boats.

John

 

[Robin]

No problem with Wichard Shackles at all John and that is what we use too. When I have posted about choosing between a knot and a splice it is to join the halyard to the shackle not directly to the headboard, choice between a space taking splice or compact (but perhaps weaker) knot.

Robin

 

[DeeGee]

Same wichard for me - no problem, just keep an eye on the splice cos it runs into the block at the top.

 

[LadyInBed]

That's what I use, never had a problem with them.