Can I use this block for a cruising chute?

[pjsgsy]

Hi,

Looking for a little rigging advice. I recently acquired a cruising chute for my little 25" colvic. When I got the boat, it was only rigged with a halyard for the forsail and main, both being in use (furling up front). I've never taken the mast down, and was not sure what I'd have to add at the top to accommodate this. Having taken some photos and climbed most of the way up, I see there is in fact a spare block, the same as I use for the topping lift at the back, on the front. So, maybe I am in luck and just need to get a line through here for my new sail?

What do you think. Is it OK to attach the head of the cruising chute to this block on the front side of the mast, as per the pic?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I would not us that block as in my view you need a swivel block in front of the roller furler.

I did have a block in a similar and added a crane to the front of the mast above the roller furler so the my cruising chute flied in front of the mast.

 

[VicS]

Like Roger says

A swivel block forward of the forestay......... like you would use for a spinnaker.

 

[Dave100456]

Check also the run of you jib halyard. I think it should run from the furler top swivel through the spectacle (that ring fitting on the mast) then up around the turning block/sheave and down the mast. Important to have an angle between the forestay and halyard to avoid the halyard turning around the forestay when furling.

detail here https://www.harken.com/uploadedfiles/Product_Support/PDF/4410.pdf

 

[TLouth7]

Flying a cruising chute from this block should be fine. I have a masthead rig with both the genoa and spinnaker halyards inside the forestay (my halyards are internal). I secure the tackline inboard of the forestay (there is a handy hoop on my stem fitting for this) and so the entire kite is inside the foretriangle. This can get confusing if you try to mimic the racers and unfurl the genoa before dropping the kite but it can be done. Gybing is easier with someone on the foredeck to pull the sail through inside the forestay.

By the way is that halyard diverter on the front of the mast not meant to have the "live" part of the genoa halyard running through it? If you ever have issues with the furling this might be an obvious solution.

 

[Bobc]

It'll work ok, but you'll get a bit of friction on one tack where the rope will pass over the forestay. Just make sure you hoist and drop with the boat going dead downwind, as this will stop the tangly's.

 

[pjsgsy]

Cool! Thanks for all the prompt responses and good info. Much more for me to think about, and thanks for the notes re the running of the existing lines. Total noob when it comes to this stuff, so just wanted to make sure I was not doing anything really stupid. When I finally do get the mast down, I will look into other, possibly better options. For clarity, that line coming down the mast on the front is actually the main halyard. It goes directly up the mast, over the top, then down the other side. The genoa one does the same I think, but you cannot see it as I have it tied off on the starboard rail.

 

[pjsgsy]

btw - Simply hearing about the 'flying in front of the forestay' etc., gives me many google articles to read, such as this How to Rig a Cruising Spinnaker in 4 Stingy Stages, so thanks again for the comments.

 

[pjsgsy]

So, having read a few of those articles, I think I am going to try and get up there and add a new swiveling block to the forward pin the forestay is on. For the cost of the block, that seems the wisest choice, sounds simple enough to do and allows me to get the better solution of having the halyard out in front of the forestay when it is flown, on either tack. I'll run another line up to that unused block too, so I'll have a spare, as I'd rather not have to get up there again, one day! Thanks all.

 

[VicS]

Cool! Thanks for all the prompt responses and good info. Much more for me to think about, and thanks for the notes re the running of the existing lines. Total noob when it comes to this stuff, so just wanted to make sure I was not doing anything really stupid. When I finally do get the mast down, I will look into other, possibly better options. For clarity, that line coming down the mast on the front is actually the main halyard. It goes directly up the mast, over the top, then down the other side. The genoa one does the same I think, but you cannot see it as I have it tied off on the starboard rail.

Why then does the main halyard pass through the genoa halyard diverter on the front of the mast.
The genoa halyard should go through that to hold the top part well clear of the forestay and prevent halyard wrap, before going across the masthead crane and then down the aft side ................ It almost looks like you have the main and genoa halyards muddled up ... Perhaps you have ?

Traditionally the main halyard is rigged on the starboard side and the Genoa halyard on the port side.

Also noticed that your wind indicator is off set to one side. I found it more satisfactory to have it on the centre line.
( My VHF aerial is off set to be clear of the wind indicator)

 

[pjsgsy]

Perhaps! More for me to read up on / check. Thanks. I didn't rig the boat. It is how I bought it. Could be it's all done wrong, in which case, it's not my doing I'll try and figure it out, and get it all correct though. Cheers!

 

[Bobc]

So, having read a few of those articles, I think I am going to try and get up there and add a new swiveling block to the forward pin the forestay is on. For the cost of the block, that seems the wisest choice, sounds simple enough to do and allows me to get the better solution of having the halyard out in front of the forestay when it is flown, on either tack. I'll run another line up to that unused block too, so I'll have a spare, as I'd rather not have to get up there again, one day! Thanks all.

I think that would be a better solution.

 

[andsarkit]

Ideally you would have the forestay on the aft lower pin with the halyard through the diverter and a swivel block on the forward upper pin. This will prevent the spinnaker/chute halyard from rubbing on the forestay when you tack.
Probably best to do this when you have the mast down unless you are very confident working up the mast. It might also alter the mast rake unless you can adjust the forestay length to compensate.

 

[ithet]

Ideally you would have the forestay on the aft lower pin .....

That struck me as well. I wonder if it got moved on a previous re-rig. Others might know better.

 

[pjsgsy]

Yes - I was just wondering that myself. I know the prior owner did take the mast down and do some work. At a later date I did re-route lines back to cockpit as they were all at the mast, but I did not fiddle with anything up top, nor undo any wires. I've just been thinking and looking at the pics. I think I can simply lower the furler, tie on the main halyard (what is currently the main!), re route things a bit on deck, and that furling halyard issue will be routed properly. So, that one can be fixed from deck - Nice to have found that out in this discussion and I think, an easy fix! Once mast is down, I will look at moving the front stay to the next pin back. Thanks again, all... Wonderful resource you people are