how to prevent spinnaker halyard fouling furling genoa?

SAWDOC

SAWDOC

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Hi
As a very occasional spinnaker hoister, I get really cheesed off when my furling genny won't furl because the spinny halyard has wrapped around the furling sail.
Obviously I need to keep good tension on the spinny halyard - wonder if anyone can offer any other suggestions? Mine's a masthead rig.

Thanks

( My occasional use of the kite is suggesting to me to remove the halyard altogether but that seems defeatist...
 
Where do you make off the tail of the halyard? We found making it off on the stem head resulted in wrapping, and making out on the base of the mast resulted in frapping at night. We thought about making it off at the base of the shrouds but thought it would chafe on the spreaders. Making it off to a stanchion would solve these issues, but would affect the genoa when unfurled.

Bit of a head scratcher. In the end we went to the anchor roller, but tensioned the halyard very tightly and this seems to work (its about 12 inches forward of the furling drum so seems to be far enough forward).

I wouldn't remove the halyard - it can be very useful if a genoa halyard breaks or as a back-up line for a bosuns chair etc.

Jonny
 
We've had similar problems. In our case it was a question of changing the shackle that holds the genny halyard onto the top of the furler. It used to be a big one that got tangled regularly.

The spinnaler halyard is all external to the mast and goes up to a block hanging off a protrusion well away from the forestay. No problems this year so far (says he, reaching for the nearest bit of wood /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).
 
We found no problems if it was taken to the front of the pulpit rail and kept tight.

BTW be aware that the long bent shackles on Plastimo furling gear (except the smallest) are vital. Don't replace those with smaller ones.
 
I bring mine to coachroof level, aft of the spreaders and clip to the handrail- it doesn't chafe and it is kept well clear of the foresail.
 
I have had the same problems, taking it to the pulpit for me just added to the problem and just got in the way, my problem is that the bracket at the top of the mast, enables the block to get to close to the shackle and pulley. (shackle changed to an allen key type), which catches on the spinny halyard when furling, i have tried to move it back to shrouds and base of mast but still gets in way, i have presently secured the halyard behind the mast on both sides attaching to the rear spreader shrouds, but the easiest and obvious choices depends on the type of boat you have and the compromise you are willing to accept...

as long as i can use the spinny halyards when i need them, i am happy with the solution as long as i can minimise any chafe...
 
Mine would do the same but I swing my halyard out and round all the stays, to tie it on the back of the mast, that keeps the halyard off the furler.
 
We have hand rails along the top of the cabin. We've fitted short rope strops (about a foot with eye splices at both ends) on to the forward end of each rail. Halyards (main, genoa or spinny) are brought back to an available strop and tightened. Stops any banging and keeps them out of the way.
 
Easy peasy. Do what every racing boat does. Clip it on to the pulpit when tied up. Clip it on to the mast step when underway. This method is free too. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I had a fractional rig wth masthead kite halyards, so these were taken to the front of the pulpit.
That left the spare genoa halyard, which I took to the base of the mast, but flicked around the spreaders, then taken up nice and tight. It was also secured to the main shroud to pull it away from the mast, as I won't tolerate slapping halyards. Same for pole up haul.
No problems with chafe in 7 years like this, but I did make sure no sharp corners on spreaders, sheave box etc. Also tend to take halyards out when boat is laid up ashore, but that was not much time. Do check for chafe! Its worth getting up there with a roll of insulting tape.
HTH.
 
We take spinnaker halyard, 2nd genoa halyard and pole lift forward to the push-pit when tied up. And move them back to the pole attachment car on the mast when sailing.

Never had a problem with the furler fouling the spinnaker halyard. Ours attaches to a turning block on the crane forward of the fore stay.

Could it be that the genoa is too high? Has the sail stretched? Is there a strop on the genoa tack you can shorten?
 
Head into wind when furling the genoa then however slack you let the genoa sheets go, the sail is being blown aft of the halyard and won't foul.
 
Had the same problem caused by the foresail crane catching it. Solved by buying a plastic pram wheel and the has a short strop with eye and thimble crinped(Specifing it be as short as the dies would allow,) shackled to mast crane and halyard block. Hey presto problem solved for a total cost £2.50 for whell and £8.00 for wire + two shackles.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Had the same problem caused by the foresail crane catching it. Solved by buying a plastic pram wheel and the has a short strop with eye and thimble crinped(Specifing it be as short as the dies would allow,) shackled to mast crane and halyard block. Hey presto problem solved for a total cost £2.50 for whell and £8.00 for wire + two shackles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry I dont understand what you mean by a plastic pram wheel Could you explain further??


Johnny H has suggested looking at tying off options which I will do as my first attempt.
I will also look at the genny shackle (as well as my craning neck and dim and watery eyes will allow!) to see if this is a contributory factor.

Thanks to all for replies - seems to be quite a common problem.

Good sailing! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Wheel about 6" dia the tyre about 1.25" dia ,solid hub with 10mm axle bore the type used on cheap prams ,lawn mowers kiddies toy wheel barrows ect.My foil has a small crane for the halyard and I had the strop made so the the tyre runs one parallel section of the foil,its radius just clears the rotating crane. The proper jobs sold in the rigging lofts are for those who have pots if money. Thought of tufnol sheet section and other materials and decided on the wheel. Another bonus being if slack there is no noise at 0200. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
It all depends on the rig & deck layout. Your profile doesn't give your boat type, but FWIW here's how I dealt with it on 2 last boats.

Dehler 34, 7/8th rig, single swept spreaders, pulpit protrudes forward of stemhead: replaced halyard with Dyneema (no stretch), clip to forward end of pulpit, tighten firmly)

Dehler 35CWS, 7/8th rig (but masthead spi halyard), double swept spreaders, pulpit level with stemhead: replaced halyard with Dyneema, clip to toerail forward of chainplates, tighten firmly. No chafe against rig. Doesn't interfere with jibsheets (but jib track/cars inboard of shrouds)

Hope this helps.
 
This is not as easy as some writers here suggest.
My rigger drilled masthead crane at an angle to lead the block over to the starboard side of the forestay.
Use binoculars to view the mast head in detail and see if there is a clear path for the spinny halyard verically down beside roller gear, above head of sail. If you can arrange this, a tight halyard will usually work. Tying off to the pulpit just makes it worse if you furl when going in to the wind.
Taking both parts of the halyard back outside upper shroud and down to toerail always works on mine - but I worry about it wearing - no signs yet. (I only do this when out sailing - otherwise it is tied to pulpit.
Good luck !
ken
 
I agree that's what we do. We have a spin halyard and a spare genoa halyard. take the tail of both back to the mast foot when sailing and then out to the pulpit once back on the mooring. Never had a snag. Although I know what will happen on Sunday now I've said that.
 
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