I have no problem 'seamans' solution to halyard lines - but halyard bags ?

[Refueler]

That is all that rope that then gets coiled and looped over mast cleats when sails hoisted.

But I am getting older and less inclined ... so thinking about halyard bags .... same idea as sheet bags for tidying up sheets in cockpits ... (I'm not a person for them with sheets - like to have sheets ready to let fly if needed) ... but for halyards may be a tidy way of controlling them.

Anyone use them ?

 

[Stemar]

Not yet, but now you mention it...

 

[Boathook]

That is all that rope that then gets coiled and looped over mast cleats when sails hoisted.

But I am getting older and less inclined ... so thinking about halyard bags .... same idea as sheet bags for tidying up sheets in cockpits ... (I'm not a person for them with sheets - like to have sheets ready to let fly if needed) ... but for halyards may be a tidy way of controlling them.

Anyone use them ?

I know a pilot cutter that uses wicker type baskets. There is a lot of rope from a gaff rigged boat with double purchase on all the halyards.

 

[Supertramp]

I have used halyard bags on several boats. My verdict is that they can help tidy a working area. I have one on my boat to keep the kicker and topping lift talis out the way. But for halyards specifically I would only use them to store a halyard you never need to touch. Far better to keep the tail coiled and ready to use without the tangles that can result from stuffing it in a bag.

That said, it creates the problem of what to do with all the halyard ends at the mast or cockpit. In the old days a pin rail would do it but I end up securing them to all sorts of bits of mast and nearby rigging. I have 3 jib halyards, two main halyards, two spinnaker pole uphaul. The spares are kept tied off away from the mast foot, and the furling jib and main are seldom adjusted, so really it's the pole uphaul and Solent jib halyard that are kept coiled and ready at the mast.

Add in extra sheets for poles, pole downhauls, main gybe preventer, spare sheets for the Solent jib and you can see the scale of the problem! My solution is to fix them to the many handrails on the boat using a short loop of elastic with a ball on the end (I have 40 from an old trampoline!). It may look messy but everything is secure but to hand when needed.

 

[Neeves]

Much depends on the size of the yacht, big yachts have tall masts so lots of halyard at the base, and how many halyards. For halyards that we use frequently we do not use a bag but for sails on furlers - what's not to like (though one of our sails on a furler is not put in a bag - horses for courses).

I don't think there is one answer but a myriad of options, (all of which might be used on one yacht).

Jonathan

 

[geem]

Much depends on the size of the yacht, big yachts have tall masts so lots of halyard at the base, and how many halyards. For halyards that we use frequently we do not use a bag but for sails on furlers - what's not to like (though one of our sails on a furler is not put in a bag - horses for courses).

I don't think there is one answer but a myriad of options, (all of which might be used on one yacht).

Jonathan

We don't have bags for halyards but we have a bag suspended under the boom at the forward end for the 3 reefing lines and outhaul. It made from acrylic canvas and phifertex. It keep the lines tidy and available when reefing. We fitted it about 4 years ago and love it

 

[William_H]

Super Tramps says Far better to keep the tail coiled and ready to use without the tangles that can result from stuffing it in a bag.
I would disagree any line is better stuffed in a bag than coiled. Coiling gives a twist which leads to tangle. I tolerate people who coil; up my jib and spin sheets after sailing but really prefer they just stuff them in the storage bag.
Yes Nigel halyard bags can be lovely. However I gave up on my little boat with people sitting out on gunwhale (I am sure you don't) they would put their foot imn halyard bag. So halyards are just thrown into cabin. (frantic racing perhaps) but does minimise the ropes on the floor. (many) ol'will

 

[Refueler]

My reason for mentioning ... my halyards are oversized - I had a very generous offer on Kingfisher rope to replace all my halyards / sheets couple years back. I replaced same size as old - but always knew previous owners had oversized ...
This gives a lot of bulk to sort at mast base ...

Grab that lot ! :

Before anyone says change for less diameter rope - I will say I am not planning to - I'm not one to open the wallet so easily !!

I did have small light line loops that held the coils by passing through and hooking back on cleats ... but one by one they got lost ... so back to 'seamans' way .....

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Ours are just flaked down the companionway, into a shallow plastic tub which stops them wandering about the place with the motion. They always run free when needed. Can’t abide coiling or bagging. I appreciate others probably can’t abide 50 odd metres of rope in a bucket in the cabin. Each to their own. The jib being on a furler, that halyard is stowed in a cockpit hand locker, its just the main and spinnaker.

 

[pmagowan]

Have you looked at halyard tensioners with a detachable halyard tail? Seems a very neat solution for the furlers etc. You hoist, attach to tensioner, remove tail and then tension as required with no xs rope at mast. A bit over engineered compared to a bag but neat

 

[Supertramp]

My reason for mentioning ... my halyards are oversized - I had a very generous offer on Kingfisher rope to replace all my halyards / sheets couple years back. I replaced same size as old - but always knew previous owners had oversized ...
This gives a lot of bulk to sort at mast base ...

Grab that lot ! :

Before anyone says change for less diameter rope - I will say I am not planning to - I'm not one to open the wallet so easily !!

I did have small light line loops that held the coils by passing through and hooking back on cleats ... but one by one they got lost ... so back to 'seamans' way .....

Congratulations, great picture. You're sailing a proper traditionally rigged boat. Light rope loops is a good solution provided you have enough cleats or attachment points. I use these and attach to handrails or similar.
I also attach things to the pulpit and lifelines but not usually halyards or rope coils (except the anchor buoy and trip line. The boat ends up with a lot of ropes attached to various places. Not suitable for racing (cabin floor) but suits me sailing singlehanded. And I learnt to sail with deck ropes, not led aft to single winches.

 

[BashkoN]

Yes, halyard bags can be a useful accessory for tidying up and organizing halyards on a sailboat. Halyard bags are designed to hold and manage the excess length of halyards when they are not in use, preventing them from cluttering the cockpit or deck.

 

[Supertramp]

Super Tramps says Far better to keep the tail coiled and ready to use without the tangles that can result from stuffing it in a bag.
I would disagree any line is better stuffed in a bag than coiled. Coiling gives a twist which leads to tangle. I tolerate people who coil; up my jib and spin sheets after sailing but really prefer they just stuff them in the storage bag.
Yes Nigel halyard bags can be lovely. However I gave up on my little boat with people sitting out on gunwhale (I am sure you don't) they would put their foot imn halyard bag. So halyards are just thrown into cabin. (frantic racing perhaps) but does minimise the ropes on the floor. (many) ol'will

Agree that others coiling ropes too tight is a problem. For cruising, ropes all over the deck or cabin is not good either. I use a loose coil as you would do for a throwing line, secured with a small separate loop, or the rope itself as in Refueler pic. I do the same with mooring lines in preparation for docking. Usually falls free ready to run when released. Key is to not tension the rope when coiling, depends on the rope too.

 

[Refueler]

Have you looked at halyard tensioners with a detachable halyard tail? Seems a very neat solution for the furlers etc. You hoist, attach to tensioner, remove tail and then tension as required with no xs rope at mast. A bit over engineered compared to a bag but neat

Now that is something I never thought of ... its simple and should work.

I don't need a tensioner ... I could just make the joint AFTER the cleated point.

Mind now thinking it through ...

 

[Refueler]

Ours are just flaked down the companionway, into a shallow plastic tub which stops them wandering about the place with the motion. They always run free when needed. Can’t abide coiling or bagging. I appreciate others probably can’t abide 50 odd metres of rope in a bucket in the cabin. Each to their own. The jib being on a furler, that halyard is stowed in a cockpit hand locker, its just the main and spinnaker.

My race boat with lines back to cockpit - that was the way .... but with lines at mast base ... not really practical.

 

[Refueler]

In my picture earlier - You may notice that a couple of lines actually get coiled and then placed behind the line against mast above the cleat. This is a trick to add a slight bit more tension on a line ... you sweat up the line - make fast ... then coil - place line behind itself - adds just a touch more and keeps line out of the way.

Ignore the slack main luff ... that was just a lazy day out in Solent ...

 

[geem]

Reefing line bag

 

[Refueler]

I'm thinking instead of full material bags .... but netting 'bags' .... lets air and so on through and ropes are seen ...

Easy to hook onto cleat ...

I've been thinking about them for 'in-cabin' use ... at present I have handlebar bags from bicycles on my curtain rails ...

Mesh Shopping bags - different colours ?

 

[Supertramp]

Now that I could use & even within my sewing ability.

 

[Refueler]

Now that I could use & even within my sewing ability.

I am a constant 're-purposer' .... wife has finally got used to my looking at odd objects on shop shelves ... I'm thinking about how it could be used on the boat !!

The bicycle bags are small enough to not be intrusive or interfere with windows / curtains .... but large and strong enough for mobile phones / various items to be handy. I have one for each fwd bunk and one above main cabin divan.
In the WC - I have a one of those multi pocket car seatback storage thingies ... designed to be hung from headrest ... mine hangs from the two coat hangers in there.