mast base blocks

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I think thse turning blocks in the base of the mast are a horrible idea. Far better is to have the halyard exit the mast in a slot 1 to 2 metres above the deck. A turning block can then be fitted out from the base and attached to the deck. One advantage is that you can hoist a sail by hauling down on the halyard so giving a more direct pull with less friction.
It is quite common around here for spin halyard to exit about 2 metres above the deck. Immediately below the exit slot is a clutch. When hoisting spin the halyard is pulled through the clutch in a natural motion of using body weight to pull the halyard. After spin is set the halyard is pulled through on deck turning blocks and taken back to the cabin top cleat . The clutch is then opened so that the spin can be dropped in the normal way. This gives the fastest easiest hoist.
On my little boat the main halyard exits about 50cms above the deck. This makes main hoisting easier by pulling down on the hayard then pulling halyard through to the halyard winch on cabin top. So less friction and of course easier maintenance to the turning blocks. f course I understand you may want to keep the original arrangement but there are better ways. good luck olewill
 
William_H said:
I think thse turning blocks in the base of the mast are a horrible idea. Far better is to have the halyard exit the mast in a slot 1 to 2 metres above the deck. A turning block can then be fitted out from the base and attached to the deck. One advantage is that you can hoist a sail by hauling down on the halyard so giving a more direct pull with less friction.
It is quite common around here for spin halyard to exit about 2 metres above the deck. Immediately below the exit slot is a clutch. When hoisting spin the halyard is pulled through the clutch in a natural motion of using body weight to pull the halyard. After spin is set the halyard is pulled through on deck turning blocks and taken back to the cabin top cleat . The clutch is then opened so that the spin can be dropped in the normal way. This gives the fastest easiest hoist.
On my little boat the main halyard exits about 50cms above the deck. This makes main hoisting easier by pulling down on the hayard then pulling halyard through to the halyard winch on cabin top. So less friction and of course easier maintenance to the turning blocks. f course I understand you may want to keep the original arrangement but there are better ways. good luck olewill
Click to expand...

You may think it's a "horrible idea" but most boatbuilders, spar manufacturers and naval architects apparently do not.
Perhaps, if you could tell us why you think it's a "horrible idea" one could evaluate the value of your opinion.
There are several good reasons why turning blocks on the mast collar are superior to your proposal.
 
charles_reed said:
You may think it's a "horrible idea" but most boatbuilders, spar manufacturers and naval architects apparently do not.
Perhaps, if you could tell us why you think it's a "horrible idea" one could evaluate the value of your opinion.
There are several good reasons why turning blocks on the mast collar are superior to your proposal.
Click to expand...

What's is being described seems to be the normal set up on keel stepped masts and while it does offer some advantages the OPs arrangement is what I have seen on the vast majority of deck stepped masts and works perfectly satisfactorily.
 
paul-essex said:
thanks for the link it will be of use for replacements of the 4 I have but the main reason for my post was/is to get a name of item or suppler for 2 more new or s/hand units to fill the 2 front holes
Click to expand...

Trafalgar Yacht Services are the standard go-to guys for Westerly spares. I don't see these sheaves on their website (http://www.westerly-yachts.co.uk/index.php) but it would certainly be worth giving them a ring.
 
These are the normal types of mast base lead blocks

https://www.google.co.za/search?q=f...GB7wQsAQIHw#tbm=isch&q=mast+base+lead++blocks

I suspect yours were custom made for that mast foot.

This seems to be the closest.

103403.jpg
 
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