Running Rigging

[rajjes]

Hi,

The mast of the new to me folkboat style boat, has 4 10mm halyards all of which go to the top of the mast.
I am assuming that one is the topping lift and the other 3 are halyards for Main, Jib and spinnaker.

Although it is clear that 2 face backwards (Main / topping lift) and 2 forward (Jib / Spinnaker), I am confused on which is which.

The difference lies in the way they exit the masthead as 2 pass over external pulleys hanging fore and aft of the masthead, while the other 2 pass through sheaves in the masthead unit. As this results in a different angle of the rope, I am concerned that attaching the incorrect sails might cause problems.

Am I correct to assume the following:
1 The Mainsail to the aft facing external pulley
2 The topping lift to the aft facing masthead sheave
3 The spinnaker to the forward external pulley
4 The Jib to the forward dacing masthead sheave.

Does this sound sensible or should say 1,2 be swapped?

 

[flaming]

I'd want my main halyard on the sheave, so swap 1&2.

 

[Pye_End]

Without seeing it, my first reaction is to put main and jib on the sheaved lines.

10mm seems quite big for a topping lift on this sized boat - would have expected 8mm.

 

[FullCircle]

I agree with Pye_End, except that I CHANGED my 8mm topping lift for 10mm so I could use it as a main halyard.
I did that on a previous boat too.

 

[rajjes]

Thanks, I also would prefer passing the main halyard through the sheave as it appears more robust. My concern is for possible friction if the halyard exiting the sheave is fed directly down? The pulley seems to offer a better lead vertically since it is an inch or so aft of the mast sheave.

However I gather its unusual for the main halyard to be via an external pulley?

 

[gandy]

Ideally the spinnaker halyard should be led above or in front of the forestay, maybe the external block does that.

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd want my main halyard on the sheave, so swap 1&2.

[/ QUOTE ]I agree. The external block aft will be the topping lift.

 

[rajjes]

Ok, I'm convinced, sheaves for main and jib, pulleys for spinnaker and topping lift.

Thanks to all!

 

[KenMcCulloch]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks, I also would prefer passing the main halyard through the sheave as it appears more robust. My concern is for possible friction if the halyard exiting the sheave is fed directly down? The pulley seems to offer a better lead vertically since it is an inch or so aft of the mast sheave.

However I gather its unusual for the main halyard to be via an external pulley?

[/ QUOTE ]
The most important thing is that the main halyard exits the sheave or block as near as possible to the same distance from the mast face as the point of attachment on the sail headboard. The halyard should then be parallel to the face of the mast. If there's any appreciable angle, that will cause the topmost slides to jam as they get near the masthead, so it will be difficult to tension the luff or possibly to get the sail to come down. Both of these are bad things.