"Saddle" at top of furling gear...

[Iain C]

I don't have a "saddle" fitting at the top of my head foil. It's part of the reason why the genoa halyard keeps getting wrapped round the top of the foil. It's the fitting that holds the halyard away from the foil before diverting it up to the masthead sheave box.

Having had a look up other people's masts, some seem to be a basic 2 hole saddle, others seem to be a bit kinder in terms of line lead, plus have 4 fixing holes. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a suitable fitting for a 27' boat?

Thanks

 

[MoodySabre]

Some have a halyard diverter that takes the halyard down the mast a bit before it goes to the head of the sail. This is a standard fitting - try Selden.

The alternative which mt previous boat had was a cranked shackle at the head.

 

[MoodySabre]

Pic of a diverter

 

[Skysail]

See here

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310517

Seateach also supply them.

 

[VicS]

Some have a halyard diverter that takes the halyard down the mast a bit before it goes to the head of the sail. This is a standard fitting - try Selden.

The alternative which mt previous boat had was a cranked shackle at the head.

The cranked shackle ... as is used by Plastimo ( at least on all but their smallest size) makes no contribution to diverting the halyard. The top and bottom of it are in always in line!

It is however vital because an ordinary straight shackle can bear against the top part of the halward swivel and lead to it unscrewing and possibly liberating the ball bearings inside.

A diverter, either a fairlead type on the front of the mast or the less satifactory wheel on top of the spar is what prevents the halyard wrap

Two pictures from former forumite Refueler and one from Searush

 

[Iain C]

Great stuff, thanks all. Skysail, PM on its way.

 

[philip_stevens]

I don't have a "saddle" fitting at the top of my head foil. It's part of the reason why the genoa halyard keeps getting wrapped round the top of the foil. It's the fitting that holds the halyard away from the foil before diverting it up to the masthead sheave box.

Having had a look up other people's masts, some seem to be a basic 2 hole saddle, others seem to be a bit kinder in terms of line lead, plus have 4 fixing holes. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a suitable fitting for a 27' boat?

Thanks

There is a Rotostay pdf on the Westerly Owners website, showing the fitting of the diverter.

I had the same "wrapping halyard" problem over the last two years, and have had a diverter fitted over the winter.