Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
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rszobel
- Engineer
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- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:16 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Haymarket VA
Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
I was going to order the lines aft kit from BWY and I just thought of one thing that I am not sure is included in the kit. I do not need to lead anything to cockpit for my headsail as this is on a furler and furler is already lead aft so I only need to deal with the main. My current main uses a bolt rope but I just ordered a new main with slugs. Original main did not have a down haul and with new main that has slugs I want to lead halyard aft and rig a downhaul as well. What I am not sure of is how to rig the down haul and if the halyards aft kit comes with the hardware I would need to also rig and run down haul back to cockpit.
Does anyone know if the kit comes with what is needed to rig down haul? It looks like the kit comes with either two or three clutches. Since I do not need one for the headsail I was going to get the kit with two clutches. Does this kit come with the hardware (blocks) required to turn halyard back to cockpit at the base of the mast and a second block that could be used to lead downhaul back as well?
Does anyone know if the kit comes with what is needed to rig down haul? It looks like the kit comes with either two or three clutches. Since I do not need one for the headsail I was going to get the kit with two clutches. Does this kit come with the hardware (blocks) required to turn halyard back to cockpit at the base of the mast and a second block that could be used to lead downhaul back as well?
- dustoff
- Engineer
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
One of the important things you will need is a mast opening gate to close the sail feed slot on the mast. This will prevent your sail slugs from coming out of the mast track when you lower the mainsail.
Also be very picky about where you place the spinlock cleats (they aren't really rope clutches) on the deck. They aren't really made for using in conjunction with a winch. Rope clutches are usually placed in front of a winch w/in the horizontal and vertical angle limits of the openings. That way you can use the power of the winch to tighten the halyard and then the clutch holds the line.
spinlock cleats aren't really made for that, although they have plenty of strength to bear the loads of the halyards on a small boat like ours.
Also be very picky about where you place the spinlock cleats (they aren't really rope clutches) on the deck. They aren't really made for using in conjunction with a winch. Rope clutches are usually placed in front of a winch w/in the horizontal and vertical angle limits of the openings. That way you can use the power of the winch to tighten the halyard and then the clutch holds the line.
spinlock cleats aren't really made for that, although they have plenty of strength to bear the loads of the halyards on a small boat like ours.
- kurz
- Admiral
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
Hello
I use the kit from BWY.
I ordered it with 3 clutches: Halyard, topping lift, daggerboard, very confortable.
And yes, you get all the blocks you need. Just watch if your halyard is long enough!
The block you get at the mastbase is a double block.
To fix the clutches I a made a plate of plastig directly in fron of the winch so that I could use the winch if needed (although I never use the winch, and even worse the original plastic winch does not move anymore, sorry Roger but the winches are not worth a penny!!)
I use the kit from BWY.
I ordered it with 3 clutches: Halyard, topping lift, daggerboard, very confortable.
And yes, you get all the blocks you need. Just watch if your halyard is long enough!
The block you get at the mastbase is a double block.
To fix the clutches I a made a plate of plastig directly in fron of the winch so that I could use the winch if needed (although I never use the winch, and even worse the original plastic winch does not move anymore, sorry Roger but the winches are not worth a penny!!)
- RobertB
- Admiral
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- Location: Clarksville, MD
Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
I used the BWY kit but instead of mounting the Spinlock cleats (they are not clutches) on the side deck outboard and forward of the winch, I installed on a plate just in front of the winch thus keeping the deck clear for walking. See my posting at:
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... at#p270684
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... at#p270684
Last edited by RobertB on Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
- kadet
- Admiral
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
I just put one of these at the base of the mast.
Not fancy but works great and I just use an R clip for the mast gate to retain sail slugs.
Not fancy but works great and I just use an R clip for the mast gate to retain sail slugs.
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rszobel
- Engineer
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
Great idea. Call me ignorant or newb but what the heck is an R clip?
- kadet
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
rszobel wrote:Great idea. Call me ignorant or newb but what the heck is an R clip?

I just drilled a hole across the gate and put this in, tied off with a piece of twin so it does not go overboard.
- NiceAft
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
Isn't that what track stops are for? These seem to be more heavy duty than the pin, whatever workskadet wrote:rszobel wrote:Great idea. Call me ignorant or newb but what the heck is an R clip?
I just drilled a hole across the gate and put this in, tied off with a piece of twin so it does not go overboard.
Ray

- kadet
- Admiral
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
Yes but at $15 vs 50 cents and losing one over the deck I now use the R clip. It's lasted 5 years now no problemsIsn't that what track stops are for? These seem to be more heavy duty than the pin, whatever worksI use the 2350.
- RobertB
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
Using a R-clip or track stop prevents you from fully lowering the sail. Many of us have installed mast gates that cover the opening in the track and allow the sail to be fully lowered.
- Highlander
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
I added two of these swivel cam cleats to the base of my mast
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010014.jpg
cam cleat raisers behind the winches
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010067.jpg
mast base blocks
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0021-1.jpg
doubled up foot blocks both sides
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010016.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0015-1.jpg
made these alum brkts to mount my spinlock rope clutches
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010043.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010038.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010039.jpg
also added blocks to my traveler & will be adding two more this spring
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010015.jpg
Just some Idea's for u
J
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010014.jpg
cam cleat raisers behind the winches
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010067.jpg
mast base blocks
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0021-1.jpg
doubled up foot blocks both sides
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010016.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 0015-1.jpg
made these alum brkts to mount my spinlock rope clutches
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010043.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010038.jpg
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010039.jpg
also added blocks to my traveler & will be adding two more this spring
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010015.jpg
Just some Idea's for u
J
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Blowboater1
- Just Enlisted
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
If you really want to raise & Lower the Main with ease as well as reef with ease from the cockpit is to install a lazy jack system of your choice I prefer a max pac system.
The key is the downhaul method as the slugs (track slides) will foul UNLESS Harlin Bat Cars are used. They are pricey but they work!
Fair Winds & Be Blessed
Ed & Bonnie
Sabbath Days

The key is the downhaul method as the slugs (track slides) will foul UNLESS Harlin Bat Cars are used. They are pricey but they work!
Fair Winds & Be Blessed
Ed & Bonnie
Sabbath Days
- taime1
- First Officer
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Re: Help needed - leading main halyard aft to cockpit
It's a bit of a typo. Look up Harken Battcars: http://www.harken.com/battcar/rszobel wrote:What are Harlin bat cars ?
