I am looking to add a back up Halyard, does anyone have and “how to” tips including blacks use etc?? I will be having a yard perform the work just trying to get a bit more knowledgeable on how it should look.
Thanks -
Eric
NS30U #280
Elle
Greenwich CT
Email Mike Quill. Bob Horne, 1989 N26C, 249, Encore, Pocasset, MA
Eric,
Mike Quill, whose website is mqyr.ca, is indeed a good source of information.
Some additional thoughts that might be of help…
You can download a drawing of the masthead casting for Nonsuch 30’s (both Classics and Ultras) by going to Nonsuch.org, clicking on “Members”, selecting “Nonsuch Shop Drawings” followed by “Nonsuch 30 drawing PDFs”, and then selecting the scrolling down to find the one titled, “N30 Masthead Casting.pdf”.
It shows that the sheave is 4" in diameter, sized to carry 7/16" line (and scored to allow for 3/16" wire if anyone still uses combined wire-rope halyards), and drilled to allow it to turn on a 5/8" marine bronze bushing. Although I believe most boats only had one sheave, some may have come with two, so you might want to check yours.
I don’t believe this means your second halyard requires a block of the same size, nor that it be internal to the mast. That design was probably driven by a combination of production convenience, knowledge that a bigger sheave makes lifting easier, and materials available back in the day. The other blocks on an N30 that take heavy loads are all spec’ed at 2450 lbs. breaking strength, and a 7/16" line typically has a breaking strength of 7000 lbs.
With this information, a good local yard should be able to recommend the proper size and mounting for an external cheek block or single block at the top of your mast.
– Bob
Solar Wind, Nonsuch 26C #143 (until Tuesday)
Me Gusta, Nonsuch 26U #233 (for the foreseeable future)
Marina del Rey, CA
My boat also has two sheaves at the masthead. I was always wondering if running a thin slippery messenger line (dyneema?) on the second sheave would work. One end tied off at deck level the other exiting out with the wires for the mast lights and tied off near the bottom of the mast. This could be used to pull a replacement main halyard should something happened to the existing halyard. Though I have not tried it.
Mike
BIANKA
1986 30U
Long Island