I’d like to install a backup halyard for the sail. Has anyone done this & how was it rigged?
Hi Joe,
The spare halyard is on the pulley facing you in the photo attached.
It runs externally, but otherwise is much like the main halyard (blue&white).
I believe that most Nonsuch have the spare halyard pulley installed.
Cheers,
Jon Matthews EVENSONG 30U 266 Toronto
Some years ago I replaced the original undersized flag halyard cheek
block at the top of the mast with a spare Garhauer block similar to
the one Jon showed above. It is attached with 4 quarter-inch machine
screws which should be adequate for the sail. I still have small line
run through it for a signal flag, but that line can be used to pull a
proper halyard through if necessary.
I don't consider this arrangement a true "second halyard". Even
though I have a double sheave in the masthead fitting, there is only
one halyard exit hole in the mast, and there is no foot block at the
starboard base of the mast. If I wanted two halyards I would add
another exit hole and some sort of turning block for it at the base.
Bill Spencer - LIONHEART, NS30U 352 Hyde Park, NY
Hi Joe,
I installed a secondary halyard a few seasons ago.
The top of my mast has two halyard sheaves, one for the main halyard, one for the secondary. The fact that the second sheave was already in place is what instigated me to install the back-up.
I mirrored the main halyard (on the port side) with the secondary on the starboard side.
I purchased a mast-exit plate from Mike Quill, along with a new halyard (put the new halyard in the main halyard job and moved the existing halyard to the secondary location).
I purchased a new Garhauer cheek block to install on the mast collar.
Bought a new deck organizer to accommodate the additional line on the forward end of the coachtop, a fairlead to install midway on the coachtop, and a new rope clutch to hold it tight at the cockpit end of the coachtop. I did not install a new cleat just aft of the clutch… I just double it up on the one I use for the topping lift.
Installation was easy… I had the yard do it!
It has been very useful - use it as a ‘safety’ when I go up the mast on the main halyard. I’ve used it on several occasions to first lift the front of the boom a bit (while I am attached to the main halyard) to take the tension off and then release the hanger shackles, and then lower the boom to the deck. And then to reverse the process to put the boom back up.
If I ever loose control of the main halyard and it goes to the top of the mast, i have a way to get up there to retrieve it… let’s hope this never happens!
I can post photos if needed.
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKEWALK III 30U 430 1987
Jersey City, NJ