# Second Halyard Location
**URL:** https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926
**Category:** Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
**Created:** [November 9, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926 "2011-11-09T23:54:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Allen\_Perrins](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Allen_Perrins)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/1 "2011-11-09T23:54:36Z")
Hi
How do riggers set up a second halyard using the
second sheave on the starboard masthead.
Where does the halyard exit the mast, port or starboard.
Is the exit plate above or below the port halyard plate.
Is it forward or aft of the port exit plate.
Mike Quill shows a double turning block on a mast band in the
location of the original turning block.
Al
Barbcat NS 30C #170
---
### Author:  [@Jon\_Matthews](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Jon_Matthews)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/2 "2011-11-10T00:04:24Z")
Although I am not sure what you are asking,
my guess is that 2nd halyards are usually set
on the port side of the mast, and fully external.
Cheers,
Jon Matthews EVENSONG 30U 266
---
### Author:  [@Allen\_Perrins](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Allen_Perrins)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/3 "2011-11-10T00:15:06Z")
Hi
No, second halyard using second sheave in the mast sheavebox.
This returns the halyard internally.
Al
> **(attachments)**
>
> ![dcp_0459[3].jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/6/6e861810a5f8035cf9035ec4ec124bc9ca5fd6c6.jpeg)
---
### Author:  [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/4 "2011-11-10T20:06:37Z")
Hi Al,
I have a second halyard set up that I had installed a few seasons ago.
It is a mirror image or the portside original, but on the starboard
side.
It runs internally and exits the mast on the starboard side at the
same height as the port side halyard exit... I added a turning/cheek
block onto the mast collar, a deck organizer with an additional sheave
on the coachtop forward, a fairlead in line with the reefing
fairleads, and a new spinlock clutch at the cockpit.
The mast exit and mast collar cheek block I purchased from Mike
Quill.
I moved my old halyard to the newly configured starboard side as a
backup and put a new halyard in on the original portside.
Regards,
Peter Grabow
CAKEWALK III 1987 30U #430. NY NY
---
### Author:  [@Allen\_Perrins](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Allen_Perrins)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/5 "2011-11-10T20:36:45Z")
Hi
How do you handle the second halyard?
Winch on starboard side? (Shared as needed with other functions)
The NS33 at my end has a powered winch for the portside main halyard.
No easy way to cross over to this winch.
---
### Author:  [@Jim\_Jones](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Jim_Jones)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/6 "2011-11-10T22:51:06Z")
I have a spare that exits the mast to port with the main halyard on
port as well. There are 2 sheaves at the masthead
and both run inside the mast. The spare is attached to a stanchion
base while sailing.
I bought the boat in this state. The spare gets wrapped around the
base of the mast as there are
no fittings to get it back to the cockpit. I think the topic was
brought up with Mike Quill when I refitting along with the collar
turning block
and that was the chosen thing to do.
I am assuming the only time that the spare would be used is if the
main was to fail or get lost up the mast or if a bosuns
chair was used and a safty line was required. I did purchase a bosuns
chair this year and a safty line would
make me feel...well safer.
Are there any other uses for having a spare halyard? Something I am
missing?
---
### Author:  [@Allen\_Perrins](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Allen_Perrins)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/7 "2011-11-10T23:29:32Z")
Hi
How were the exit plates handled. One above the other, or side by side.
Spacing??
Spare halyards allows one to get at a hung slide which has been discussed before.
My Racing authority requires a second means to get a man to the masthead.
I have given up on bosun's chairs. Don't get you high enough up.
I have switched to a climbers harness like those used on America's Cup Boats.
This allows my head well above the masthead ! In essence you are
supported at your "belly button" level, not your nose level.
Al
---
### Author:  [@user37](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/user37)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/8 "2011-11-11T15:20:11Z")
Mariposa has an external spare halyard. Seeing Bill Baxter's reply
below gives us a great solution to the problems is causes.
The spare tends to slap the sail or the mast when underway and it has
caught the radar antenna after a chicken jibe in
high wind conditions...broke the mount but did not loose the radar
unit, which is located just above the wishbone.
Running a light signal halyard as a messenger will allow us to keep
the spare below, the spare halyard will last a lot longer as it has
never
been needed in the three years we have owned our 30U, the light signal
halyard will not slap and do no damage if it
should catch the radar antenna, light nylon will just stretch. Thanks
for the idea Bill.
---
### Author:  [@Jim\_Jones](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Jim_Jones)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/second-halyard-location/3926/9 "2011-11-12T23:02:42Z")
Allen et al:
Writing from memory here but the exits are lower (main) and upper
(spare).
Thanks for the climber harness tip as I have done some climbing in the
past...just don't know why.
My boat has a stong track that seems to not have a problems with "hung
slides" to date.
It did have issues before the strong track addition was made.
When climbing we used a large loop of climbers rope that went aroung
the back and through the
crotch all to a caribeener to hold the safty or absail line. A
climbers harness sounds more comfortable.
I must get my diesel tank cleaned out and the holding tank swapped
from aluminum to plastic. (already have the tank)
Oh joy oh bliss...not holding my breath to take on these two chores.
She's put away and waiting for my return in the spring.
To all northern sailers...lets dream of the spring.
Later