MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Spinnaker Halyard

Any suggestions welcome!! Find that when the boom is all the way out the kicker 'traps' the kite halyard. I can't see any other way of leading it back other than through the kicker - so it'll get trapped  on either one gybe or the other...help!!


Posted: 02/09/2007 21:01:50
By: Andy3324
Do you really mean the halyard or is it actually the spinnaker sheet?

If the later then it needs to be led across the boat from the block in the side deck behind the kicker and then to the block in the other side deck.

If you really mean the halyard then a picture would help!


Posted: 02/09/2007 21:31:16
By: RichardT
I take it that you have a hog-stepped mast and the halyard comes out of the foot of the mast just above the heel plug.  If this is so, and the halyard exits at the back of the mast - in line with the luff track - then it should be led (almost) in line with the hog and between the two kicker control lines leading up from either side of the hog.  As the halyard fairlead and cleat will be to one side of the plate case (starboard side is standard), there shouldn't be much friction between the halyard and the kicker until the boom is over the port gunwhale.

On a previous Merlin I had the same problem, which I tried to relieve by attaching a curved metal boom strap type fitting to the mast step so that it would deflect the kicker control lines and provide a smoother run for the spinny halyard. It wasn't perfect, but it did improve the situation, and I'm sure someone more practical than I might have made a more professional job of it.

If your halyard comes out of the mast at the side, I'd suggest you change the arrangement.


Posted: 02/09/2007 22:20:12
By: Mike Anslow
Yup - I did mean halyard! Mast is deck stepped and halyardafter exiting mast, continues down into the boat to a turning block at the fore end of the centreboard case - it's just that when the boom is all the way out to starboard the kicker snags the halyard and prevents it running freely. I think I may have to totally rebuild the kicker to stop this happening?


Posted: 03/09/2007 16:38:10
By: Andy3324
Andy, Can you post a picture, sounds as thought the kicker might not be quite right.

On 3404, the halyard exits the mast at top of centreboard case height on the starbaord side of the centreboard. It continues aft to a turning block just in front of the helm and back forward to tie (eventually) to the retriever eye on the kite. The kicker lines come up close to where the halyard passes and it only rubs against the kite halyard when the kicker is hard on and the boom is extended on the port side. Its certainly not enough to retrict the kite hoist in any way.

Best Rgds, John


Posted: 03/09/2007 16:58:38
By: JohnB (3404)
I think the problem maybe that the kicker control lines to each side of the boat go right down to the floor perhaps, or at least lower than the exit point for the halyard from the mast. One solution is to bring the kicker control lines to a double block above the halyard exit point so the halyard passes outside the control lines....


Posted: 03/09/2007 17:34:46
By: Blackie
Ok its the halyard.  Does it go through the foredeck after leaving the mast or does it come down behind the foredeck?  On my deck stepped mast, the spinnaker halyard comes down about 2 inches in front of rear of foredeck and then down to a turning block at base of the mast so that it is outside the kicker control lines and hence not a problem.


Posted: 03/09/2007 18:58:00
By: RichardT
Hi Guys

Thanks for all the input - will get down to the boat over the next few days and take a pic.. It's not so much the hoist that's the issue but trying to get it back down yesterday (when it was blowing!!)was interesting to say the least! The halyard was deflected a good 2" by the kicker NOT good.


Posted: 03/09/2007 21:05:08
By: Andy3324
I have the same issue on 3379.  I have put in a double block on the mast above the halyard exit point which alleviates the problem sufficiently to only make it a problem on one gybe.  Just living with it now.


Posted: 04/09/2007 10:02:07
By: CHAIRS
On 3511 the kicker attachment is also low down on the kingpost where it meets the keel, I have a double block on a bit of wire about 8 ins long but the halyard does not snag on either gybe as it is led to a turning block that is on the hog lower than the kicker attachment then back to the cleat on the corner of the centrecase.


Posted: 04/09/2007 10:41:20
By: Andrew M
On 3511 the kicker attachment is also low down on the kingpost where it meets the keel, I have a double block on a bit of wire about 8 ins long but the halyard does not snag on either gybe as it is led to a turning block that is on the hog lower than the kicker attachment then back to the cleat on the corner of the centrecase.


Posted: 04/09/2007 10:41:29
By: Andrew M

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