I am moving the spin halyard cleat from the side of the mast to the front beam on a VWM Blade. I am planning to use a stand-up block and a standard swivel cleat on the front beam. I do not want to use a Spinlock.
If anybody has a similar setup on their Blade and could take a picture, that would be super cool. I'm particularly interested in how far away you placed the cleat from the mast and what cool things you used for a riser.
I made the change about a year ago. I think the block placement depends on if you will sail 2 up or not. If you will not you can put the cleat fairly close to the mast and the block can go on the spin pole. If you will be using the jib, the cleat is placed just outside the jib traveler and the block goes on the beam under the jib traveler. I used a new spinlock and it has worked flawlessly mounted directly to the beam. I have a picture but have no idea how to attach it to this post.
Are you runnig a seperate tack line or does this halyard go out to the tack as well? If you're not running a seperate tack line then reverse the system that is rigged at present so the halyard goes from the cleat to the tack line then back to the beam and up the mast.
Re: request picture of spin halyard cleat
[Re: Cab]
#177780 05/11/0906:25 AM05/11/0906:25 AM
Are you runnig a seperate tack line or does this halyard go out to the tack as well?
Good idea. I am running a separate tack line. I'd like to go with a single line system like you describe, but I don't think I have enough halyard length to do it right now.
Re: request picture of spin halyard cleat
[Re: GeoffS]
#177787 05/11/0907:31 AM05/11/0907:31 AM
Chris, I am running basically the same rig, except I do not have the grommet further up the tramp as you have. My spin line runs through the rear tramp grommet. What's the benefit of running through the grommet closer to the cross-beam?
Blade F16 USA 725
Re: request picture of spin halyard cleat
[Re: TEH]
#177813 05/11/0909:40 AM05/11/0909:40 AM
Also, abrasion may damage your tramp (on the under side). It is possible to run the halyard over (aft)of the rod that supports the tramp, resulting in abrasion damage. Don't ask me how I know.
Pete Pollard Blade 702
'When you have a lot of things to do, it's best to get your nap out of the way first.
Re: request picture of spin halyard cleat
[Re: GeoffS]
#177818 05/11/0909:47 AM05/11/0909:47 AM
Personally, I have just a (non-swiveling) cleat on my mainbeam. Used only two large stainless screws to secure it to the beam and it has never failed on me. Using just Parker screws is also what AHPC did for years when fitting a spi halyard cleat. Seems to be sufficient.
I actaully have the cleat on the beam where the traveller rail is as well. The two don't not seem to interfere on my boat.
Wouter
Wouter Hijink Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild) The Netherlands
Re: request picture of spin halyard cleat
[Re: Wouter]
#177824 05/11/0910:04 AM05/11/0910:04 AM
I personally still have teh line running to teh back beam also so I can't speak from experience. My mark roundings are relatively traffic free as I am Portsmouth racing against mostly monohulls. With teh douse line running to the back beam you would probably still end up with your body axis oriented slightly aft. Not having your head in a position to be watching forward could lead to issues at mark roundings. At teh least, you probably drop early, in recognition of all teh high-speed traffic and how you need your head up.
If you can be kneeling on teh tramp, hauling line like crazy and still have your peripheral vision watching port and starboard, would both be safer and allow you to drive closer to teh mark.
GeoffS, Having been out of the loop, so to speak, for a while would you mind telling me if your boat came with the spin cleat mounted on the mast. If so, what was the reasoning and why are you moving away from that? I am doing a little revamping on my Blade and planning on adding an additional cleat on the mast and replacing the spinlock on the main beam with something I can operate in light air. Thanks, Will Lints
Having been out of the loop, so to speak, for a while would you mind telling me if your boat came with the spin cleat mounted on the mast. If so, what was the reasoning and why are you moving away from that?
The boat - a 2007ish VWM Blade - came with the cleat on the mast and neither I or my co-owner like it there. The cleat on the mast is frequently rotated away from you (i.e., on the wrong side of the mast) when you need to get to it. I think if we had been given the choice at the time we bought the boat, we would have asked for the cleat on the beam, but we didn't think about it. Additionally, this boat is almost always sailed single-handed and I always thought the cleat-on-the-mast thing was more for double-handed sailing.
Oh, I hadn’t thought about the cleat sometimes being on the wrong side. I sail single handed as well, my thinking is that sometimes I like to let out a little extra halyard and prefer it being pulled up instead of letting the spin hang down on the spin pole. This I use in light air and flattening it as much as possible so I can ‘reach’ a little higher. The other idea is that in strong wind the boat wants to nose dive and I think if I could have the sail pulled up high on the mast and let the bottom part (tack I think) run out significantly I think the sail might lift the bows up and let me push it harder.
Mission accomplished. See photos. I found the riser for the elliptical beam in the Catsailor store. I am sure Wouter will detect some geometrical issue with this installation that I have failed to consider. I haven't yet sailed the boat with the relocated spinnaker halyard cleat, but I think it is going to make single-handing much more enjoyable. Now... if I could just keep the thing from pitching so easily...