What parts do I need to convert my std jib halyard to an aussie jib halyard?

Looking at my one, you need a special wire piece at the top to replace the current one which has two wires coming off the top loop rather than a single one leading down to the pulley and two pulleys that give you I think a 3:1 purchase and a hell of a lot of rope! (four times the height from the bottom of the mast to the shroud plate).

There's a picture of one at murrays http://www.murrays.com/archive/30.pdf in the bottom right hand corner

Do you find the aussi system much of an improvement compared to the old system?

I got the system with my new boat and to be honest I can't really tell the difference, as the difference between my old boat and the new one is huge and I can't pinpoint it to one particular item.

I guess unless you are a top sailor you may not notice much difference in performance, however with the system it is much easier to rig and takes a huge amount of tension off the cleat at the mast base. The top sailors in our fleet all have this system on their boats and speak highly of it, so I guess it must be better overall.

In Hong Kong, all of our boats come from Australia, so all the new ones are coming with this system as standard.

The Aussie system has been standard on USA boats for several years. The real advantage to the "Aussie" jib halyard is the reduction of mast counter-rotation. The mast, when compressed by jib halyard tension will have a tendency to rotate in one direction due to the side pre-bend caused by the jib halyard. The system will also help tacking as the mast will more easily rotate to the correct side during tacks. This is achieved by having the purchase for the halyard tension up between the jib head and the hounds. The tension of the halyard down the mast is just a much smaller percentage of the load. The original system placed 100% of the tension down the mast causing the pre-bend.

Hmm... I have thought about the benefits of the Aussi Halyard before, I have seen it at my friendly local sailboat shop for $100 plus and I am confused about the promised benefits...
2/3 or 66% of reduced mast compression - How???
Easier tacking - Why is that - with the purchase in place there will be even more lines for the jib to get stuck in???
Better mast rotation and more consistent bend - Hmmm... it pulls from the same fixed points so why will there an improvement.
I have read about some people relocating the lower block to the front of the mast... That makes sense to me in terms of mast bend.
I have also heard of installing a fairlead or a clip to keep the purchase or wire close to the mast - that would help the jib to tack with more ease.
Why would it be a good idea to replace the wire part of the halyard with a line? What is the benefit of placing the double block far up on the mast?

Thanks,

Patrick

O.K. I stared at the pic at Murrays for a while longer and checked the official German Hobie sites assembly charts for the euro Hobie 16...
Now it makes more sense! The purchase runs parallel to the forestay not along the mast like the old 2:1 hmmm.... now the 66% of reduction in load on the mast base makes more sense.
The Euro Hobie 16 seems to have a clip or a fairlead in the front of the mast. They also have the jib halyard cleat in the front of the mast.

Patrick

Don't want to diss the system or anything because I've got it on my boat and I am pleased with it, however all the thing about mast compression and tacking, etc. How much does this affect your average Joe? I reckon that the dirrerence in mast rotation is probably slight when compared to the rest of the variables that affect mast rotation such as coke bottle top in base rather than teflon disc, rig tension, etc. I don't think I would personally go out and buy the system if my existing boat did not have it as I don't think I would suddenly be climing the leaderboard of the next regatta with one.

Still hoping for a high-res pic of the setup on a boat(as opposed to the grainy thing in the Murray's or Hobie catalog.)

My image host is down, so the photos are attached.

First one is before the jib was raised. (Sorry about the focus - still trying to figure out the new digital camera.)

Second photo - after jib hoisted

Bonus photo - attaching blocks to the clew plate to minimize stack height - note the how the shackle goes through two holes in the clew plate.

2nd bonus photo - Tack arrangement. Note how the shackle pin is used to tack the jib, not the bow. Also, double adjuster / shock cord system to take up the slack in the "lazy" forestay. Wind indicator is a modified Winddex on a mount made from a block of Delrin.

What size/type of line are you using for the jib halyard?
What difference do you notice with the wind indicator "out front" vice, say, below the bridle?
TIA.

Hi Chris,

The jib halyard is 4mm Gottifredi Maffioli Swiftcord - a single braid Dyneema line that has a non-slip fiber woven in. You can get it directly from Hall Spars who has the exclusive import license (here). It's only $0.38/ft, so the halyard was only about $30. I'm not so sure about it, though. I used it for the first time last weekend and it might be too stretchy.

As for the wind indicator, the position is more a function of my choice of bridle fly. I've always thought that the Winddex vanes were much more sensitive than anything else. Because it's really a masthead vane, it has to be supported from below, thus the bent mount. (If you plan to do this, you have to heat the aluminum rod with a torch, otherwise it will break.) I like the tacking vanes (very useful with a novice crew). I use it primarily for upwind work in light to moderate air.

What you don't see in the photo is my "back-up" system of 18" lengths of 8-track tape flown off the bridle wires. Those are used for downwind work, since the opposite bridle wire gives a good reference for 90 degrees apparent wind.

I've been using a system like the one you see in the photo for probably 25 years.

See you in Syracuse this fall?

Matt,
My wife and I are going to Mexico for her birthday this fall so I will not be able to make the NAs.

Good luck!

Chris,

You really have to get your priorities in order!

I took my wife to Mexico in May for Mother's Day (oh, yeah - there happened to be a little event going on there at the time - 16 WORLDS!). I'm working on taking her up north for our anniversary - and BTW, there's a regatta going on that weekend in Charlevoix that we just might have to go to!

/lawyer's phone number is already on my speed dial

We'll miss you in Syracuse.

Matt, you are so right. Charlevoix is an ideal place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. I can not think of any woman who would not enjoy a weekend in Northern Michigan, bonding with their spouse...

Love [color:"red"] [/color] is in the air...use it to get to the weather mark!

Rabs