Hi, I've just bought a new (to me) Nacra 5.8.. And I have some questions regarding it.. Any help is MUCHLY appreciated..
First of all, the mainsail halyard.. The halyard is fixed to the ring which locks the mainsail at the top of the mast.. However, there is no cleat for the halyard to lock into (as their is for the jib) once the sail is hoisted.. What is the correct way to tie off the halyard?
Secondly, the mast rotator, it seems that the two blocks and cleats on either side of the mast on the front beam are used with this to control mast rotation, but can anyone advise the correct way to rig this up?
I think that is about all of the questions I have for now.. Much appreciated to anybody who can help! Thanks & Regards Dan
Unlike some other catamaran brands, I believe the jib halyard on the 5.8 should run back down the luff of the jib (inside the zipper) and should be tied off at the tack of the jib.
The main halyard ring should lock on a hook at the top of the mast. The rest of the halyard should come down inside the mast and exit the bottom of the mast. I take this line and coil and store it in a storage pocket on the front of the tramp.
What is the shape of the rotator arm and which side of the mast is it on (fore or aft)? Rotators and downhaul seem to be an area the Nacra sailors have come up with a lot of different solutions.
Thanks for the replies! The mast rotator is triangular, sticking out around 8 inches from the base of the mast, it has a small wire to keep it from falling below the perpendicular with the mast.. Its on the fore side of the mast & has no blocks or cleats located on it.. Downhaul is another interesting one.. I assume I tie the downhaul through the eyes on the luff of the sail, but I have no idea if their should be some kind of blocks that it should run to.. The only blocks located on the base of the mast seems to be a purchase system for the diamond stays...
I think I have the same mast rototor as you do. This is what I did:
I bought a mast rotator arm for a boomless from Murrays that is Like a V going out from the mast and straight across the back. I use the system for a Hobie 20 with two snaps rings, three pieces of line and shock cord. Tie the line across the bridle connectors at front of beams. Then with line tied to holes in mast rotator I clip one end of shock cord to rings and loop it around front line and back to rings. This pulls mast forward for downwind to 110 degrees. For mast rotation I have a small pulley system with cleat that attaches one end to boom and other to mast rotator. This sets mast rotation. Hope this make sense? If not call me. Very Happy Cool
If I understand you correctly, those blocks at the base of the mast are not for the diamond wires, they are for the the down haul.
In the attached pic you can see how we used the checkblocks. There are better ways, this is the way the boat was rigged from the previous owner and it worked.
The rotator is mostly used to force rotation (usually downwind) and works by running lines (I used one continuous line) from the left side of the rotator, to/thru the mysterious cleat (and block?) assembly somewhere on the RIGHT side of your main beam and vice-versa. Like I said, I used a single line, and never had a problem. I've attached a diagram.
Thanks for the replies guys.. I will rig the mast rotator up with a single line like that (my front beam setup is slightly different, were the cleats are in your photo I have a single block mounted on a spring to allow it to bend around.. which then follows back to the cleat) I will set it up like that and see how she works Thanks for all your help guys!
