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Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:46 am
by chriswrightlaser
I am going to try this way of tying the halyard to the crane,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4KShoUP ... ture=youtu.
This could be cause problems if you go turtle by any rocks out to sea or a sharp shale on the bottom of a lake that could cut the rope causing the main to come down?
The way the knot lands on the crane and the way you do the knot is very important, this must be done when dry and good quality electrical insulation tape used around the crane and rope at the top to prevent any movement, the way the knot fits the crane keeps it in position, the same knot the other way around is not so good, leave a long tail as well just in case of slippage.
The mainsail should be able to go higher with this set up so you may not have to pull quite so hard to keep the shackle up at the top?
Will let you know how I get on over the next few months.
It is important to take the slack out of the knot after it has streched a bit before you tape it, put the main up the mast for a few minutes at full tension then move the slack out of the top going through the crane.
Chris

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:04 pm
by DangerBoy
That youtube clips looks like the most sensible way so far!

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:34 pm
by chriswrightlaser
I think it would work for people like myself with a halyard 2 meters extra in lenth who keep moving the knot every month, I am sure that for some it might chafe if it moves and then break over time if not checked for months? not good if your are out to sea in a blow and the main comes down, not the way forward for the new to the class unless they are good with knots.
It will not rub on the rope going up so good till we get an alternative one. :D
Chris

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:15 pm
by bambam
In the video with your solution, i would guess your going to wear out the main track and rope as there is no overhang so the main halyard will rub the full length of the mast.

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:06 pm
by chriswrightlaser
bambam wrote:In the video with your solution, i would guess your going to wear out the main track and rope as there is no overhang so the main halyard will rub the full length of the mast.

The only change is where the dead end is fixed to the crane, the moving rope still goes the same route, The dead end does not move so will not rub on the mast. The mod will stop the rope running on the dead end as this was fixed comming out of the bottom of the pully so the moving rope would rub against it as it was below and in the way.
Chris

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:50 pm
by Rick
I guess if people want to do this a class rule change will be required; have you run this past Chris Henderson?

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:45 pm
by chriswrightlaser
Its too early to bother Chris yet. Its got to be tested to see how it works first. I Will use my old mast at the inlands.
Chris.

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 1:22 am
by FrankC
Hi Chris,

Have you found that this set up works well?

Frank

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 10:57 pm
by chriswrightlaser
I have not used my new boat yet I have been sailing my very reliable 385 this year with the old set up, this means I have not tried the new mast head yet , I will try it this month as I only have my new boat now to use.
I was late at the Rutland focus day and forgot to chop off 3cm off the halyard after the forth sail and paid the price with the old mast head in 385, the main came slowly down after the halyard snapped at the top, it was not possible to get back upwind with the main coming down slowly, just goes to show how important it is to chop off the top bit every now and again, first time in 5.5 years that the halyard has broken.

Chris

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:35 pm
by bigdave
Having had a new top mast section, and now a new boat, I've been using the new crane for a while.

I found it works nicely if you taper the end of the halyard, so you're only putting the knot in the dyneema core. Then you can just push the knot into the top of the crane (with the pulley removed) without having to split the mast etc and you don't have the problem of the bits of rope rubbing against each other. Need to make sure your taper is a good one!

I found without the taper the outer would fray as it did with the old crane, but if it separates completely the outer disappears down the mast and with the knot in the way its almost impossible to get it back out... I ended up having to attach some twine to the halyard and pull it all the way through the other way.

The disadvantage of having the taper is that if it breaks, its going straight down the mast. But it seems to be OK so far after several windy sailing sessions. Just move the knot occasionally (which is easy now).

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:51 am
by paul manning
Thanks Dave 8)

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:33 pm
by chriswrightlaser
Good result so far with the end tied to the crane head as shown on the YouTube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4KShoUP ... ture=youtu
no ware on the rope after sailing so no signs of failure. :D
Chris 501

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:51 pm
by justo
I am using vectram one 4 mm and after 3 months sailing it breaks. I prefer the old stile heat. This heat it's too straight with the mast and compress the haft main hailard to the mast.

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 4:41 pm
by paul manning
I'd be careful of using vectran as a halyard. It has very poor uv stability and doesn't like having knots tied in it.

Re: Mast head crane

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:56 am
by chriswrightlaser
The reason I like to tie the rope to the crane is so I can very easily cut 25mm off every forth sail, this way the rope moves up the cleat stopping the cleat cutting the rope too much and having a fresh bit at the top to stop it snapping. the only time in 6 years it broke is when I forgot to move it at Rutland as in a rush, when replacing the rope the two meters extra length on the halyard lasted 6 years so very cost effective.
Chris