Hello All,
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
I would like to have my main halyard operate from the port side of the mast and then route it back to the cockpit. Currently it is on the STB side of the mast. My question is: can the main halyard and jib halyard (currently on the port side of the mast and operating from the mast) be interchanged? Seems like I should be able to, but then I have been surprised before. Help appreciated.
Capt CG
s/v SEA HIKER
The mainsail halyard is by custom and traditionallly on the starboard side of the mast. In the days of sail, all rigging was in the same place on every boat and had the same name so any sailor could function precisely and immediately upon an order.
There is no physical reason the port halyard (jib) could not be used as the main halyard. There would be confusion if you made the switch and then asked a new crew member to tend to the halyards.
Jim,
It never occurred to me that the location of the main halyard was universal, and I had never read or heard that fact anywhere before. Thank you for that tid bit.
As for switching, there is no physical reason why the main and headsail halyard could not be switched.
Dale
My main halyard remains on the starboard side and runs to the port side winch in the cockpit with the help of an angled cheek block mounted to the starboard base of the mast. Main, jib and spinnaker halyards run through a deck organizer. Pete
Thanks for the replies Jim and Dale. I would leave the main halyard at the mast, except that I will be single-handling more than not, thus would like the halyard operational from the cockpit / cabin top. Seems the boat was not originally set up for the main halyard to go aft on the STB side, although I have seen other Pearsons set up this way. If I put it on the port side and send it througha deck block, deck organizer, bullseye, and to the tripe rope clutch, I will, after reading Jim's reply, make sure it is the line to the most-right.
Be Well,
Carl
s/v Sea Hiker #302
Carl- My sloop has the main halyard exiting on the port side, thru blocks to the clutches to the winch, all on port. Works fine. And yes, the traditional arrangement is main to starboard, but as Dale says, no physical reason for it. Jim
Our main halyard is on the port side as well. I don't like it as the reefing lines and winch are on the starboard side which means I have to move side to side in a blow to reef down.
On the plus side, it reinforces the "reef early" mantra. *shrugs*
Wayne