The kit instructions say the halyard goes through a 1/2 inch hole centered an inch down from the top of the mast. Is there a "high tech" upgrade for the halyard such as a Harken block or something which would improve on hoisting and lowering the lug rig? Appreciate your perspectives, as I am a beginner. Thanks.
Not being a professional rigger, I'm not showing off w/ spiff cordage. Just leftover Regatta Braid and Sta-Set lines from my big boat days. I need to get some smaller lines for the halyard and downhaul, but I'm as small as I can get on the sheet and have a comfortable hand. I have put a small HexaRatchet block in place of the one from the kit to help relieve some pressure when sailing in a breeze.
Hey Captain, that is what I needed to hear. Appreciate your advice. Thanks.
I went with the hole as described in the instructions. It actually works well for me. If I were doing it again, and if I were to rework it, I might downsize the hole a bit and fit it with a fairlead liner, either fabricated by me out of reinforced Delrin or similar (I have access to a machine shop) or find one that will fit. The hole is still pretty slick anyway, having been sanded, coated several times w/ epoxy and varnished. A rounding bit of some kind would have been nice, but I just spent some time w/ sandpaper.
It lets you lead the halyard up the left side and down the right to a cleat (or turning block if you are leading it aft), leaving room low on the left side of the mast for the downhaul. I have already turned the downhaul into a 3 part tackle with a bullet block and a block w/ becket and shackle to more easily tension the luff. That's a better use of shop time IMO than putting a halyard block on.
I put a Harken cheek block at the top of my mast which makes it very easy to set/douse/reef. Depending on the size of your halyard, you can go with the Harken 092, 233 or something like that.
I also have a tapered halyard which has a small Dyneema core with a polyester cover down by the cleat for handing. Did I mention that I'm a professional sailboat rigger?
I also have a clam cleat block setup for my downhaul to take the wrinkle out of my lug sail. This puts an extra load on the yard, which I might reinforce as a I-beam.