What does the red halyard do on the mast???

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Coast Rider's picture
Coast Rider
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What does the red halyard do on the mast???

Sorry, but I've had my 36 Catalina for almost a year now and can't figure out what the heck the red halyard is for. I know the green is the one I use to raise my main sail.

Joe Lucido
1986 Catalina 36
Hull # 0625
M-25 Universal diesel
Oceanside, CA

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TomSoko
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Joe,
Most likely your halyards are not original, so it really depends on how the red halyard is rigged and what the PO did to factory colors.  I think from the factory our boats came with a main halyard (blue) and two jib halyards (red and green). If the red halyard comes out of a forward masthead sheave, then it's a second jib halyard.  If it comes out of an exit plate on the side of the mast (a few feet from the top), and then goes thru a swivel block extending forward on the masthead crane, then it's a spinnaker halyard.  A jib halyard should not be used as a spinnaker halyard, as the chafe as it exits the sheaves will ruin it in a very short time. Hope this helps.

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

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Coast Rider
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Hi Tom,

The red halyard comes out of the mast 2 feet below the green halyard which raises my main sail. I cannot see where the heck the red halyard goes once in the mast. It has no contact with the jib. I've attached a photo showing the red and green halyards running from the cockpit to the mast.

Joe Lucido
1986 Catalina 36
Hull # 0625
M-25 Universal diesel
Oceanside, CA

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GaryB
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Posts: 570

Joe,
If I interpret what I see in the picture you supplied correct, my first assumption the red line is your halyard for the Genoa. You don't see the end as it is up at the top (Head) of the sail with little exposed for viewing. As you appear to only have two lines running down your port side deck and in this picture it does not appear there are any lines running to the turning block and deck on the starboard side. What I am not sure of is what the line (white with red flecks) on your starboard side of the mast and cleated off is for. Do you know where the other end of this line is, and what it is used for? It could be the halyard for the Genoa or it is a spinnaker halyard or spare halyard either exiting the front or rear of the mast and attached somewhere visible.
My boat appears to have been setup so that the Main halyard and the Mainsheet are on the starboard side and on the portside are a spare jib/Genoa halyard, spinnaker halyard, and the jib/Genoa halyard. 
Based on your questioning I assume you either bought this boat all setup or you don't get involved with  any of the rigging. If the white and red flecked line is in fact the halyard for the Genoa and you do not see any sign of the red line and it's end than I would assume the end is right at the top of the mast and useless until you have someone bring it down. If you have both ends of the white and red flecked end accounted for another purpose than the red line is the Genoa Halyard. To prove this on a calm no wind day unfurl your Genoa and release the red halyard ( you might want to hold the halyard as you release incase your Genoa should immediately fall to the deck), go forward and gently tug on the Genoa while someone is holding the red halyard either in the cockpit or at the mast. If the red moves while you tug than you know that is the Genoa halyard.

Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine

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TomSoko
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Joe,
Where the halyard runs on the deck has little or no bearing on what it's for.  Also, where it comes out of the mast at the deck is of little importance.  What you should do it to look at your masthead with a pair of binoculars and find out where it exits up there.  If you use the green halyard to raise the main, then it should exit the masthead over an aft-facing sheave.  If you use the blue halyard for the jib, then it should exit the masthead over a forward-facing sheave.  If the red halyard exits the masthead near the blue halyard, also on a forward-facing sheave, then it is a second jib halyard.  If the red halyard exits the mast a few feet below the top of the mast, on the stbd side of the mast, then goes up to an external block at the masthead, it is a spinnaker halyard.  Hope this helps.

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

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What Tom said, plus:

You should be concerned about where the other end of the red halyard is! Typically a spare or unused halyard of any purpose will be either:

  • ​Clipped to a fitting at the base of the mast
  • Clipped to the base of a stanchion
  • Clipped to something!
  • Lost at the top of the mast

I don't see the working end of the red halyard in your pic. Where is it attached at the moment?

- nick

Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA

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Coast Rider
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Hi Nick,

I'm still looking for the other end of the red halyard. It is inside the mast somewhere.
 

Joe Lucido
1986 Catalina 36
Hull # 0625
M-25 Universal diesel
Oceanside, CA

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Channel Islander
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Posts: 378

[quote=Coast Rider]
I'm still looking for the other end of the red halyard. It is inside the mast somewhere.
 [/quote]

Yikes.
 
But, if the working end had a thimble or any hardware or even a stopper knot, it
shouldn't have been able to enter the mast. Perhaps it is at the masthead, close in to its sheave/entry point?

Have you looked up there with binocs, as Tom suggested? Or hoisted aloft the lovely blonde in your photo to have a close-up look?

In my marina there are a number of true pro riggers, and then there are a number of very capable "second tier" riggers, whom I may not trust to rerig my boat, but to whom I would not hesitate to pay $40 to bring their chair and whip up the stick to bring down an errant halyard, or even just tell me that there is no sign of it at the masthead. Maybe that would be money well-spent in your case?

- nick

Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA

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HowLin
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As Nick said - otherwise it will be dropping a long string with a 1/4" nut tied to it and fishing it out the bottom;  (don't ask how I know...)

---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----

--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----

--- 1999  C36 MkII  #1776 M35BC ---

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rtrinkle
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I'd say go aloft. If it's not there, tug on it. If it comes out the mast then repurpose the line. If it doesn't, it's either used for something, or tube locked at the top of the mast, in which case, going aloft will give you a better view. I always enjoy climbing the mast. 

Robert Trinkle
Troubador, 1995 C36 MKII #1433, SR/WK
Universal M35A
Kinsale Harbor Marina
Kinsale, VA

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mholzmann
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Posts: 77

Based on your photo and they way my boat is set up the red line is your mainsail reef line.  If it disappears look to see if it does run into your boom and then through your mainsail.

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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