Touche's masthead does not have a crane or cranes or a bail from which to hang the two spinnaker halyard blocks. Instead it has an ear about 1 inch wide through which a 1/2 inch high-load shackle was placed. Two spinnaker halyard blocks hung from the shackle. The masthead arrangement was very tight. The two blocks hung down and contacted the top of the furler extrusion. As the furler turned, the blocks were knocked outward with each revolution. Not an ideal situation.
The wind instrument on the very forward part of the masthead deterred installation of a plate or bail. I focused on using the existing ear. As part of a general tweaking and upgrading of the furler, forestay and masthead, I came up with a better configuration. The shackle was replaced with a 2100 lb load eyebolt with an eyenut on the other end. The eye bolt passes through the ear, the eyenut is screwed on the other side and secured with a cotter key through a hole drilled through the eyenut and eyebolt shaft. Two new 75 mm Harken ESP 2200 lb load blocks now hang from either eye. Their screwpin is secured with Monel seizing wire. The blocks are now spaced 3-4 inches apart and no longer contact the furler extrusion. I also removed an extra toggle at the top of the forestay, installed a new longer forestay and extended the furler extrusion above the masthead sheaves that hold the genoa halyards. The furler extrusion was cutting those halyards. The Harken furler had to be disassembled and reassembled with the new forestay. The mast rake is now closer to the 1 degree thought to be near optimum for the boat. A sea trial in 10-13 the other day showed a helm near neutral. If any listers have a similar masthead arrangement, I can send pics. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
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