What is this hole at the head of the mast for?

[hoppy]

Does anyone have an idea why this hole might exist at the front of my z-spars mast and is there any way it could be a good thing if I was to add a 2nd headsail halyard with 2:1 purchase for a free flying stormsail? (looking at putting a storm sail on a Code 0 roller)

[atoll]

it is the insert hole for a stainless ball rigging fitting,probably for an optional inner forestay.

your upper shrouds should have the same fitting,but with the cup in place as the rigging termination

[JPA Cate]

Maybe it's for one of those halyard deflectors, so the halyard wouldn't bear on the swivel?

[Ex-Calif]

IMHO - It's a provision to add a sheave for the Genoa halyard when a roller furler is used so the Genoa halyard doesn't foul the drum like it is doing now.

[hoppy]

Over winter I bought a halyard deflector as I have been finding it impossible to get enough luff tension and it's only since I took that photo that I realised the problem. Where the hole is, is probably where I would have liked to install the deflector

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by atoll

it is the insert hole for a stainless ball rigging fitting,probably for an optional inner forestay

I was thinking that, except the hole looks to be too big

[atoll]

Originally Posted by hoppy

I was thinking that, except the hole looks to be too big

check 0n the the site online store part number< sku 1632 T ball fitting insert>

Z Spars UK - Masts and Booms, Rigid Vangs, Spinnaker Poles, Rigging

I was looking last week for fittings for my mast

[atoll]

here it is

Z Spars UK - Masts and Booms, Rigid Vangs, Spinnaker Poles, Rigging

[Weyalan]

Originally Posted by atoll

it is the insert hole for a stainless ball rigging fitting,probably for an optional inner forestay.

your upper shrouds should have the same fitting,but with the cup in place as the rigging termination

Agreed

[Stu Jackson]

It's ONLY there to allow rainwater inside the mast.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by atoll

here it is

Z Spars UK - Masts and Booms, Rigid Vangs, Spinnaker Poles, Rigging

The hole kind of looks a bit too big for that. I will be onboard tomorrow and whilst I won't be going up the mast, it should not be too hard to work out the holes approximate size.

That reminds me, I want to find out if I have a spare sheave for a 2nd halyard, so I must take my gopro so I can hoist it up there.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by hoppy

The hole kind of looks a bit too big for that. I will be onboard tomorrow and whilst I won't be going up the mast, it should not be too hard to work out the holes approximate size.

That reminds me, I want to find out if I have a spare sheave for a 2nd halyard, so I must take my gopro so I can hoist it up there.

it is a pretty standard system for Tball mast rigging terminators.

and since the hole is oblong,i cant see any other purpose.

quite a few cruising jenneaus are set up with twin roller furlers one directly behind the other,the inner one having the std genoa on for tacking and the outer with a lighter weight sail for running downwind with twin poles and both sails flown goosewinged.

[hoppy]

Then maybe I can use both of these for a 2:1 halyard mount

[atoll]

should work,but you might have to elongate the hole,best done with a titanium nibbler bit on a drill.

in the past I have made my own inserts by cutting a slot in the mast and inserting 2 right angle" L" bits of stainless pre drilled on a string,then pulling them back out and a bolt through the upper hole and rigging terminal through the lower holding the"T" together.

[GILow]

Err... How the heck did you get those photos please? I tried to get good pics when I went up the mast and they were useless I got better results from a friend using a camera that cost more than our boat at ground level.

Matt


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