Main Halyard - Slug

Hi guys
I tried to rig my 1987 H16 for the first time last week-end and got an "issue".

In fact, I was expecting to get a "slug" on the main halyard in order to lock the halyard between the two prongs of the "catch" at the top of the mast.

At my surprise, what seems to be my main halyard does not have a slug. No nothing. Can we live without this "slug" if everything is well tighten?

Thanks in advance for your input.

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Hobie Cat 16 1987
Pringle 16 1979 (sold)
Hobie Cat 14 Turbo (sold)
Subaru Outback 2008 BlackPearl

Only the wire halyards for all alum masts have a slug. Rope halyards for comp tip masts do not.

Well, technically - they do. It's at the join of the rope to the wire.

No. You need to have the halyard latched into the "forks" at the top of the mast. If you only tie off the halyard on the cleat at the bottom of the mast, you will not be able to pull on enough downhaul or mainsheet tension. The problem is that the halyard line will stretch no matter how tight you pull it. Also, the mast bends and this will cause the halyard to go slack.

You can always tell the noobs on the beach because they never have their halyard latched properly and they end up sailing with a foot of distance between the top of the mast and the head of the sail...don't let it happen to you...

sm

Yeah, I've often wondered what voodoo is used to splice rope to the wire. Seems like a good yank on the halyard could separate it although I've not seen it happen. I've had two rope halyards where the line gave up before the wire crimp.

You should check your halyard catch (the thing on the mast) for sharp edges and file them down. The halyard takes a lot of stress right at that point and any sharp edge will saw through it eventually.

Yeah, that's what I figure out yesterday when I raise my main for the first time. This join will act as the slug I was looking for.

However, I got many issue to raise the main to the top. I will read the other post about the lubrification...

Thanks guys for your help.

Regards

_________________
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Hobie Cat 16 1987
Pringle 16 1979 (sold)
Hobie Cat 14 Turbo (sold)
Subaru Outback 2008 BlackPearl