Hobiewonkenobi wrote:
The front of the mast is kept clear of rigging so the jib can more easily slip around the mast. I think you'll find your sail cloth quickly degrading with all that there. Go with the aussie jib instead.
srm wrote:
The new boats have two cheek blocks, one mounted down low at the front centerline of the mast and the second on the side of the mast mounted above the cleat(s). The jib halyard runs down from the hounds, around the centerline cheek block, then up to the one above the cleats and finally down to the cleat.
Having the halyard initially run down the center of the mast helps eliminate mast rotation issues. I believe there may also be a fairlead riveted to the front of the mast up high to keep the halyard pulled in close to the mast. You also need to trim the battens short so they don’t hang up.
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Yeah, I figured that is why they did it that way back then, to keep the lines clear of the jib. I see how the aussie style works now by moving the block near the top. I've read that the aussie style is the standard on the new 16's. This system has the line running down the centerline rather than off to the side as srm said. I believe on the old style halyard, the block sits low enough where there would still only be the single line spanning where the jib would come into contact, but I wouldn't get the other benefits of the aussie style though, might be my next project in the spring. Thanks guys.