More rigging help needed!

[Yamaha33410]

Where to begin, obviously im not well versed or experienced, need some help getting my first sail boat sorted out

I have some questions regarding the lines for my sails

1) How exactly is the main and jib halyard run? How do you all attach the lines to the sails? Like what specifically should I buy if you use a shackle or such or does anyone just tie the line right to the sail?

On the vang I believe its called, where the forestay attaches to the mast, I have a block/pulley there, I also have one at the top of the mast on the side, I gather one of these is used for the Jib halyard at the top, which one? Also, what would the other one be for?

2) Boom supporting line, I would like to run a line from the boom to the top of the mast to keep it supported with mainsail down, i have a couple of holes at the end of the boom I'm guessing one would go to, I also have a small shackle already on the boom from the previous owner, is that shackle in the right hole? What would I hook to the shackle? How would I attach it to the top of the mast? should I put an eyelet into the mast up there to hold this line?

3) Whats the pulley/block? on my front chaintplate? I gather the hook is for the jib attachment, is that for some kind of downhaul setup?

I have so many more questions but this will get it going for now! Thanks for any help... Also, I think i really need to get the trailer sailor book everyone refers to here, will that help me get my boat setup better? I don't really need a universal guide, I need an instruction manual for this particular boat LOL

[Duckie]

As best as I can tell, the block at the top of your forestay is for the jib halyard.  The block at the bottom of the forestay is for a jib downhaul.  The attachments at the end of your boom will work for a topping lift, the thing that holds the boom up when the sail is down.  I can't see from the pictures what the stuff at the top of your mast is.  On the cast aluminum cap on  my mast there is a hole for the end of the topping lift.  There should be a pulley at the top of your mast.  That is what the main halyard should run through.  If you have horn cleats on either side of your mast that is where you would cleat off the halyards.  I have cleats at the back of my cabin for that purpose, but  have seen it both ways. 

Yes, you can simply tie the sails to the halyards.  I do just that with my Weekender.  It is quicker to use shackles. 

It is fun to try to figure out all of this.  It is critical though.  You must understand everything about your rigging to keep you and your boat safe.  I do a fair amount of driveway sailing with each of my boats making sure that everything is running exactly as it is supposed to.  I lost count of how many times I have stood up and taken down my mast in the driveway.  It goes without saying that you shouldn't do this on a windy day. 

Also, I think that Com-Pac sells the owners manual for the sixteen still.  Maybe.  Check with them, I think it will be worth it.

Al

[Yamaha33410]

Thanks

I have no extra hole on the top mast cap shall we call it, I have two pullies on the top inline front to rear, I take it the halyard is fastened to the sail, and drawn up the rear, goes over the two pullies and down the front of the mast. I do not have cockpit halyards, I have the two cleats on the sides of the mast to tie off the halyards.

So the lower of the two blocks, the one on the forestay  would be for the Jib halyard, thats what I figured as well, then I was thrown  off by that extra block on the port side of the mast at the top. Maybe I will try to run the boom stay line through that with a stopper knot at the top if it won't be used by anything else

anyone have any additional input on the two holes on the back of the boom and that shackle?

[JBC]

I will try to answer a few of your queries, though like Al I can not quite make out what exactly is at the top of your mast.
1. The vang you speak of where the forestay attaches is a "tang." I agree that the block there is for the jib halyard, and the block at the bow is for a jib downhaul.
2. The two "pulleys" inline at the top of your mast are "sheaves." Your description of how to run the main halyard through those is correct. For both halyards, you can tie off on the cleats on the sides of your mast.
3. Assuming no wire is used on your halyards, just lines (rope), then you can tie halyard lines directly to sails. I use bowline knots, but there are plenty of other useful knots too for this purpose.
4. That shackle on the end of your boom can be used to attach a small block so you can run your outhaul (the line tied to the end, or clew, of your mainsail) through it and back forward to a cleat that should be on the boom. That makes it easy to adjust the foot tension of your mainsail.
5. Then you could rig a topping lift to run from the other hole at the end of the boom to the top of your mast, perhaps tying off the line on a piece of hardware (extra shackle or block) on top of the mast. I use a clip shackle at the boom end of my topping lift to easily attach the topping lift. When unclipped, it can be then be clipped somewhere at the base of the mast when sailing.

Good luck! Riggging your boat is part of the fun.

Jett

[Yamaha33410]

Great stuff thanks guys! Yes I do have a cleat on my boom I was wondering about but was going to figure that part out later. I agree, I'm a car mechanic and boats are new to me, but I'm having great fun working on it and figuring out a nice setup for it. Anyone have an idea how long of a rope used to make a topping lift line? I purchased new sheets and halyards of sta set and sta set x for the halyards at the lengths noted on this forum but those were pretty much the only lines listed...

[mikew]

Hello, I had an 81 and 83 cp-16 and the topping lift was a light braided line about 1/8" dia. ( from hardware store) . The top end went through a small hole located ( sideways) which was drilled between the two Pulleys at the top mast casting. One end of the line had a knot in it as to not let it pull through. The line is extended down to the end of the boom and tied off to one of those boom end eyes. ( Sorry no length ) After the main sail is raised the topping lift line is slacked off so the mainsail fills properly. Reverse process when dropping main. If you don't have this hole you could drill it yourself, just put Main halyard through two pulleys in top mast casting and locate 1/8" hole so topping line will not interfere, with halyard.
Another line you didn't mention, the mainsail downhaul. After main is raised, a short line ( 3') attached to ring on bottom of boom gooseneck is pulled down to tension front part of mainsail ( luff) and tied off to third middle cleat on bottom end of mast.
This may seem like alot of lines to fool with but the Compac is a simple boat to sail and after you get used to the rigging it will apply to any other small sloop rigged sailboat.
Mike

[Railroad Greg]

my two cents,
The extra block at the top of your mast on the port side would be the place that I would put a line through to raise and lower your boom when your not sailing. Also, I would get different color lines for the different tasks to be preformed, jib, main, sail sheets (lines), topping lift (boom lift), etc ...!  I never remember what the correct term for anything is called.
Anyway, all the advise listed so far has been spot-on in my thinking.

[Yamaha33410]

mission accomplished!

I did a couple of little modifications after this mainly added some shackles instead of knots directly to components for ease of assembly/dissasembly as she is a trailer sailor! Originally I liked the simple idea of just knots for everything and less components, as I'm not the greatest knot maker in thew wolrd, I put some shackles on the downhaul and outhaul for the main so I can quickly connect them and also leave those attached to the mast, probably shortening my assembly time by 10 minutes. I did keep bowlines directly to the jib for the sheets as I didn't want shackles banging around on the deck, I also just keep those tied to the sail. I need to make a good support system for my mast, if I can leave one end on the step and make brace to support it by the transom area and trailer it locally short distances like that I'd be really fast for a rookie getting it rigged up! I only need to drive it maybe 2 miles on back roads to get to the ICW luckily.

Will also add some shackles for the halyards so I don't have to tie them to the sails every outing.

[mikew]

Looks great! I too try to minimize the time to rig the boat at the ramp. Two tips : have the two side
Shroud wires already pinned in place on the chain plates and adjusted. So then you only have to raise mast and attach forestay which was already adjusted and shackle locked with cotter pins. If rigging alone you can use the jib halyard to help raise mast and temporary secure it while attaching forestay.
Another tip, I have the mainsail already attached to boom ( at foot )  with battens installed , main is rolled down and secured to boom with a few ties. The boom / mainsail unit is stowed in tow vehicle and ready to attach to mast at ramp. Speeds things up.

Mike

[Yamaha33410]

Yeah I keep the side stays on normally unless I completely have the mast off the boat...


Good idea on the mainsail and boom! Ill give that a shot and see how it works for me

[deisher6]

Hey Yamaha:
Good luck and have fun with your C-16. 

I used to keep the boom stored in a PVC pipe, outfitted with end plugs one of which screwed off, that was attached to the trailer with zip ties.  Not unlike what Hobies do.

regards charlie

[Yamaha33410]

I did it! Thanks for the help guys, I took the boat out for the first time for a few hours with my son, we more played around on an island then anything since the wind was pretty non existant all day, but I did get a chance to get the sails up for 15 minutes... and man, can't wait to take it out all day long sailing!


Also, see how my jib hits the front bow railing? is that normal?

[hoddinr]

Yes, having the jib rub on the bow pulpit is normal.  If the jib isn't too long in the luff you can put a pennant on it to raise it above the bow pulpit so you can see under the sail better.

Ron

[nies]

Yes............except jib sheets should be outside the stays.........hace fun............nies