Spinaker crane details

[atmarineservices]

I am in the process of redesighning the masthead on a fairly small kenyon spar. I have doubts about the ability of the existing crane to take the grunt of a drifter hanked on with a spectra luff. The old crane is a welded round bail, held on with 2 number 10 fasteners, that are through bolted to the masthead box. It seems that this is a potential weak spot. Would removing this and adding a tee section that hangs in front/on top of the headstay to hang the block on, be worth the effort? If there is a way to post a picture, I could. Thanks!!

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Even if the old crane is stoutly enough connected, which seems doubtful, it sounds like it is definitely old school, and not the best you could do. We often fabricate new cranes, which are made of plate aluminum, usually with a vertical stiffening rib. These angle well forward and to starboard, so the halyard block will clear the jibstay on both tacks, and have a good lead to deck. The plate angles upwards, and has a U-bolt bail at its end. The idea is that the halyard vector is split evenly when the sail is up.
If we had a masthead pattern, we could make a bail like this for you.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[atmarineservices]

Thanks Brion, I just sent a PM to your shop.