Rigging a Flying Scot

Step 3 - Halyard Winches & Forestay Tension

The halyard winches should always be operated from the starboard side. They should be lubricated periodically with a touch of light grease (a small tube of Super Lube is provided with new boats) in each of the bearings. They should turn freely, but not backlash when you drop the sails. If they squeak or squawk, they need lubrication. If they backlash, tighten the screw on the flat spring on the starboard side of the halyard winch as needed.

The Halyard Winches

The winch cranks are purposely made of aluminum alloy to serve as shear pins to protect the winch from over-tensioning. They are very strong if used properly, but will break with too much force. Remember, never leave the winch crank in the halyard winch and always carry at least one spare in the locker!

IMPORTANT: The only time you will shackle the jib halyard into the bow eye will be in raising or lowering the mast. At all other times when the jib is not in use, the jib halyard should be secured to the jib tack shackle with tension applied.

Using the winch crank, tighten the jib halyard winch (the upper spool in the halyard winch) by turning the winch crank clockwise. When the jib halyard is tight, push the pawl into the spool to lock the halyard winch. This should pull the mast far enough forward for you to connect the forestay to the forestay extension at the bow by placing one of the fork fittings completely inside the other.

Connect the forestay to the forestay extension at the bow by placing one of the fork fittings completely inside the other. Insert the clevis pin and secure with the cotter pin and tape.

Insert the clevis pin and secure with the cotter pin and tape. Release the tension on the jib halyard and remove the jib halyard shackle from the line or bow eye and attach the jib halyard shackle to the jib tack shackle.

Tighten the jib halyard winch with reasonable tension and lock the halyard winch. Care should be taken to keep some tension on the jib halyard since both halyard and forestay together make up the forestay. Together they have as much tensile strength as the shrouds.

What to do if the forestay does not reach the forestay extension at the bow:

• 1. Pull up on the forestay extension to be sure it is fully extended and that the toggle plate is free.
• 2. If less than an inch is needed, try to put more tension on the jib halyard with the halyard winch or by pulling 90° on the tightened jib halyard.
• 3. Look aloft to where the forestay attaches to the mast to be sure it isn't fouled or looped over itself.
• 4. Check to be sure the shroud adjuster plates are set to the proper holes and are the same on both sides.
• 5. Go to the bow under the foredeck and find where the forestay extension connects to the hull via a forestay turnbuckle. Undo the safety wire and then loosen the forestay turnbuckle so that forestay extension will reach the forestay. Connect the forestay to the forestay extension as described above. (Note - This forestay turnbuckle requires a minimum of 5 full turns to insure adequate strength.) If you are not sure about the number of turns you have on the forestay turnbuckle, loosen it until it comes apart and then assemble it with a minimum of 5 full turns. After connecting the forestay to the forestay extension, loosen the jib halyard so that the weight of the mast is on the forestay. Finger-tighten the forestay turnbuckle as tight as you can and secure it with the safety wire. If you are careful to always attach the shroud adjuster plates to the same hole, this adjustment should not be necessary in the future.
• 6. If the forestay will not reach the forestay extension with the forestay turnbuckle fully extended, you can either adjust the shrouds to extend them and allow the mast to be pulled further forward or extend the forestay extension with an adjuster plate available from Flying Scot, Inc.

At all times when not using the jib, the jib halyard should be shackled to the jib tack shackle and tension applied.

The forestay extension for the forestay and the forestay extension for the jib tack shackle are attached to the hull at the bow under the foredeck. They are attached via a toggle plate that allows the strain of the mast to be carried equally by both the forestay and the jib halyard. The jib halyard should be tensioned so that this toggle plate is approximately level. This should be done at mooring or while sailing without the jib.

The jib halyard should be tensioned so that this toggle plate is approximately level.

Jump to:

1. Preparation
2. Raising the Mast
3. Halyard Winches & Forestay Tension
4. Boom
5. Boom Vang
6. Rudder
7. Mainsheet
8. Trailering & Launching
9. Centerboard