David Tyler wrote:

Jerry Stebbing wrote:I'm currently building the mast for my new boat using a 5 metre length of 4"x1/4" aluminium tube and am about to fit the masthead cap and fittings for the halyard block, topping lifts, mast lift etc.

I've been thumbing through some old newsletters in search of photos showing masthead arrangements to compare with the instructions detailed in 'Practical Junk Rig'. I noticed that Tystie's original 'big red sail' had what looks like a combined mast lift and port topping lift all on one rope leading to the masthead. PJR shows separate eyeplates/rings for mast lift and topping lift. Which is best?

Also, what's the current thinking on the arrangement of ropes that hold the sail/battens to the mast? Is it better to use traditional fixed batten parrels with the luff hauling parrel serving only to haul the sail forward, or should I be using just upper and lower luff hauling parrels and no fixed batten parrels, a la Sunbird? Is polythene rope still favoured for the luff parrels?

With her single sail, although I tried out various ideas which might appear in some of the photos, Tystie ended up with a mast lift fixed near the forward end of the boom (not around the mast, which inhibits fore and aft movement, and damages the sail by pinching and chafing it). The topping lifts were separate, and were fixed to a sailcatcher. I don't like the system that has a combined topping lift and mast lift, because the sail bundle tends to see-saw as the boat pitches.

My preference for the mast cap would be six attachment points: two single halyard blocks at 5 and 7 o'clock; topping lifts at 3 and 9 o'clock; mast lift at 11 o'clock and a spare or flag halyard at 1 o'clock (looking down from the top).

Read the article in NL issue 55 about Macavity to learn how unsatisfactory it is to have no fixed batten parrels - there was insufficient control over the sail as it was being hoisted and lowered, until batten parrels were fitted. Even if you fit upper, middle and lower luff hauling parrels (as I did), at the very minimum there should be fixed batten parrels on every other batten, and a fixed parrel for the boom, from the forward end back to midway, if it is to move fore and aft for sail balance. 

The only thing in favour of polythene rope is that it's slippery, and doesn't creak against the mast. It's evil stuff to handle, weak and subject to UV degradation. 

Thanks David,

I'm a bit out of touch with recent developments as my previous JRA membership lapsed back in 2004/2005 due to long term illness curtailing all hopes of sailing. And the only newsletters I still have are from that era, in addition to my copy of PJR.

Your advice regarding mast lift and batten parrels tallies exactly with that given to me by Vincent Reddish when we exchanged correspondence, so, batten parrels will definitely be used.

Regarding the mast cap, what is the extra 5 o'clock halyard attachment point for? A permanently rigged spare halyard?

OK, polythene rope is out. Which is the better option- braid or 3 strand?

I'm currently building the mast for my new boat using a 5 metre length of 4"x1/4" aluminium tube and am about to fit the masthead cap and fittings for the halyard block, topping lifts, mast lift etc.

I've been thumbing through some old newsletters in search of photos showing masthead arrangements to compare with the instructions detailed in 'Practical Junk Rig'. I noticed that Tystie's original 'big red sail' had what looks like a combined mast lift and port topping lift all on one rope leading to the masthead. PJR shows separate eyeplates/rings for mast lift and topping lift. Which is best?

Also, what's the current thinking on the arrangement of ropes that hold the sail/battens to the mast? Is it better to use traditional fixed batten parrels with the luff hauling parrel serving only to haul the sail forward, or should I be using just upper and lower luff hauling parrels and no fixed batten parrels, a la Sunbird? Is polythene rope still favoured for the luff parrels?