Extending the chickenhead on E27

[ron7546]

Hi All,
I need to extend the chickenhead on my E27 ,so as to allow more room for the gennaker halyard block. Any info. out there ? ? ? Should it be welded or bolted ?
Ron
Bluenote

 

[AleksT]

A good weld is better and since there is not a lot of space up there to put in bolts it may be your only option.

 

[tenders]

How different is a chickenhead from a gooseneck?

I know what a gooseneck is. Never heard of a chickenhead before.

 

[ron7546]

OK,you made me wonder about my terminolgy of "chickenhead".I googled "chickenhead on a sailboat" and did find reference to it along with photos and sketches.I may not be totally correct but close.I think ?
Ron

 

[Loren Beach]

by any other name...

Spinnaker halyard crane.
I have also heard it called a chicken head for many years.

Or, sometimes a spinnaker bail.

Here is a link to a commercial product:
http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/SparParts/mh_spinnaker_bails.html

Note B: be cautious about how far out from the mast head you extend the attachment point. Reason is that the spinnaker will apply enough force to lay your boat down horizontal in a full-on broach.

i.e. this force will overcome all of the righting moment. So, the further out you extend that attachment point, the more you multiply the forces on the top of the spar and the attachments or welds.

Another inch or so probably will not hurt, but I would be wary about going an "inch too far."

Note C: From the photo I see that the plastic sheave on that old Schaefer block is about to shatter from UV degradation. Time to replace it, no matter what else you do.

LB

 

[exoduse35]

Crane, goose, chicken... Is this a boat or an aviary?

 

[tenders]

Thank you!

"Chickenhead" is much better than "spinnaker bail."

I suspect the origin of the term is similar to the origin of "pushpit" (being the after complement to "pulpit").

 

[ron7546]

You can see why I`m having a problem with chaffing and pinching. And yes ,I will take the halyard end when I go down the mast
Ron

 

[sleather]

Here's what I did on my E23, post #6. Simple SS anchor shackle w/ multiple washers and really tight. It is slightly off center though.

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?t=6768&highlight=e23+mast+raising

You might be able to use a wide shackle and drill/bend/grind to fit.

http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2.cfm?product=S0114

Or http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2.cfm?product=L8237

Don't forget to use a compression sleeve inside the existing crane if you use a thru bolt.

The crane is 1 3/4" wide out to out, and 1 1/2" inside (just measured mine)

 

[ron7546]

Looks like a good approach ! ! YKNOT try it ? ? I don`t need to complicate this chore. I have pushpit seats on the list as well as a pedestal guard for which I have puruchased a new top plate & guard .Between ebay and Cruisers Forum I have $ 46.00 invested.Still looking for mounting feet and bushing for the top plate.
Thanks
Ron
Bluenote