Halyard Locks

Halyard locks are different to deck locks in as much as these go in the mast at the top. They require professional installation and are of the type commonly found in dinghies but scaled up and adjusted so as they really work. However we supply sizes for use on wire from 5mm (3/16") up to 26mm (1") in diameter. They use the same swages as the deck locks and they are extremely reliable. The same style of locks were used on Il Moro di Venezia in 1992, they were also used reef lines inside the boom of race yachts. A number of manufacturers make them so we are not claiming they are unique. Most of these are currently going on genoa halyards for super yachts to hold furling sails. The photo does not really show how they work or an installation. But in any case they are only recommended for OEM mast builder supply.

DECK LOCKS

Deck Locks are a sensible way to hold high running rigging loads with a relatively inexpensive device that keeps a set adjustment and which will release automatically when overhoisted.

The system requires a short length of wire to be spliced into the line and a swage is placed on the wire. This swage is loaded into the deck lock easily and is then released so that the tail can be removed. It is considerably cheaper than a winch or a jammer.

Notable yachts to carry deck locks have started with Fisher & Paykel (Whitbread Maxi Ketch) for both main and mizzen halyards circa 1988. Since then a number of yachts have carried them, The wallygator 105 is another prominent example. Pricing for these starts at NZ$100. They are machined out of solid alloy, but the relatively small light nature of them and their simplicity make them a very inexpensive item especially when compared to jammers which will wear out the rope if always held in the same place.

email: info@aes.net.nz

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