Date: 8/20/2006
Name: Rob A.
email: rba@moscow.com
subject:Masthead Lock
A masthead latch is a forked fitting that is mounted in such a way that a sleeve or swaged ball (pressed on to the halyard) catches in it. This fitting is mounted on the front side of the mast at the top. The sleeve/ball is pressed on about 12" from the main halyard schackle. When the halyard is hoisted to the black band, the sleeve/ball is maneuvered between the forks and the halyard is released and will lock.More elaborate masthead locks are used on Stars and E22 ... but the principle is the same.
For a rig like the SJ21 I don't think there is any advantage to a masthead lock.
That said I used the same fitting to secure my main halyard ... but I mounted it to be reached from the deck.
If you are interested, the one I use is made by Racelite (#RL343)
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