Selden Halyard Tensioner 32 — Owner's Manual

How It Works & Technical Data

Holds the halyard of a permanently hoisted sail (furling main or furling headsail) on a car in a short track at the mast, so fewer halyards are coiled at the mast or led aft. The sail goes up on a messenger until the halyard eye hooks onto the car; a temporary tail to a winch pulls the car down the track, where a spring-loaded pin-stop plunger drops into the trim holes one after another until the luff tension is right. Tail and messenger are then stowed.

• Car: machined, anodised aluminium with plain bearings, spring-loaded twist handle and stainless plunger; beckets shaped to stop lines snagging.
• Two-piece lock: a separator between an upper and a lower spring lets the handle be pulled and twisted without releasing the plunger from the track. When unloaded, pulling the handle may unlock the pin-stop.

Hoisting a Sail

1. Before stepping the mast, join a messenger to the pulling end of the halyard: eye splices on both, joined with thin strong line (two turns and a reef knot).
2. Attach the other halyard end to the head of the sail and hoist until the halyard eye reaches the car's upper becket.
3. Pull and twist the handle open and attach the spliced eye of the halyard to the car.
4. Attach a tail-line to the lower becket, lead it to a winch and twist the handle closed.
5. Tension until the luff shape is right.
6. Undo the messenger.
7. The car is now under load: open the handle by pulling and twisting it 90°.
8. Remove the tail-line.
9. Close the handle.

Easing the Halyard

Pull and twist the handle open, attach the tail-line and close the handle. Tension slightly to unload the plunger, twist the handle to hold the plunger disengaged, then ease the halyard.