Garry: My two cents worth based in experience with both internal and extey halyards. Pluses to internal halyards - * Boat sails better = less turbulence so cleaner wind in the main. * Quieter at anchor. A rope halyard doesn't clang it slap inside the mast. * There is no increased friction. If things are stiff check the sheeves at the masthead and the blocks leading the jib halyard aft. (IMO don't lead the main halyard aft ... doing so adds complications when reefing.) * It is no harder to inspect the halyards as you can see the in mast sections when sails up and when down (just not at the same time. Things to be aware - * Rule: always ALWAYS keep an eight knot in the tail end. I tell folks, 'only time no 8-knkt is when have the line in your hand!' * Harder to change out line or switch end for end. * Can be more costly as more labor to build mast (more holes) I write the above from experience. All the Jerry designed Sage boats have internal halyards - there is a reason! Helps make a faster boat! My current boat/home, SWALLOW, has internal halyards. If you look around most new build boats have internal halyards - again there is a reason! In the end the way Jerry designed the M17 with external halyards works just fine. We thankfully are getting away from rope-to-wire halyards though! :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com On Fri, Mar 29, 2019, 6:40 AM Gerry Lempicki via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Hi all,I am getting a new mast for my Montgomery 17 from Dwyer. One of the options is to use a new single slot masthead with 2 sheaves, which would allow running halyards down inside the mast. Another would be to use the two slot 4 sheave as in the original. Thoughts? Any pros or cons one way or the other?Thanks!-Gerry