We have a loop jib halyard with a S type hook that carries the jib up and through a rig off of the forestay. It is a pain to hook and unhook. Sometimes it hangs and is tough to unhook. Other times it is hard to hook.

Any advice on an alternative rigging that does not use a ring and S hook?

We were thinking of using a stopper ball that could not go through the ring and then securing the tensioned halyard down below. This solution would probably require beefed up halyard to manage tension.

All ideas welcome--thing is driving us crazy as it add 10 minutes of futzing on rig and de-rig with hung up halyard and need to drop the mast as the wild card.

Remove existing halyard. Add a small block in the top of the front wire, above the ring. Change the (up and) downhaul for 3 mm Dyneema, split halfway. After hoist, tie lower end of the tensioned part of the downhaul to the bridle (by a shackle). Then remove left over piece of downhaul and tie tackhook of sail as usual. Problem solved. Greetz, Emile