Fairleading a Main Halyard through the Mast

[Third Coaster]

I need to fairlead my Main Halyard through the Mast of my Hunter 240 and have been unsuccessful so far. The problem is that I cannot get an electricians tape (snake) through the top of the mast. The Main Halyard roller prevents the tape from bending and moving down the Mast. When I try from the foot of the Mast the same roller prevents the tape from bending and coming out the top. I do not see any way of removing the roller. I'd prefer to not remove the rivets at the mast head if I do not need to. Has anyone successfully rethread their Main Halyard through the Mast and can provide me with instruction?To date I have removed the rollerfurling hook from the Mast and successfully fairlead a messenger throught the Mast down to the foot of the Mast, but am still about 18" short of the top of the Mast. It has been recommended that I use a guitar string to fairlead a messenger from the rollerfurling grommet up the Mast to the head. I will try this tonight.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Common challenge

Do not use tape, for the reasons you suggest.Instead, make sure both ends are squared up.Then sew them criss-cross with fishing line.Make sure the ends are pretty snug.The new line will breeze over the top.You'll be delighted, I was.

 

[Jim]

halyard

Bill's right. Have done this a few times before. My addition is to make s single wrap of riggers tape around the bitter ends just to keep them alligned. You'll get it done. Regards, Jim

 

[keel_haul]

leading halyards inside a mast

I'm not certain what you are doing: i.e. do you have a line lead already? In any case the cold turkey way to lead halyards inside a mast used to be to attach the gold chain off your watch (remove the Phi Beta Kappa key) to marlin and lead it over the shive at the top. Use stiff stainless seizing wire with a hook bent in the end at the lower outtake hole to snaggle the marlin or chain. The modern technique is to use solder (which is heavy and flexible to go over the shive and drag the marlin (or light line) down the inside of the mast. These systems work. I have used them both (but I did not have to remove a key off my gold chain). Hope you tell us how it worked.

 

[Felipe]

Send a fishing line with a lead weight at the end

Go up the mast and send a fishing line with a lead weight at the end down inside of the mast. Once line is down fish it with a hooked wire and bring it out.Have done it in 6 different boats which I have owned in the las 30 yearsFelipeMiami, fl

 

[Third Coaster]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the excellent advice! I used the guitar string last night and it worked! Next time I will take all of your advice and it should go a lot faster. The electricians tape was not the best way to go for all the reasons cited. I was able to use a .46 guage guitar string to lead over the shive at the top and then used a .10 guage guitar string to catch it and pull it out of the rollerfurling grommet. Then I bent a messenger to the guitar string, pulled it through and then bent the Main Halyard to the messenger and it pulled through the mast with ease. This was a make shift approach that worked this time, but I will take your approach the next time!