We have not sailed the boat much in the last 3 years. And I had not removed the jib in many years. So when I started removing it the block in the masthead was apparently stuck and made it very difficult to lower. I had the same thing occur with the main halyard in the past but could finally get it to break loose. Now both are stuck. I was thinking of going up the mast and spraying the blocks with WD40. Has anyone had the same experience? Thanks, Jerry
H37C Blocks in Kenyon Masthead Stuck
- Thread starter svmakai
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That might be the problem. You need something better than WD-40 I think. Maybe a good silicone. The right way is to pull the axles and clean and lube. But too easy to drop them down the mast. I would only do that when horizontal. I have a couple of halyards that are tight because, I think, of wrapping inside the mast. I know my sheaves are good because I just had them apart before I stepped the mast. The wrong size halyards can also jam between the sheave and the side plates. But they would have to be pretty small. Mine are 7/16".
The Kenyon sheaves are aluminum with either bronze or phenolic bushings. The aluminum corrodes around the inner bushing, squeezing it and thus causing it to grab on tightly to the shaft. The mast prety much has to be down for repair because of the way the mast head is built. Mast head must be pulled to access shaft and shrouds must be detached to pull mast head. Last time out for me I just drilled the crap out of the bushings. I checked them recently as the mast is currently down and they seem ok. Real oil helps here. W D 40 can be an OK cleaner but do not consicer it as a lubricant. There are just too many real lubricants out there.
So how many sheaves are up there at the Kenyon mast top? I ask because at my rig inspection a couple of weeks ago the rigger guy said that my two used sheaves at the top of my Kenyon mast are in good operable condition. But also that there are two more unused sheaves at the mast head. One is stiff, but operable. The other is frozen pretty good. Strange thing is I've got no exit opening at the mast base at the deck for any lines that might use these unloved sheaves! Only the exit is for the used main and jib lines.
Does your masthead look like the pictures? Regardless I think that you have four sheaves, two forward and two aft(like I had to write that, duh). When I added a spare halyard and a spinnaker halyard I had to also add exit plates.
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Ed thanks. I remember seeing yor pics of your masthead, but couldn't think of a keyword combination that would zero in with a search. "Mast" would have given just a few to many hits to sort through!
Yes, I think my masthead looks the same as yours. Will need to snap a picture with my new 8x zoom digital camera to verify. So four sheaves it is. But as you mention, the port two would need an exit hole to be cut at the mast base. Now I realize why my forward spinnaker/spare/3rd halyard is "sheaved" at the masthead by an external block... easier than adding a hole and new sheaves at the mast base.
Yes, I think my masthead looks the same as yours. Will need to snap a picture with my new 8x zoom digital camera to verify. So four sheaves it is. But as you mention, the port two would need an exit hole to be cut at the mast base. Now I realize why my forward spinnaker/spare/3rd halyard is "sheaved" at the masthead by an external block... easier than adding a hole and new sheaves at the mast base.
rardiH36
Just a suggestion, I have seen halyards that pass over a set of for and aft sheaves and stays external of the mast. I know it is not as neat and tidy as internal halyards but you don't have to cut any holes. It is a good solution for a temporary halyard too. My 37c has 3 exits cut in the mast and I would think another well placed hole would not be detrimental to the mast.
Just a suggestion, I have seen halyards that pass over a set of for and aft sheaves and stays external of the mast. I know it is not as neat and tidy as internal halyards but you don't have to cut any holes. It is a good solution for a temporary halyard too. My 37c has 3 exits cut in the mast and I would think another well placed hole would not be detrimental to the mast.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I think I'll rig external halyards using a block attached to the internal halyard pulled to the top of the mast until I have the mast pulled. I'm getting close to retirement and may have to sell her.
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