I need to replace my main halyard. Before I attempt to do it, I was wondering if there is a "trick of the trade" that I should know about. My halyard runs thru the inside of the mast so I was wondering how you secure one end of the new halyard to an end of the old one and pull it thru. Clearly I can't tie a knot because it won't fit thru the holes in the mast. Any ideas would be appreciated.
- Status
halyard replacement
Halyard relacement is fairly easy. If you have a shackle that is part of the halyard you will want to secure the free end to a messenger line at least two and a half time the mast height. Clothes line works well. Sew the free end of the halyard to the clothes line and pull it all the way through the sheaves back to the deck. Secure the free end of the new halyard to the end of the lothes line tether.hat you just pulled through and pull the clothes line back through the sheaves. Just make sure you use a strong thread to hold the two ends together.
Halyard relacement is fairly easy. If you have a shackle that is part of the halyard you will want to secure the free end to a messenger line at least two and a half time the mast height. Clothes line works well. Sew the free end of the halyard to the clothes line and pull it all the way through the sheaves back to the deck. Secure the free end of the new halyard to the end of the lothes line tether.hat you just pulled through and pull the clothes line back through the sheaves. Just make sure you use a strong thread to hold the two ends together.
The Ubiquitous Duct Tape
I've had good luck many times by attaching the bitter end of the old halyard to a messenger line with duct tape. It's strong, easy to use and thin enough (in most cases) to allow the old halyard to pass thru the sheaves and exit slots without hanging up. Just tape the halyard and messenger together butt to butt, give it a good yank to be sure it's strong enough, and pull it thru! Good luck!
I've had good luck many times by attaching the bitter end of the old halyard to a messenger line with duct tape. It's strong, easy to use and thin enough (in most cases) to allow the old halyard to pass thru the sheaves and exit slots without hanging up. Just tape the halyard and messenger together butt to butt, give it a good yank to be sure it's strong enough, and pull it thru! Good luck!
Attach with
Mike: I have replaced my halyards and those of other people by simply wrapping the lines with vinyl electric tape from 3M. simply butt the ends of the lines together and wrap them up. You might start out by laying a couple of strips of tape on either side of the lines at they lay end to end and squeeze the tape on then wrapping securely with several wraps around the halyards about three inches back from either end. The key is to make the last wrap at the ends good and tight. Don't use too much tape as it will not go through the sheeves and it will be stiff too. When you reach a sheeve, turning point or exit point at the mast pull gently buy firmly till the line comes through. If it doesn't come through with some gentle pulling then back up and reevaluate. If you are super worried about "losing" the halyard aloft you can try sewing the lines end to end with whipping. A bit more time consuming but sure to work. After all you should only have to do this once in a blue moon. Good Luck, Mike S/B Pitterpat, Lake Huron
Mike: I have replaced my halyards and those of other people by simply wrapping the lines with vinyl electric tape from 3M. simply butt the ends of the lines together and wrap them up. You might start out by laying a couple of strips of tape on either side of the lines at they lay end to end and squeeze the tape on then wrapping securely with several wraps around the halyards about three inches back from either end. The key is to make the last wrap at the ends good and tight. Don't use too much tape as it will not go through the sheeves and it will be stiff too. When you reach a sheeve, turning point or exit point at the mast pull gently buy firmly till the line comes through. If it doesn't come through with some gentle pulling then back up and reevaluate. If you are super worried about "losing" the halyard aloft you can try sewing the lines end to end with whipping. A bit more time consuming but sure to work. After all you should only have to do this once in a blue moon. Good Luck, Mike S/B Pitterpat, Lake Huron
3 steps
Probably what you need to do, in addition to the taping or sewing, is use an intermediate messenger. Since the shackle won't go through the sheeves and you want new halyard to have the shackle in the same place, you need to have an intermediary. Step one is to attach the non-shackle end of the old halyard to a messenger(nylon twine, or clothes line as mentioned), and pull the messenger through to the bottom of the mast. Step 2 is the remove the old halyard and attach the new halyard to the same end of the messenger. Then step three - pull the messenger back through the sheeves and mast. Brad
Probably what you need to do, in addition to the taping or sewing, is use an intermediate messenger. Since the shackle won't go through the sheeves and you want new halyard to have the shackle in the same place, you need to have an intermediary. Step one is to attach the non-shackle end of the old halyard to a messenger(nylon twine, or clothes line as mentioned), and pull the messenger through to the bottom of the mast. Step 2 is the remove the old halyard and attach the new halyard to the same end of the messenger. Then step three - pull the messenger back through the sheeves and mast. Brad
I though you cut off the old
shackle at the "head" of the old halyard and then connect the the old "head" to the "butt" of the new and pull through. Can use a paper clip or other stiff wire connecting the two with tape over the joint.
shackle at the "head" of the old halyard and then connect the the old "head" to the "butt" of the new and pull through. Can use a paper clip or other stiff wire connecting the two with tape over the joint.
Quick, easy
Mike: This is a trick I learned sometime back. It is quick, easy and safe. http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Dion73112378230
Mike: This is a trick I learned sometime back. It is quick, easy and safe. http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Dion73112378230
Just replaced mine a few months ago
I took some heavy nylon string and a large needle. Sewed the ends together and wrapped with duct tape to smooth the joint. It was a tight fit at the top and a couple other methods were tried that wouldn't work.
I took some heavy nylon string and a large needle. Sewed the ends together and wrapped with duct tape to smooth the joint. It was a tight fit at the top and a couple other methods were tried that wouldn't work.
I just did this today
Paperclips can jam. Tape can break or snag. Duct tape can jam at the sheeve. 1. Use a needle and fishing line 2. Double the fishing line. 3. Sew in crisscross fashion, tightly. 4. Test for flexibility. 5. Pull gently, especially at sheeves.
Paperclips can jam. Tape can break or snag. Duct tape can jam at the sheeve. 1. Use a needle and fishing line 2. Double the fishing line. 3. Sew in crisscross fashion, tightly. 4. Test for flexibility. 5. Pull gently, especially at sheeves.
Use "Kelum" grips.
Your electrical supplier will sell you Kellum grips. They are made of fine aircraft cable and form something that looks much like a chinese finger pull. Join two of them together then insert one piece of line into each. They are very low profile ( probably less than tape0 and and you could hang 100lbs on them without fear. Best of all they do not damage the rope or cover it in goo from adhesive tape.
Your electrical supplier will sell you Kellum grips. They are made of fine aircraft cable and form something that looks much like a chinese finger pull. Join two of them together then insert one piece of line into each. They are very low profile ( probably less than tape0 and and you could hang 100lbs on them without fear. Best of all they do not damage the rope or cover it in goo from adhesive tape.
Paper clip and tape worked for me
I used the method referenced by Scott and Steve to replace three halyards without problem. Quick and easy - just make sure to tape tightly with vinyl tape, minimizing the profile so that it doesn't hang up in the mast head sheave. Back up and try again if it appears to stick at the sheave. Ed.
I used the method referenced by Scott and Steve to replace three halyards without problem. Quick and easy - just make sure to tape tightly with vinyl tape, minimizing the profile so that it doesn't hang up in the mast head sheave. Back up and try again if it appears to stick at the sheave. Ed.
Tape is 2 risky
When I took my main halyard down I taped it to the messenger line. Unfortunately the splice got jammed in the sheave and both ropes came down. The next day I went up in the bosun's chair to string the messenger line in. Maybe some people have success with this method, but I didn't. From now on I'll be sewing the two ropes together.
When I took my main halyard down I taped it to the messenger line. Unfortunately the splice got jammed in the sheave and both ropes came down. The next day I went up in the bosun's chair to string the messenger line in. Maybe some people have success with this method, but I didn't. From now on I'll be sewing the two ropes together.
One more comment
Mike, I used two fish hooks with leaders. Took one of the fish hook ran it through the loop end of the other leader and then through the line so the barb come sout the other side. Then do the same with the other line. If you are real anal about it wrap some electrical tape around the barbs. Pull line through then just clip the barbs off the hooks and pull what is left of the hooks out. Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Mike, I used two fish hooks with leaders. Took one of the fish hook ran it through the loop end of the other leader and then through the line so the barb come sout the other side. Then do the same with the other line. If you are real anal about it wrap some electrical tape around the barbs. Pull line through then just clip the barbs off the hooks and pull what is left of the hooks out. Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
Thanks
Thanks to all for the great information. I only thought about tape but your other suggestions seem much easier with a higher probability of success.
Thanks to all for the great information. I only thought about tape but your other suggestions seem much easier with a higher probability of success.
- Status