Jammed pole topping lift

[skunther]

I was hoisting my Dinghy on the fore deck using the pole topping lift as my attachment point, and the pole topping lift is now somehow jammed it seems at the block up the mast. I can neither get it to out or come in. Has anybody experienced this before? I’m not sure what to do. The load was at a slightly outboard angle from the topping lift block, so it’s possible that it jammed in the sheave up there. I have only tugged on it (hard) by hand. I suppose I could try using a winch on the outgoing side.

 

[dlochner]

It probably jumped the sheave and is jammed between the sheave and the mast. Pulling on it will only make it worse. Someone will have to go up there to free it.

It is better to use the spin halyard to hoist the dinghy since it can swivel and take a side load and won't jam.

 

[skunther]

I’ll add it to my “up the mast” list. Any tips on freeing it?

 

[jssailem]

It all depends on how the jam was made. It could be the sheave or the line frayed between the sheave and the mast. Until you can see the jam, it is all a SWAG.

 

[dlochner]

I’ll add it to my “up the mast” list. Any tips on freeing it?

If you are lucky, a good sharp upward pull may free it. If you are unlucky get comfortable and use a marlin spike or screwdriver to work the halyard out of the space it is jammed in. Good luck!

 

[kloudie1]

You might try pulling it upward on the forward side by putting it through a jib halyard shackle then securing the lower end of the topping lift. Next pull up using the halyard. Be sure to put a "pull down" line on the shackle as well so you can bring the halyard back to deck. Pull up with the halyard above the mast exit and down on the front part of the topping lift . Might work. Good luck.

 

[jssailem]

I like @kloudie1's idea. I would think about trading the shackle for a block. It could reduce the friction and provide a better application of the force needed to free the jam.

on the messenger line to haul back down and recover the block when the jam is free.

 

[rgranger]

I also like @kloudie1 's idea!

But before you try that.... you might get lucky with a "whip" snap of the halyard. If you have ever popped a whip before, you know the motion I'm talking about... but it will need to be verticle so the "loop" will travel up to the sheeve and ... you might get lucky. Probably not but it only takes 5 seconds so... worth a try.

 

[skunther]

You might try pulling it upward on the forward side by putting it through a jib halyard shackle then securing the lower end of the topping lift. Next pull up using the halyard. Be sure to put a "pull down" line on the shackle as well so you can bring the halyard back to deck. Pull up with the halyard above the mast exit and down on the front part of the topping lift . Might work. Good luck.

I tried this, with a fair bit of force. The topping lift is pulled up and over a loop of line attached to the spin halyard (with a retrieval line attached to the halyard, of course), and the other end of the topping left is secured at the deck. I put the spin halyard on a winch and cranked on it fairly hard - I don’t feel comfortable applying more force at this point. Then I bowed and shook on the section of the topping lift attached to the deck to try to pry it up out of the mast exit, but with no luck. Just leaving it loaded as is for now, hoping that time, tension and the elements might help free it.

 

[skunther]

Well, I got up the mast, attached the spin halyard to the pole topping lift and pulled it upward with massive tension on the line while yanking out on it like a bow. Eventually, after many expletives, it came free! Unfortunately the sheave is now chewed up and I need to replace the insert. Any suggestions there? I suppose I just drill out the rivets and insert a replacement - I’ll plan to go back up with a drill.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Well, I got up the mast, attached the spin halyard to the pole topping lift and pulled it upward with massive tension on the line while yanking out on it like a bow. Eventually, after many expletives, it came free! Unfortunately the sheave is now chewed up and I need to replace the insert. Any suggestions there? I suppose I just drill out the rivets and insert a replacement - I’ll plan to go back up with a drill.

Call the SailboatOwners store. Most of them used to work for Hunter

 

[BrianQ]

When you replace the sheave add a halyard restrainer just below the exit block.

 

[jssailem]

the sheave is now chewed up and I need to replace the insert

The unit is called an exit block. The reason you got into the problem is that the exit block sheave appears to be plastic and the line is too big for the sheave.

Yes you drill out the rivets. I would get a good exit block with sheave and match the line size properly to the sheave.

Something like the Harken 30 mm Protexit Exit Block - Single, 8 mm (5/16") Max. Line for example.

 

[MFD]

From your pics It looks like the sheave itself also cracked.
You might be lucky that it happened while hoisting the dinghy and not a sail stuck up in the air?
As others said, you will need to replace the entire assembly.

In regards to a 'halyard restrainer', if you expect to continue hoisting the dinghy this way, which a lot of people do, you will not want a regular 'halyard restrainer' like dealing with converting a traditional foresail halyard to a furling system.

Ideally you will want that lower restrainer to be able to swivel a little bit from the side loads of hoisting the dinghy while feeding the line into the mast block reasonably clean -- or skip it entirely and rely on the new sturdy exit block assembly to work with it being mindful that you are putting unexpected side loads on it.

For what it's worth, I also do similar for dinghy hoisting to foredeck. With a fractional rig where the spinnaker exit block is just not meant to take those side loads. I also worry about the side loads, chafe, wear & tear, from using that mast block inappropriately.