Lost jib halyard up the mast

[PotomacDaysailer]

I've been meaning to rig a downhaul for the jib halyard and should have, but didn't.

Second mistake, I must've failed to completely close the snap shackle. So with the jib halfway up, it suddenly opened. It was 3/4 of the way to the masthead before I quit hauling, due to the sudden release of tension, and the windage and weight of the fall carried it the rest of the way. The shackle is too light to come back down by itself. I tried using the main halyard to "feed" the jib halyard back over the masthead but that didn't work.

So is there any way to get that sucker down without either climbing the mast or lowering it? I can't see any.

BTW the masthead height is about 31.5' above deck level or 34.5' above the waterline.

 

[DAVA390]

Long shot, but...If you happen to know anyone in the construction industry. .In my truck I have a fiberglass pole used for surveying, it`s called a grade pole. It extends to 25 ft. long. Duct tape a hook to the end, could maybe make 31 ` if held overhead.

 

[deltaten]

I was successful ONE time with a pole stretched out and hook to retrieve, I rigged a down haul post that event.
Last time ( don't ask!), the marina operator went up the stick for me in lieu of pulling into the well and tying up the lift for some time.
The $50 "beer money" was well worth it

 

[JohnVTX]

Going up that mast would be short and sweet.

 

[Ron20324]

ON A REGULAR DINNER FORK, bend or take off the middle points. Bend the outside two into a u shape to capture the shackle or its line. Secure the fork upside-down to the main halyard, raise it, and fish for the shackle.

 

[Siamese]

I managed to go "fishing", as the previous poster suggested. I made a little block of wood, measuring 3/4"x2"x1" and put 8 to 10 small finishing nails all around one end of it. That became my hook (that had 360 degrees of hooking ability). I attached it to one of my other halyards, hauled it up the mast, and started fishing. Obviously, the hook needs a tail so you can haul it back down. I hooked my stranded shackle in about a minute or less, and managed to carefully pull it down on the first try.

 

[capta]

31 feet? 2 to 3 minutes up and a few seconds back down on the main or spin halyard, or hours fishing fruitlessly? I don't see the decision as being difficult.

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I tried a modified version of the fishing approach, using the main halyard (as I don't have a spin halyard rigged). The disadvantage is that the main halyard runs up the aft edge of the mast whereas the shackle is stuck on the forward edge right at the peak. I taped a boathook to the main halyard with a band of tape just above the midpoint of the boathook and another band of tape near the end, this allowed me to hoist the boathook vertically, hook end up and able to extend above the masthead. I attached a spare sheet to the end of the main halyard for a tail/downhaul/control line. Then I led the halyard out around the shrouds -

I wasn't able to catch it with this rig however. So next I borrowed a large magnet from the marina (they use it to fish up lost keys and such around the docks) and taped it to the hook. I got the magnet right up against the shackle but it wouldn't stick strong enough to pull it down.

One more thing I'm going to try before I give up and obtain or make a bosun's chair to go up myself (or better yet, find a lightweight person to go up while I crank the winch) - that is to attach a telescoping fishing pole to the boathook. I figure I'll have better control with the boathook only 1/2 way up and can grab the shackle with a fishhook.

 

[uncledom]

Clip your main halyard to the dock and start cranking the boat over until you can reach the top of the mast.

 

[Sailm8]

I went to home depot and bought electrical conduit and connectors. Attached my main halyard about 4 or 5 feet from the top of the lenght of conduit. As I raised the halyard I added lengths of conduit util it reached the top. On the top end I found a curved piece of conduit that acted like a hook. It was easy to snag the jib halyard and pull down. As it came down I removed each length of conduit.

 

[jssailem]

I like the conduit idea. The plastic stuff should work and is relatively light weight taped to the main halyard. I suspect the main halyard pulled to a high sea wall would be another possible option. We have some 10 to 15 foot tides here in the NW. May be a friend on a 30foot high bridge could snag it for you as you cruise near by?

Makes me a believer in down hauls and positive locking shackles with captive pins on halyards. I've even traded the snapshackle on my genoa sheets for tying on the leads. One time on the foredeck with a partially attached shackle flayling around in the wind made me a beleiver that those things can ruin your day. They were fine on dingy sailors where the strains, power, and weight are less.

 

[Sailm8]

I used the metal conduit. The plastic seemed too flexible and I think it was cheaper.

 

[Jackdaw]

Everyone should have a safe, quick and reliable way to get up their mast. Beyond turning this type of 'disaster' into a non-event, it allows you to inspect your rig. I'm 99% sure that most rigging failures occur on a part the owner has not seen in years; maybe ever.

 

[hankz]

I use a DSI Phantom drone for my web video business. Wondering..................

 

[McIntoshUSA]

I read once where a guy tied a potato smasher to his halyard, ran it up the mast with another line attached to it and swung it around and hooked the other shackle and then pulled it down. In theory it sounds like it might work.

 

[jssailem]

So true Jackdaw.
When I bought my boat last year, the survey said nothing about my spreaders other than to say get rigger survey. I did, and found what suspected. Rigging from 1974 and wood spreaders that looked like they may need a little paint were rotten. Took the mast down and when you squeezed the spreader they collapsed like a sponge. I asked my rigger how did they hold the mast up. He said they are bad but there are worse on many of the boats in the marina. As long as the boat stays in the marina the mast stays up until it doesn't.

I wonder if it is the human failing "out of sight out of mind".

 

[jssailem]

Hankz. Can you put a skyhook on that drone?

 

[woodster]

Everyone should have a safe, quick and reliable way to get up their mast. Beyond turning this type of 'disaster' into a non-event, it allows you to inspect your rig. I'm 99% sure that most rigging failures occur on a part the owner has not seen in years; maybe ever.

one of the best ways to get there is with a Mast mate...i have always used a bosun's chair and a 6 part line block and tackle...but 2 weeks ago i tried the mast mate with a safety line and find it the most efficient way to ascend the mast.....it takes the chore out of going up the mast .....and that will make inspection a simple task ........

 

[weinie]

Everyone should have a safe, quick and reliable way to get up their mast. Beyond turning this type of 'disaster' into a non-event, it allows you to inspect your rig. I'm 99% sure that most rigging failures occur on a part the owner has not seen in years; maybe ever.

Problem is there are few people I trust to hold the other end of the halyard nor do I trust those solo mast climbing setups they advertise. Sailboat rigger's gotta eat to, ya know.

 

[woodster]

View attachment 120912 I read once where a guy tied a potato smasher to his halyard, ran it up the mast with another line attached to it and swung it around and hooked the other shackle and then pulled it down. In theory it sounds like it might work.

SBO sells a halyard retriever that works on the same principal