Lost jib halyard up the mast

[capta]

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.

Do you trust yourself? I've always used a six part block and tackle (only 33# pull to take 200# aloft) and bosun's chair to get aloft whenever necessary and back in the days of wooden masts, to keep them varnished.
In port, something like the Mast mate might be OK, but at sea one needs their legs to protect themselves (gripping or pushing away) when going up or down,or working aloft. Even with crew, the block and tackle is the preferred system at sea, so why have two? It isn't cheap to put together a safe, functional system, but it would last you a lifetime and be as safe a way to go aloft as there could be, if you trust yourself.

 

[PeterBld]

When using the block and tackle if you were solo how would you secure the rope to prevent it reverting when you let go. ?

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

When using the block and tackle if you were solo how would you secure the rope to prevent it reverting when you let go. ?

Ditto.

 

[woodster]

in the trades that is called dogging it off....you tie a loop around the hook on the block so as to secure the pull line and it will not move ....another tip when using the block and tackle to stop it from moving is just grab all the lines in your hand and hold them snug the lines will not move

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

All of my fishing efforts failed so I finally made a bosun's chair from a 30" 2X6 plank suspended from the two loops of a bowline on a bight. I screwed cross pieces to the bottom of the plank near the ends to keep the loops from sliding in. Hung the bosun's chair from the main halyard and my friend who is slightly lighter than me went up while I cranked the winch.
Rigged a downhaul on the jib halyard once he brought it back down (in the fine old tradition of locking the stable door after the horse was stolen - and recovered). Plan to do the same for the main next time out. For this time made double sure of all my snap shackles.

 

[Ron20324]

My O'day 222 was on a trailor. I hauled a 6 year-old up for the halyard. She said it was fun, and we gave her a round of applause!

 

[mcockrell]

this happened to me on our first outing in our C22. its such a bastard because it sort of glided up until it was out of reach and then ZIP! straight up the mast. I asked around at the harbor where I have it docked and almost everyone told me they either did it or knew someone that did. fortunately at our harbor we have a ladder on one of the piers that you can go up, which I did and thankfully I didn't have to fight with it at all. I was worried that leaving it half open might cause it to jam in there somewhere but I pulled it straight out. its definitely taught me to be a lot more aware of that particular piece of rigging.