Done it both ways. First time I stood on the dock at low tide with two 10 foot long 3/4 conduits with a piece of heavy duty wire as a hook. Took about 10 min. but it worked. second time I found a fellow sailor who was on the small size and up the mast he went bosun's chair.
Lost jib halyard up the mast
- Thread starter PotomacDaysailer
- Start date
Ohh then you're sailing with the wrong people. Or you should train. On our boats I expect the crew to be able to do anything I can... that's the only way to have it if you expect to survive an emergency; in particular one that renders you unable to help.
Clip your main halyard to the dock and start cranking the boat over until you can reach the top of the mast.
Well said. I laid my boat over in the slip using the main halyard run over to the neighbor's dock. Just have to make sure your dock lines are correctly spaced and you have clearance between your rig and the dock when heeled.
I'm filing some of these suggestions for when I have a tall enough mast to have the problem. Obviously, there are lots of ways not to do this. Here's one: In college, I was foredeck on a Santana 20 racing on Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Someone lost the end of the spinnaker halyard up the mast at the weather mark. I told Skip (half-ironically) to keep the boat steady while I began shinnying up the mast, which commenced swaying exponentially with every pound I placed aloft. Managing to wrap a toe around a spreader bracket, I pushed my weight upward, gaining the elevation needed to reach, with one outstretched hand, the leeward dangling shackle. It was a fine day and the view was spectacular. I called down to the bug-eyes in the cockpit to uncleat the halyard, placed the shackle in my teeth, and polished the mast well upon my descent. We finished last, assuring everyone another crazy-assed Duck boat story to toss around the clubhouse in Eugene.
I used two sections of pic pipe 1" into 3/4 with fork taped to the end. Kink of hard to use ase it flexed so much. Did get lucky however and captured it.
I might be easier than you think. Walk the main halyard forward and tie a big lazy overhand knot in it such that the tightening side goes aloft. Tie a bit of length small line to the bitter end such that when pulled it will close the loop forming a snare.
Now hoist the snare aloft using the small line to guide it up over the lost halyard. Yu may need to rock the boat to get at it more easily. When the halyard is in the loop close the snare by pulling down in the small line, and haul it in..
Now hoist the snare aloft using the small line to guide it up over the lost halyard. Yu may need to rock the boat to get at it more easily. When the halyard is in the loop close the snare by pulling down in the small line, and haul it in..
Here you can see the "Halyard Snare" in action. The While/Blue/Red line represents the loose line being finagled into the snare. Once snared simply hold the uphaul end of the available halyard and pull the downhaul (small line) to close the snare.
Attachments
I did this before when the stitching gave way on the head of the jib and the shackle went aloft.
Use your main halyard shackle as a hook. Open up the main shackle so the pin sticks out (if it will come completely out, then duct tape a small stick to it so that it sticks out to the side). IMPORTANT!! tie a downhaul line to the main halyard. Raise the main halyard, and use the downhaul line to guide the main shackle to the jib shackle so that the main shackle pin (or stick) hooks it. Then pull both back down to the deck.
Use your main halyard shackle as a hook. Open up the main shackle so the pin sticks out (if it will come completely out, then duct tape a small stick to it so that it sticks out to the side). IMPORTANT!! tie a downhaul line to the main halyard. Raise the main halyard, and use the downhaul line to guide the main shackle to the jib shackle so that the main shackle pin (or stick) hooks it. Then pull both back down to the deck.
If your going to have someone haul you up on the main halyard... be smart...get 4 friends to do it.. and use two halyards.. years ago on a Dufour 34, we used the main halyard, and the spin halyard each to it own winch.. one trusted person to tail and one to crank on each winch...
That actually occurred to me. Seems like inspecting rigging would be an excellent use for a drone.I use a DSI Phantom drone for my web video business. Wondering..................
Any highway bridges around you could cosy up to? Might be easier dealing from the top down instead of bottom up.
I did same thing with roller furler. Never had one, so didn't know what to look for when raising the mast. Halyard (when jib installed), is at deck level. If jib is dropped, end of halyard does to masthead.
Tried several types of 'hooks' (steel wire brush taped to spin halyard, PVC pipe sections joined to get to masthead (gets real 'bendy' by the time 3rd section is sent aloft. And just pushing sections together is apt to leave first section hanging from masthead.)
I wound up buying a Mast Mate, and at 68 find it to be a good investment. Didn't have anyone with a boson chair or experience with one. Decided I'd rather trust myself than someone else. And I could do it anytime I want...
Tried several types of 'hooks' (steel wire brush taped to spin halyard, PVC pipe sections joined to get to masthead (gets real 'bendy' by the time 3rd section is sent aloft. And just pushing sections together is apt to leave first section hanging from masthead.)
I wound up buying a Mast Mate, and at 68 find it to be a good investment. Didn't have anyone with a boson chair or experience with one. Decided I'd rather trust myself than someone else. And I could do it anytime I want...
The "mast mate" is interesting. I presume you must remove the main sail to get access to the track. Or have a second track. Certainly avoids the need for a second person. Of course you would need a decent harness or bosun chair as back up security.
For a quick and simple do it yourself emergency bosun chair try a "bowline on a bight". Might be a bit uncomfortable but OK for a quick up and down.
For a quick and simple do it yourself emergency bosun chair try a "bowline on a bight". Might be a bit uncomfortable but OK for a quick up and down.
Not a solution, but for those of you familiar with building, there are "stud clamps" that you can use to get up to plate level and I've often thought that with a harness backup, "mast clamps" would be a great way of getting up a mast. Also, has anybody ever used something similar to climbers' etriers, wherein you would have one for each foot and one for a chest harness, to ascend a mast? Sail on!
Try to find or fabricate a small grappling hook with points at 90 degree intervals pointing downward.Hook it to a tag line and raise it with the main halyard. Since you only have about 30 feet of mast to concern yourself with, it should work.
If that doesn't work find someone with a TopClimber you can use. That makes it pretty easy to climb up the the tightly secured main halyard, grab the jib halyard and pull it down.
If that doesn't work find someone with a TopClimber you can use. That makes it pretty easy to climb up the the tightly secured main halyard, grab the jib halyard and pull it down.
While at the Marina, ask your two grandsons to start at the clubhouse and over at Restaurant row asking for two Sky hooks..... Also have them check the nearest Ship Chandlery. Then go to the Sea Scout Base.... Then.....
Capta has the right idea. It's really very simple, climb the mast and drag it back down.
I'm up the mast (55') a couple times a year. I use a climbing harness and a pair of ascenders.
Up and back in 5 minutes. It's really quite easy and you don't have to been a gymnast to do it. I'm nearly 70.
I'm going up in a couple weeks (after launch) to replace wind vane cups.
I'm up the mast (55') a couple times a year. I use a climbing harness and a pair of ascenders.
Up and back in 5 minutes. It's really quite easy and you don't have to been a gymnast to do it. I'm nearly 70.
I'm going up in a couple weeks (after launch) to replace wind vane cups.
If your shackle stuck to the magnet, then the first thing you'd want to do is get a new shackle. Stainless steel is non-magnetic.
Another vote for heeling the boat with the main halyard. Worked for me. A friend pulled it over at low tide while I climbed a ladder on the bulkhead. Not my proudest moment, but I got the job done.