Lowering mast on a 240

[Gypsy Legend]

Hi,

The jib halyard (and swivel) is stuck at the top of the mast so I need to lower the mast to retrieve it. Normally to lower the mast I use the jib halyard but obviously can't now.

My question is will it be safe to use the main halyard attached to the mast raising pole instead.
Thanks. Paul

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I'm not sure how your main is routed in the mast so I can't directly answer your question. However, I have an alternate solution that may work for you.

Once upon a time I was sailing and noticed that my jib was looking a bit strange. Five minutes later it dropped into the water without warning. After retrieving the sail and getting back to the dock I was in the same predicament as you. My halyard and swivel were stuck way up in the air. I took a boat hook and wrapped/tied/taped a spare halyard around it. I did this 25' or so from the end of the halyard. I now had two loose ends. One to hoist the hook up and the other to move the hook around. I hoisted the stick up and was able to get it hooked on the halyard and swivel and pull it down. It was a bit challenging but it worked and only took 10-15 minutes. Hopefully you're able to use this trick

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

No. Highly suggest for safety you drop it manually. I will be glad to discuss that with you. Send me a private message. I designed the mast rigging system for hunter

 

[Rick Webb]

Not sure if your jib halyard is jammed and won't move or if the end is at the top and can't be reached. I am also assuming you use the main sheet attached to the gin pole and the ring in the anchor locker to raise and lower the mast.

If the halyard is jammed and is not frayed where it is jammed just tie a knot and carry on as you would normally

If you put the main halyard through a small tight loop around the mast and got the loop to the same point on the mast that the jib halyard exits the mast. The angle for the gin pole would be the same and should work exactly the same way as using the jib halyard. The force from the halyard on the loop would tend to pull the loop up so secure a tether on the loop to hold it in position.

I cannot think of any reason this would not work well. I would have at least two additional helpers to help guide the mast down, one on either side and nobody in the middle unless one of them has a particularly hard head.

 

[Gypsy Legend]

Thanks Rick,

The end of the halyard and swival are stuck at the top - yes I was thinking of using main sheet attached to the pole and the ring - definatley something to consider

Not sure if your jib halyard is jammed and won't move or if the end is at the top and can't be reached. I am also assuming you use the main sheet attached to the gin pole and the ring in the anchor locker to raise and lower the mast.

If the halyard is jammed and is not frayed where it is jammed just tie a knot and carry on as you would normally

If you put the main halyard through a small tight loop around the mast and got the loop to the same point on the mast that the jib halyard exits the mast. The angle for the gin pole would be the same and should work exactly the same way as using the jib halyard. The force from the halyard on the loop would tend to pull the loop up so secure a tether on the loop to hold it in position.

I cannot think of any reason this would not work well. I would have at least two additional helpers to help guide the mast down, one on either side and nobody in the middle unless one of them has a particularly hard head.

 

[Rick Webb]

Worth a shot to try.

I cannot remember where we used this trick, but we attached a hook to some PVC pipe attached the PVC pipe to another halyard about a foot from the end of the pipe with the hook. hoisted the hook and pipe up and were able to snag the lost halyard with the hook and pull the halyard down with the pipe.

If you have some PVC, a pool brush handle or something similar handy it may be worth a shot. Dropping the mast is easy enough that I doubt it is worth a trip to buy anything to try this.

Be sure to attach a tether to the other halyard when you hoist the pipe up getting two halyards stuck up at the top would be embarrassing and not something I'd want to have to brag about.

 

[caverun]

Don't forget the old potato masher trick:
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