I want to replace the main halyard on my 1985 H34. I've never done that before. Is it something I can do without getting stuck in the mast?
main halyard
- Thread starter mikefin
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Absolutely. There are several methods but to me, the most secure is to sew the new line to the old with heavy thread (dental floss works fine)keeping them butted one end to the other end with loops - through one end then through the other then back, etc. Six or eight of those should suffice. Then, wrap the junction completely starting 3-4" above the junction to 3-4" below with electrical tape being careful not to make the wrap too thick. A safety tip; heat seal the ends to prevent the threads from pulling through the weave. When you pull it through, be careful at the sheaves.
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if it separates one end will not be a problem at all as the other end of it will either be in your hand or laying on the deck. unfortunately the other line will have to be fished out the opening before it will be useful again.
Success lies in testing the joint before you use it. It HAS to be both secure and not add too much diameter to the line so it can make it through the mast head sheave without binding
Success lies in testing the joint before you use it. It HAS to be both secure and not add too much diameter to the line so it can make it through the mast head sheave without binding
Cry and throw things.
No....really this depends on the rig. If the mast has a second halyard (like a spinnaker halyard), it would be used to lift someone to the top, and they would feed a good or new halyard down the mast. This is the only way I know to do it with it standing. Any other way would require stepping the mast and is very hard even with the mast down.
James L
Since my new halyards had a shackle spliced on one end as did my old one which I did not want to cut off, I had to pull it in two steps. First, I tied a heavy twine with a number of hitches near the end of the old halyard and then a bit of electrical tape. While one person kept it under tension the other pulled the halyard so the string end went up from the bottom of the mast to the top and back down. The tension keeps it on the sheaves. Next untie the twine and tie it to the end of the new halyard the same way as before. While keeping a bit of tension on the new halyard, have the helper pull the twine until it goes up to the top then around the sheave and back down inside the mast. Piece of cake.
We have used a paper clip to goin the old halyard to the new one. Works great.
http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=6901&Itemid=257
http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=6901&Itemid=257
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