Mainsail halyard Problem

[Muffy]

I have a 30'6" 1983 Newport. Last year when I got it, the mainsail was flopping in the wind and was sloppily tied up with some old bungees. i was concerned with getting the motor running so i did a quick re-wrap of the mainsail and put the sail cover over it and left it like that for the winter.
the motor is a 2 cyl westerbeke that had 3 and a half hours on it. it was like new but would not start. after many hours of work, new filters, batterys, cleaning the tank, and fuel lines, that baby purrs like a kitten, so i turned to the sail. i found a mastmate while i was cleaning out the boat and its brand new. i thought i was styling! turns out the mainsail halyard was detached and the d ring was pulled up to the top of the mast at some point before i got the boat.
that should be enough information about the boat to ask my question now right?
how in the world do i get up there? boson chair on the other sails halyard? im 6-2 and 240 and the only help i usually have is lu-ann and she tries but does more cleaning than anything else.
i was thinking about having it taken out of the water and using a genie lift or something but i would prefer an easier/cheaper option if there is one.
should i replace the block up there while im at it also? i noticed 2 of the ones on the lower part of the mast have cracks in the plastic wheels.
im new to the idea of sailing but i love this boat.
thanks for your time
Muffy and me in Alaska

 

[cptskip]

there are many small men and woman,that you could pay, to ride a bosen chair to the top.repair and replace any blocks or halyard that show any kind of deterioration. and while he is up there. have then check lights, antennas, swedges for cracks. or any fitting that, is atached to the mast head.or just have them check every piece that is on the mast. maybe even take photos of everything attached to the mast. then you have a photo record of your entire mast,and looking down the mast.most owners love that pic of there vessel. ask a mechanical inclined teenager. and it may lower your insurance. hope that this helps. skip on s/v "brandy"

 

[cptskip]

PS. yes use other halyard to get them up there. skip.

 

[Pops]

My buddy loses his halyards up the mast all the time. He has used trim molding, pvc pipe, wood dowels etc, taped together with a hook on the end. Despite our laughter, he has had amazing luck snagging his halyards. He even got it on his first try once.

 

[tweitz]

Before you send someone up on the other halyard, make sure that the standing rigging is very solid. If the boat is rigged for a spinnaker, you may have two halyards you can hook on, so you can use one as a safety line. If there is a high wharf nearby, you may be able to go alongside and get some extra height out of that to make hooking the main halyard a lot easier. I have used a boat hook fully extended, or two duct taped together, to retrieve some lines pretty high up.

 

[Muffy]

Great suggestions! thanks so much!
we have a cruise ship wharf that might just be the perfect thing to reach the top of the mast with a hooked pole at low tide.
if this works i will take pics of the action and post it for anyone that has the same problem.
thanks again for such great ideas!
Muffy and me

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Make sure the other halyards that you are going to hoist the other person up in a Bos'n chair is strong enough. You don't want to lose the poor sole half way up the mast. If your halyards are crap, then use them for messengers to run in new line. Somebody's life may depend upon it and it might be yours and theirs when they fall on you as you watch them from the deck.

 

[Joe]

Put a couple lengths of 1/2 inch pvc pipe together with a hook on the end to try and snag the shackle. If it's too wobbly, tie the upper part to your jib halyard and hoist it up close enough to maneuver the hook close to the shackle. If you're worried about stranding the jib halyard should the pipe break loose, attach a light weight messenger line to it for added security and increased control.

 

[caguy]

When we retrieved Novelman's a couple of years ago I used a coat hanger that was duct taped to the jib halyard. It was about 2' long with a sharp hook on the end. It was made pointed by cutting with dikes at a sharp angle. Took about 3 min but with a few adjustments we finally snagged it.
For lines that have found themselves just out of reach I have used my fishing pole with the hook hooked on the the tip. If you've been around fishing hooks you know they grab anything near them.