I have a H28 and have left the mast up for the past 3 1/2 years since purchasing the boat. I need to clean track and replace halyards, with no other maintenence needed (I don't think!) at this point. Should I leave the mast up or take it down given the work needed? Thanks
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T
Terry
LEAVE UP,,,
Steve, you can replace the halyards and lube the mast rack without dropping the stick. Use a fish line to pull the new halyards through and use the new main halyard to lube the track. Use a dry lube from WM, soaked in rag tied around a piece of dowel that will slide in your track. Then run it up and down several times in the track. Reload the rag as needed. Works great. Terry
Steve, you can replace the halyards and lube the mast rack without dropping the stick. Use a fish line to pull the new halyards through and use the new main halyard to lube the track. Use a dry lube from WM, soaked in rag tied around a piece of dowel that will slide in your track. Then run it up and down several times in the track. Reload the rag as needed. Works great. Terry
I'd leave it up too.
Steve: I'd have to agree with Terry. You should leave it up. If you take it down you have to completely re-tune the rig. As far as cleaning the track Terry's idea with the dowel and a rag is a good idea. Worst comes to worst, you can always send someone up the stick to clean it out. My preference is McLube for lubrication of the track. You do not want ANYTHING that will attract dirt and grit. To replace your existing halyards, you can just hook the new one to the old one with a large paper clip. Wrap it with rigging tape and pull it through. This is by far the easiest way we have found to do it. Check out this post we did on the subject. http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Dion73112378230&fno=17
Steve: I'd have to agree with Terry. You should leave it up. If you take it down you have to completely re-tune the rig. As far as cleaning the track Terry's idea with the dowel and a rag is a good idea. Worst comes to worst, you can always send someone up the stick to clean it out. My preference is McLube for lubrication of the track. You do not want ANYTHING that will attract dirt and grit. To replace your existing halyards, you can just hook the new one to the old one with a large paper clip. Wrap it with rigging tape and pull it through. This is by far the easiest way we have found to do it. Check out this post we did on the subject. http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Dion73112378230&fno=17
J
Jeff D
Halyard
Changing halyards is easy. Safest way is to sew the new halyars end to end with the old. I use waxed whipping thread. Very secure and bends on the sheaves very easily. Make the sure the halyard is the same size as the original.
Changing halyards is easy. Safest way is to sew the new halyars end to end with the old. I use waxed whipping thread. Very secure and bends on the sheaves very easily. Make the sure the halyard is the same size as the original.
Jeff D...
Jeff D: Try my way, you will never go back. We had done it with whipping thread several times. After doing it with the paper clip, I don't think I'll ever do it the old way again.
Jeff D: Try my way, you will never go back. We had done it with whipping thread several times. After doing it with the paper clip, I don't think I'll ever do it the old way again.
B
Bruce Leidal
Down every 3 years
Steve, As the boat moves on in its years there are many things that need inspection, e.g., shroud connections, spreader joints, masthead sheaves, change masthead bulbs, etc. Even though there are people that will tell you stories of having their mast up for 10+ years, Hunter and Zspar both recommend the mast be dropped every three years for safety purposes. Bruce
Steve, As the boat moves on in its years there are many things that need inspection, e.g., shroud connections, spreader joints, masthead sheaves, change masthead bulbs, etc. Even though there are people that will tell you stories of having their mast up for 10+ years, Hunter and Zspar both recommend the mast be dropped every three years for safety purposes. Bruce
D
David
Mast
Every rigger I know suggests dropping the rig for complete inspection at least every three years.
Every rigger I know suggests dropping the rig for complete inspection at least every three years.
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Bill O'Donovan
Exception
Steve Dion is the smartest guy I know on this web site, but I disagree with his solution using a paperclip. Better to use strong fishing line, sewing it criss-cross between bitter ends to ensure flexibility as the two ends coast over the sheeve atop the mast. This is the last place you want the line to snag or (God forbid) break.
Steve Dion is the smartest guy I know on this web site, but I disagree with his solution using a paperclip. Better to use strong fishing line, sewing it criss-cross between bitter ends to ensure flexibility as the two ends coast over the sheeve atop the mast. This is the last place you want the line to snag or (God forbid) break.
I am telling you.
Bill: Thanks for the complement but I am not. Really, I was with you on this one until we tried it. We used this large paper clip opened in the 'S' shape and just hooked it into the ends of the line. We used a little rigging tape to secure the joint and over it went. I had done this twice before in the same season the old way with the waxed whipping twine and a needle. Once I tried this I would not do it the old way again. The line actually had less resistance going over the sheave than with the line and the tape method. Try it someone elses boat if you do not believe me <haha>. That is what we did. My friend Dave convinced me that we should try it on his boat and it was sooo quick & easy.
Bill: Thanks for the complement but I am not. Really, I was with you on this one until we tried it. We used this large paper clip opened in the 'S' shape and just hooked it into the ends of the line. We used a little rigging tape to secure the joint and over it went. I had done this twice before in the same season the old way with the waxed whipping twine and a needle. Once I tried this I would not do it the old way again. The line actually had less resistance going over the sheave than with the line and the tape method. Try it someone elses boat if you do not believe me <haha>. That is what we did. My friend Dave convinced me that we should try it on his boat and it was sooo quick & easy.
Replacing halyards with mast in place
This link is for the 'ancient Chinese method' used by Cherubini Boat in their heyday. It does work if used prudently and properly. Remember we had 60-odd-ft masts to deal with too. Why not try it? JC 2
This link is for the 'ancient Chinese method' used by Cherubini Boat in their heyday. It does work if used prudently and properly. Remember we had 60-odd-ft masts to deal with too. Why not try it? JC 2
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