Removing the top of the mast

[plane4uegg]

Good morning, does anyone know the easiest way(or what tool to use) to remove the top piece of the mast(picture attached). I am trying to replace the lines to raise the mainsail. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Eric

 

[Steve Dion]

You do not need to remove the top to replace the line. It may be good to inspect the sheaves. You can just use your old halyard to pull the new one through. You can sew them together or use a large paper clip and some tape to pull the halyard through.

 

[plane4uegg]

Thanks Steve. I did try that and it got stuck right at the top of the mast(I used too much tape and it still came loose). Any recommendations on how to take that top piece off?

 

[Ken Cross]

Is there a picture?

 

[plane4uegg]

I am having a hard time attaching the photo to this thread. Do you have an email I can send it to?

 

[Rick9671]

fishing tools

Electricians use a slender, semi-rigid steel tape to fish through small openings so that they can attach a larger line to it and pull it through like you would if you had used a smaller knot when attaching the old halyard. Ask for a fishing tape at your local hardware. They are made in 50 foot or longer lengths and have a rounded hook on the end for pushing the tape past obstacles. You can feed it from the top of the mast or the bottom. Just go slowly and avoid getting stuck by forcing the tape when you should be gentle.

 

[Brian S]

Sounds like you want to remove your masthead casting. It would help if you can attach a picture of the masthead.

Could be that your image size is too large. Resizing with an image editor might help.

 

[Gunni]

Looks like it is riveted to the spar. But why in the world would you want to remove the masthead fitting of a trailer-sailer spar when you can easily bring it down, lay it on saw horses and get your hands on everything you need to work on?

 

[Dave Stone]

Electricians use a slender, semi-rigid steel tape to fish through small openings so that they can attach a larger line to it and pull it through like you would if you had used a smaller knot when attaching the old halyard. Ask for a fishing tape at your local hardware. They are made in 50 foot or longer lengths and have a rounded hook on the end for pushing the tape past obstacles. You can feed it from the top of the mast or the bottom. Just go slowly and avoid getting stuck by forcing the tape when you should be gentle.

I would not use a fish tape. If I had them, I might use fish sticks. They are fiberglass rods that screw together to make what ever length you need. Much cheaper is pvc pipe. Run the new halyard thru until it sticks out what will be the top of the pipe. Lightly tape halyard to pipe & shove it up from the bottom till the top is near the sheave. Fish the end of halyard out thru the sheave, give a tug to break the tape loose and pull halyard thru. Pull pvc out or secure with pop rivets to eliminate halyard slap inside mast.

If the mast is vertical, lead a small chain ( like a light dog leash ) tied to light line over sheave. With all other halyards pulled taut, & boat not rocking, drop the chain. Fish chain out at bottom. Tape or sew or lash new halyard to the line & gently pull through the sheave.

These methods work. I know from first hand experience. May require patience to get right. Mileage may vary.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

This is easy. Take a line say 3/16 or smaller and put it thru the end of the halyard and tie using a bowline. To get it thru, take a small Phillips head screwdriver and make a hole and then using that screwdriver, push the line thru. Then pull keeping tension so the line will not come off the sheave and pull. Simple and the fastest way of doing or replacing the halyard by use of that small line sometimes referred to as a messenger line.

 

[Brian S]

When I use an existing line as a messenger, like when I replaced my centerboard pendant, I put the two lines butted against each other, and used 2 lengths of electrical tape down the length of the line, opposite each other. Then I did some spiral wrapping over the lengthwise electrical tape, just to be on the safe side. I didn't want it to be too thick, or stiffen up the joint, but I wanted it to be reasonably secure against coming apart. Then, I pulled gingerly, just to be sure

 

[caguy]

When I use an existing line as a messenger, like when I replaced my centerboard pendant, I put the two lines butted against each other, and used 2 lengths of electrical tape down the length of the line, opposite each other. Then I did some spiral wrapping over the lengthwise electrical tape, just to be on the safe side. I didn't want it to be too thick, or stiffen up the joint, but I wanted it to be reasonably secure against coming apart. Then, I pulled gingerly, just to be sure

I think the old tried and true method is to use a paper clip. Straighten it out an poke it through the old halyard and the other end though the new halyard and twist the ends of the papers clip together. I have done the same with a small zip tie.

If the halyard is internal I have seen folks use a small messenger line with a short length of bicycle chair as a weight. The chain will allow it to snake through/by any obstacles.

When I needed a messenger though a horizontal mast to pull electoral wires I used a length of fence wire to push through the length of the mast.

When I did remove the mast head on the C-27 after removing the through bolt I used a big mallet.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

the biggest issue is the paper clip and the size of the end with the electrical tape coming thru the sheave assembly as it can be tricky due to size and if being caught in the assembly. Tried that and stayed away from it after loosing some halyards plus you cannot pull tension otherwise you may loose that connection. Tying a messenger line thru the ends of the line never failed for me as a dealer .

 

[caguy]

Dave the paper clip when the ends are twisted together are pretty strong. The small zip tie has always worked for me. It is so small and flexible you don't even feel it pass through the sheeves.

 

[Joe]

I agree with Gunn. Why don't you drop the mast and clear the obstruction.. change the sheaves if necessary, are reave a new halyard.... Why would you need to remove the masthead unless it actually needed replacing?