Rerun missing halyards
- Thread starter Spazz
- Start date
Use shop vac on one end and very loose pile of kite string on other end. Use kite string to pull a light masons line then your halyard
The process is as jssailem laid out so well much earlier, but here's an alternate messenger running technique:
To run the messenger line, use medium weight string with an electricians mouse or kleenex flower (or balled up wad of kleenex) tied to the end. Feed it from the top of the mast, blowing the line down the mast with compressed air from a small portable air compressor. This usually works better than the shop vac at the bottom of the mast idea, which has also been mentioned earlier in this thread, because of greater air flow from the compressed air. Of course compressed air could also be used in conjunction with a shop vac at the bottom for even better performance.
To run the messenger line, use medium weight string with an electricians mouse or kleenex flower (or balled up wad of kleenex) tied to the end. Feed it from the top of the mast, blowing the line down the mast with compressed air from a small portable air compressor. This usually works better than the shop vac at the bottom of the mast idea, which has also been mentioned earlier in this thread, because of greater air flow from the compressed air. Of course compressed air could also be used in conjunction with a shop vac at the bottom for even better performance.
Gunni has it right.
Yeah, this issue has been resolved a lot of posts back.
To summarize:
The OP or his significant other made a rookie mistake and lost the halyards, i.e., they no longer run through the mast.
The boat is hauled and the mast is horizontal on the deck.
An experienced member of this site stores his boat at the same marina and has volunteered to assist in reinstalling the halyards. In the past 2 years he has replaced 3 halyards and rewired both his masthead light and the steaming/foredeck light on a larger boat.
The OP has his boat in a very friendly and supportive marina. There will be lots of competent help.
Trying to draw enough vacuum to suck a messenger lined down the mast is probably a fool's errand, the mast diameter is too large and there are too many holes in the mast to create sufficient suction to draw down a messenger line.
I'm sure the OP appreciates the rapid and plentiful responses. It is good to know that sailors want to assist each other, that's what it is all about, isn't it?
Dave
With the mast down, I have rented scaffolding for a weekend from a local rental shop for almost nothing and set it up my self. (if you have them transport it and set it up for you is costs more money). If that's not in the budget, being careful, a couple ladders have worked for me in the past too. Also, the marina may have something you can either borrow or rent...
Using a fiberglass fish-tape worked for me better than the metal fish-tape. It circled around the blocks easier and fed through the conduits inside the mast. I don't know if your mast has those conduits, but if so was just sayin what worked for me...
I also recommend you use this opportunity to consider replacing any wires and coax in the mast. Would also consider upgrading the lights to LED. (They generally run MANY times longer than conventional lights and use less battery at night.) You may also want to consider replacing the light fixtures. Sometimes the corrosion and such of old fixtures that are getting on in years can cause problems down the road.
If the electrical wires and coax do not have conduits, recommend you use zip tie tails about every 10 feet to prevent wires from banging all night (mast slap). Just gently put on a good quality zip tie on the wire (not lines) as you feed it into the mast about every ten feet and dont cut the tails off. Note here, on coax, be careful and don't over-tighten the zip tie on coax because it will damage it and cause signal loss.
Using a fiberglass fish-tape worked for me better than the metal fish-tape. It circled around the blocks easier and fed through the conduits inside the mast. I don't know if your mast has those conduits, but if so was just sayin what worked for me...
I also recommend you use this opportunity to consider replacing any wires and coax in the mast. Would also consider upgrading the lights to LED. (They generally run MANY times longer than conventional lights and use less battery at night.) You may also want to consider replacing the light fixtures. Sometimes the corrosion and such of old fixtures that are getting on in years can cause problems down the road.
If the electrical wires and coax do not have conduits, recommend you use zip tie tails about every 10 feet to prevent wires from banging all night (mast slap). Just gently put on a good quality zip tie on the wire (not lines) as you feed it into the mast about every ten feet and dont cut the tails off. Note here, on coax, be careful and don't over-tighten the zip tie on coax because it will damage it and cause signal loss.
I used the line with a chain at end and from the top of the mast worked real good,
rather than demasting try asking a rigger to do it for you.
There are guys who go up the mast like a monkey and do this all the time and do it for a living if the yard does not have a lift system and wait to do it when in the water.
Nick
rather than demasting try asking a rigger to do it for you.
There are guys who go up the mast like a monkey and do this all the time and do it for a living if the yard does not have a lift system and wait to do it when in the water.
Nick