During the winter, the shackle on my extra halyard broke. It was attached to the spinnaker pole ring. It looks like the wind put some tension on the cleated end of the line and raised the halyard (and broken shackle) to the top of the mast. I'd like to retrieve the halyard before we launch the boat in May. It's a 40 mile run down to my harbor, and if the wind comes from the north on launch day (which Chicago winds tend to do in the spring) it would be real slow without a genneaker. The boat is very stable in its cradle (it has a fin keel). The boat yard people say as long as the boat is in a cradle, they have no problem with using a bosun's chair on the dry. But I'd prefer not to go the top of the mast in the bosun's chair while the boat is on its cradle. I could send my son up there -- he's a more than a few beers lighter than I am and bounces better -- but I only have one of those and my wife would kill me if I dropped him. Both the main and jib halyards are fine, but a little old. Does anyone know of an easy way to retrieve a halyard from mast top without going up there to get it?
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Get an ample supply of 1.5 inch pvc pipe and duct tape
make a long pole by heavily taping pipes together. I used 10' pipes overlapped 18". Tape two old screwdrivers on end of pipe to form a fork with about 3/4" between blades (sticking straight out from pipe end). Attach forked end of pipe to jib halyard about 6" from forked end. Use a couple wraps of tape to keep itfrom sliding. Have someone slowly pull jib halyard up while you feed pipe upward. Pipe end is resting on top of forestay. Hook wayward line into fork and roll it up enough to get a good grab. Your helper then lowers jib halyard. Sounds complicated but whole process is less than 30 minutes. Good luck.
make a long pole by heavily taping pipes together. I used 10' pipes overlapped 18". Tape two old screwdrivers on end of pipe to form a fork with about 3/4" between blades (sticking straight out from pipe end). Attach forked end of pipe to jib halyard about 6" from forked end. Use a couple wraps of tape to keep itfrom sliding. Have someone slowly pull jib halyard up while you feed pipe upward. Pipe end is resting on top of forestay. Hook wayward line into fork and roll it up enough to get a good grab. Your helper then lowers jib halyard. Sounds complicated but whole process is less than 30 minutes. Good luck.
Retrieving the halyard
The best way that I know of retrieving the halyard is to use your Main Halyard and a bent coat hanger. Tie a long line to your head shackle and take a coat hanger and cut it and shape it with two hooks. One small bent hook can be attached to the Main Halyard head shackle and bent in place to hold it there. Then take some black electrical tape, and tape over it and also tape part of the wire to your halyard a few inches up, and bend a hook on the end. Now raise your halyard to the top of your mast and try to snag the shackle with the hook. If you can hook on to it, you should be able to pull it down with the straight line. This works, believe me. I've done this on a Bristol 24. You may have to twist the rope a little to snag it, or station someone with binoculars to guide your efforts. Let me know how you make out, OK? Maybe I can come down there and give you a hand. LOL Good luck and smooth sailing! Joe
The best way that I know of retrieving the halyard is to use your Main Halyard and a bent coat hanger. Tie a long line to your head shackle and take a coat hanger and cut it and shape it with two hooks. One small bent hook can be attached to the Main Halyard head shackle and bent in place to hold it there. Then take some black electrical tape, and tape over it and also tape part of the wire to your halyard a few inches up, and bend a hook on the end. Now raise your halyard to the top of your mast and try to snag the shackle with the hook. If you can hook on to it, you should be able to pull it down with the straight line. This works, believe me. I've done this on a Bristol 24. You may have to twist the rope a little to snag it, or station someone with binoculars to guide your efforts. Let me know how you make out, OK? Maybe I can come down there and give you a hand. LOL Good luck and smooth sailing! Joe
I used a similar method to Joe...
...only I used a fishing lure with treble-hooks. Attach the lure to your halyard and a messenger line and hoist the lure up to snag the halyard and haul it down with the messenger line. A couple of treble-hooks are more likely to snag the halyard than a coat hanger. Cheers, Bob
...only I used a fishing lure with treble-hooks. Attach the lure to your halyard and a messenger line and hoist the lure up to snag the halyard and haul it down with the messenger line. A couple of treble-hooks are more likely to snag the halyard than a coat hanger. Cheers, Bob
i did it the easy way...
I hoisted my 16 year old and he grabbed it. The first thing he said when he got down..."Damn, it's high up there!" That why I sent him.
I hoisted my 16 year old and he grabbed it. The first thing he said when he got down..."Damn, it's high up there!" That why I sent him.
Thanks!
Your replies are a testament to sailors' ingenuity. I'll try your suggestions this weekend -- all except Ross's. I'd hoist my own 16 year-old to the top of the mast, but fear the temptation to cleat off the line and leave him up there.
Your replies are a testament to sailors' ingenuity. I'll try your suggestions this weekend -- all except Ross's. I'd hoist my own 16 year-old to the top of the mast, but fear the temptation to cleat off the line and leave him up there.
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