Running rigging lines internal to mast on a hunter 28.5

[CptCliff]

I've recently purchased a Hunter 28.5. The Mast is currently set up to route up to 4 lines inside the mast, with only one, the mainsheet halyard currently running inside the mast. I'm guessing who ever had the boat previously had issues and re-ran some of the lines outside of the mast.
I'm thinking the topping lift and the jib halyard could have been run inside the mast at one time. The boat has a self furling jib that line is not needed so the jib halyard is not need. The topping lift is there but is not running internally inside the mast.
My question is what lines came from the factory running inside the mast, and what problems might I have if I try to re-run the lines through the mast?

 

[jssailem]

1. My question is what lines came from the factory running inside the mast, and
2. what problems might I have if I try to re-run the lines through the mast?

Does this really matter. Lines run in the mast are what the owner wants. When the factory wanted lines in the mast they chose them. Typical this would be a jib and main halyard. Problem is some owners want a larger sized line and this line may not fit the mast space. Perhaps the previous owner wanted to be able to more quickly raise the main. The halyard as provided by the factory had an exit block too low to allow the owner to jump the sail using body weight to more quickly raise the sail. Or what you are calling the topping lift may have been the main halyard and was switched by an owner. Many possibilities.

To address your second query if you do it while the mast is on the boat, it can gettt complicated climbing the mast, weighting the line to drop all the weigh to the deck, getting the line out of the mast etc... You will find it much easier to work on the mast with it on saw hourses in the yard. You may need a long fish tape or run messenger lines, and a strong flashlight is helpful, but it is much easier. Just be sure that the lines are fair and do not get tangled with what else is lurking in the mast.

 

[rgranger]

I don’t like in-mast lines for two reasons

1) There is no easy way to prevent halyard slap with internal lines. I once owned a boat where (for reasons I could not understand) the internal lines would slap all night against the inside of the mast any time the wind was 15+.
2) you can’t easily inspect them for chafe.