Should I climb the mast or step it.Messenger line broke
- Thread starter RKMCCORKLE
- Start date
It is a small mast. Unstep, run the halyards, wires, what ever. Closely inspect the mast and rigging while it is down. Check the sheaves make sure they are turning freely. Replace lights or light bulbs.
Is it possible to detach the foil on the furler system and fix the halyard then reinstall without stepping the mast?
Really trying not to have to step the mast,the boat is in the water and I don't have a trailer
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Yes if you have an extra jib halyard to use as a temporary forestay.
Don't need a trailer and the mast can be unstepped when the boat is in the water. It is actually safer that way as the boat as you are not 7 or 8 feet above the ground and the boat is less likely to get out of balance. Just pick a calm day.
If the messenger line is hanging just above the shrouds,is it possible to use a climbing harness or bosuns chair using the main halyard and go up grab the line safely
If the messenger line is hanging just above the shrouds,is it possible to use a climbing harness or bosuns chair using the main halyard and go up grab the line safely
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The problem with climbing the mast on some trailerable boats, is that the keel/ballast isn't heavy enough to keep the boat stable with a 200lb human/pendulum up the mast.
@Leeward Rail is correct about the lever arm of an adult up the mast. The mast is about 30 feet above the waterline, 200 lbs at the top is 6000 foot lbs, or ⅓ more than the boats weight. Additionally, the winches may not be big enough to actually raise the weight to the masthead.
Will it be necessary to go the masthead or just the spreaders? If only the spreaders and you have a very light person who is brave, sending that person up to retrieve it. By light, I mean 100 lbs or so.
Still, I would take the mast down, it look like the step is hinged which makes it pretty easy.
Will it be necessary to go the masthead or just the spreaders? If only the spreaders and you have a very light person who is brave, sending that person up to retrieve it. By light, I mean 100 lbs or so.
Still, I would take the mast down, it look like the step is hinged which makes it pretty easy.
Why not try to go up the mast halfway and use a 10' pvc pipe with a hook at the end and try to grab the line and pull down. If this was not possible then you know you must drop the mast. Have you dropped the mast before?
I would lower the mast. From what I can see, barely, is you need a new windex. May as well convert anchorlight to LED too if you haven't already. Sieze the opportunity.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,270
Hey. If you are game, spend less time arguing about it and follow the Nike motto.
“JUST DO IT”.
I would encourage you to properly tie off and use safety lines. Grasp the messenger and get back down safely.
Choose a windless day.
Have a friend be a safety person, holding lines and helping.
Be aware the mast will respond to your weight. If you are 300lbs expect the mast to really bend.
Ypu might get a kid to goo the mast for you. Not that I’m encouraging child labor. I would think a grand kid or neighborhood ruffian might accomplish the task.
“JUST DO IT”.
I would encourage you to properly tie off and use safety lines. Grasp the messenger and get back down safely.
Choose a windless day.
Have a friend be a safety person, holding lines and helping.
Be aware the mast will respond to your weight. If you are 300lbs expect the mast to really bend.
Ypu might get a kid to goo the mast for you. Not that I’m encouraging child labor. I would think a grand kid or neighborhood ruffian might accomplish the task.
Find a skinny guy (or gal) at the marina and crank them up. I have a guy that weighs 150 vs my 200. I buy him a beer (after the work is done) and I crank him up his mast when he needs to go up.
I am still perfecting my self-climbing of the mast…close, but not quite ready to do it myself yet.
Greg
I am still perfecting my self-climbing of the mast…close, but not quite ready to do it myself yet.
Greg
I found a 30 ft extension pole with a hook Docapole and I think it might just work for grabbing the messenger line to bring it back down.
Might be worth the money to not go up
Might be worth the money to not go up
The first question I have is why did the messenger break? Did the slide get jammed in the foil and then the messenger broke due to pulling force? This looks like a CDI furler, which has an internal halyard. There are a few ways it can get jammed (from my unfortunate experiences)
-Broken strands in the wire halyard get tangled up in the sheave area at the top.
-The sheave is worn and the halyard has slipped off the side of the sheave.
-The forestay sags too much. Needs to be tight.
You can remove the whole assembly if you use the main halyard as a temporary forestay.
-Broken strands in the wire halyard get tangled up in the sheave area at the top.
-The sheave is worn and the halyard has slipped off the side of the sheave.
-The forestay sags too much. Needs to be tight.
You can remove the whole assembly if you use the main halyard as a temporary forestay.
If I had to guess, looking at the first photo it is evident that the foil is too low from the top of the mast and it may have suffered a halyard wrap due to its extended length. lifting the jib by about 8" may solve this problem. This could be done by adding a pendant at the tack of the jib.
This type of furler doesn’t have a masthead halyard. The halyard is internal to the foil. The sheave is in the black cap at the top of the foil, so halyard wrap isn’t possible. This appears to be a proper installation.