So the jib halyard was pulled all the way up to the masthead. Which means that the person i had tending the lines, got the shackle up in the mast head. Do I really have to bring the mast down? ANy tricks of the trade to somehow get the shackle back down? Arggg
Stupid Mistake
- Thread starter David ONeill
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What type of boat?
What type of boat do you have. If it is large enough you could be winched up the mast using the main halyard. If it is a small boat, it may just be easier to drop the mast. An alternative is to tie a small line to the main halyard with a coathanger hook where the two are tied together -- hoist it aloft and try to snag the shackle.
What type of boat do you have. If it is large enough you could be winched up the mast using the main halyard. If it is a small boat, it may just be easier to drop the mast. An alternative is to tie a small line to the main halyard with a coathanger hook where the two are tied together -- hoist it aloft and try to snag the shackle.
Two suggestions
Send someone us the mast in a bosun's chair. Or you might be able to snag the shackle with a wire hook (bent coat hanger) taped to another halyard. Be sure to tie a length of line to the halyard you are using so you can get it back down. Good luck, and be careful is someone goes up the mast.
Send someone us the mast in a bosun's chair. Or you might be able to snag the shackle with a wire hook (bent coat hanger) taped to another halyard. Be sure to tie a length of line to the halyard you are using so you can get it back down. Good luck, and be careful is someone goes up the mast.
I guess I am just lazy
Its a 22 footer, so dropping the mast isnt too hard, just a pain with the forestay and all that jazz. By the way Boothbay is gorgous. Lucky man.
Its a 22 footer, so dropping the mast isnt too hard, just a pain with the forestay and all that jazz. By the way Boothbay is gorgous. Lucky man.
Welcome to the club
Won't be the last time. Depends on how big the boat is. On anything up to 27' I would drop the mast. Anything bigger, up you go. Go ahead and replace all of the bulbs while you are at it.
Won't be the last time. Depends on how big the boat is. On anything up to 27' I would drop the mast. Anything bigger, up you go. Go ahead and replace all of the bulbs while you are at it.
another option
If your boat is big enough (and I don't know what the minimum size is) the best choice is a ride up the mast in the bosun's seat. Also you can drop the mast as was previously mentioned. In addition you can have someone with a cherry picker (boom and bucket) lift you to the top of the mast and retrieve the halyard. Also if there is a bridge nearby you can get close to it on a VERY CALM day and hook the halyard with a boat hook and attach a line to the shackle and then pull it down. Finally I suppose that you can lean a tall ladder against the mast and get it that way. I bet there are other choices and someone will suggest them. Good Luck (and that isn't a stupid thing to do or else many of us are stupid very often.) Mike
If your boat is big enough (and I don't know what the minimum size is) the best choice is a ride up the mast in the bosun's seat. Also you can drop the mast as was previously mentioned. In addition you can have someone with a cherry picker (boom and bucket) lift you to the top of the mast and retrieve the halyard. Also if there is a bridge nearby you can get close to it on a VERY CALM day and hook the halyard with a boat hook and attach a line to the shackle and then pull it down. Finally I suppose that you can lean a tall ladder against the mast and get it that way. I bet there are other choices and someone will suggest them. Good Luck (and that isn't a stupid thing to do or else many of us are stupid very often.) Mike
I did the same thing once
What I ended up doing was using a long cane pole with another fishing poleduct taped to it and a fish hook on the end to snag the shackle. It took a few minutes, and we looked stupid, but it worked. It was much easier than climbing the mast.
What I ended up doing was using a long cane pole with another fishing poleduct taped to it and a fish hook on the end to snag the shackle. It took a few minutes, and we looked stupid, but it worked. It was much easier than climbing the mast.
Lean the boat over
A typical 22 footer shouldn't be too hard to heel over and it would help if there was a high point so that you wouldn't have to heel it over all of the way. If it is a swing keel raise the keel to raise the center of gravity and it will be easier. My 22' only had 650#s in a swing keel. The shrouds and halyard should be able to take the strain.
A typical 22 footer shouldn't be too hard to heel over and it would help if there was a high point so that you wouldn't have to heel it over all of the way. If it is a swing keel raise the keel to raise the center of gravity and it will be easier. My 22' only had 650#s in a swing keel. The shrouds and halyard should be able to take the strain.
And yet another...
Go rent one of those extended saws for cutting tree limbs. I lashed two together and snared the pesky halyard to modest applause. Alas, it's pretty top-heavy and would decapitate anyone within swinging distance. But hey it works.
Go rent one of those extended saws for cutting tree limbs. I lashed two together and snared the pesky halyard to modest applause. Alas, it's pretty top-heavy and would decapitate anyone within swinging distance. But hey it works.
same here
Had it happen last summer on my H26 and I ended up ignoring it until I had to purchase a bosun's chair and have my nepheew get winched up the spar.
Had it happen last summer on my H26 and I ended up ignoring it until I had to purchase a bosun's chair and have my nepheew get winched up the spar.
Long ass pole
I think I will just go with some Polish invention involving fishing poles and duct tape. Bamboo doesn't flourish in the Cleveland area, but Polish people and duct tape are EVERYWHERE!!
I think I will just go with some Polish invention involving fishing poles and duct tape. Bamboo doesn't flourish in the Cleveland area, but Polish people and duct tape are EVERYWHERE!!
I was going to suggest that you wait for low tide
Then I looked at where you are, OH, I guess you don't have a tide there, do you? ;d Around here, like during this past week, we had a high of 11.8, and low of -2.6, which means a total tidal exchange of 14'2". At all marinas, the ramp always goes down to the dock. So especially on a minus tide, the water is way down there. Like someone had drain the pond. All you have to do is bring the boat next to the marina office, which is now at least 14' above water. Depending on the mast height, you can reach right over and get the halyard. Or you may need a step ladder. Now, on a taller mast, you gotta send someone up the stick. Yeah, we were helping our marina neighbor get his haylard down. We have tried the 2 boat hook and duct tape trick, it just didn't work too well, too top heavy. We finally used 2 PVC pipes, thin walled so it is lighter, with a PVC connector in between, and 2 PVC elbows to make a hook for the tip. It worked.
Then I looked at where you are, OH, I guess you don't have a tide there, do you? ;d Around here, like during this past week, we had a high of 11.8, and low of -2.6, which means a total tidal exchange of 14'2". At all marinas, the ramp always goes down to the dock. So especially on a minus tide, the water is way down there. Like someone had drain the pond. All you have to do is bring the boat next to the marina office, which is now at least 14' above water. Depending on the mast height, you can reach right over and get the halyard. Or you may need a step ladder. Now, on a taller mast, you gotta send someone up the stick. Yeah, we were helping our marina neighbor get his haylard down. We have tried the 2 boat hook and duct tape trick, it just didn't work too well, too top heavy. We finally used 2 PVC pipes, thin walled so it is lighter, with a PVC connector in between, and 2 PVC elbows to make a hook for the tip. It worked.
Cane pole
The cane pole that I used was actually made of fiberglass and was a telescoping pole.(16') They are sold at most stores that sell tackle and bait. I got mine at Walmart for under $20 they are only about three feet long when colapsed. If there's any river fishing in the area, someone's got to have them.
The cane pole that I used was actually made of fiberglass and was a telescoping pole.(16') They are sold at most stores that sell tackle and bait. I got mine at Walmart for under $20 they are only about three feet long when colapsed. If there's any river fishing in the area, someone's got to have them.
Why climb?
The gray PVC electrical conduit, that you can buy in any Hone Depot-type store, can be easily extented with the joint pieces to whatever length necessary. It is easy to drill into and attach any type of end effector needed to grab the missing halyard. Once used, it can be dissembled until the next time. The cost is minimal. CVP
The gray PVC electrical conduit, that you can buy in any Hone Depot-type store, can be easily extented with the joint pieces to whatever length necessary. It is easy to drill into and attach any type of end effector needed to grab the missing halyard. Once used, it can be dissembled until the next time. The cost is minimal. CVP
Sink it
On my 22' boat the mast is 30'. So, assuming that the hull is about 6' high, the top of the 30' mast is about 36' from the bottom of the hull. I'd suggest that you take the boat out into water that is around 35' deep, pull up the swing keel, and open all the seacocks. The boat will slowly sink. Wear a life vest. When the hull hits bottom you should be able to float over to the mast and grab the shackle.
On my 22' boat the mast is 30'. So, assuming that the hull is about 6' high, the top of the 30' mast is about 36' from the bottom of the hull. I'd suggest that you take the boat out into water that is around 35' deep, pull up the swing keel, and open all the seacocks. The boat will slowly sink. Wear a life vest. When the hull hits bottom you should be able to float over to the mast and grab the shackle.
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