My halyards run down through the mast. The boat was stored outside and they are really dirty. I'd like to clean them up but need advice on how to get them out, cleanm them and get them back in. How do you thread a halyard through the mast? I really appreciarte this forum. I work on the road and only get to work on and enjoyht eboat on weekends. This provides me access to a great knowledge on sailing and sail boats. Hayden
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Greg
I replaced mine but the method will work...
for what you are doing. Buy some heat shrink material and join the end of the halyard to some other rope, and run it through the mast. I can tell you from experience that the rope inside the mast will be clean as hell and look almost new, but I had already bought the new halyards and replaced them anyway. good luck
for what you are doing. Buy some heat shrink material and join the end of the halyard to some other rope, and run it through the mast. I can tell you from experience that the rope inside the mast will be clean as hell and look almost new, but I had already bought the new halyards and replaced them anyway. good luck
New fish lines.
Hayden: Depending on how old these lines are you may want to consider a total replacement. If you decision is to clean them, you need some line for each halyard (height of the mast plus a couple of feet. You can then either tape or sew on the line to the halyard and just pull it thru the mast. When you lines are cleaned you just reverse the procedure. If you decide to replace them, you can try the paper clip method. I posted some pictures in the Photo Forum. It is quick and it is easy. No sewing required. Just a paper clip and some tape.
Hayden: Depending on how old these lines are you may want to consider a total replacement. If you decision is to clean them, you need some line for each halyard (height of the mast plus a couple of feet. You can then either tape or sew on the line to the halyard and just pull it thru the mast. When you lines are cleaned you just reverse the procedure. If you decide to replace them, you can try the paper clip method. I posted some pictures in the Photo Forum. It is quick and it is easy. No sewing required. Just a paper clip and some tape.
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Peter Roach
How to clean them
Get a zippered cloth pillowcase (sometimes this is called a pillow liner). Take you halyards and put them in the washing machine. Use Clorox 2 (will not rot your lines) and a LOT of fabric softener. Wash away. Your lines will come out looking new and will not be stiff. You may want to balance the load with two pillow case liners and two sets of lines.
Get a zippered cloth pillowcase (sometimes this is called a pillow liner). Take you halyards and put them in the washing machine. Use Clorox 2 (will not rot your lines) and a LOT of fabric softener. Wash away. Your lines will come out looking new and will not be stiff. You may want to balance the load with two pillow case liners and two sets of lines.
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Bill O'Donovan
Whoa!
Before you use a messenger line to remove the halywards, I would discourage using the shrink stuff or tape. The first can break loose in the sheeve as the line turns, and the second can just break, period. Then you've got a spectacular problem. I have had success sewing the two bitter ends together with heavy-duty fishing line, criss crossing to ensure good sturdy tensil strength that won't break. Pull or yank to test the strength before proceeding to change out the halyard for cleaning. The advantage of the fishing line system is that it's more flexible as the two points pass over the sheeves atop the mast. This is the most critical point of the entire trip.
Before you use a messenger line to remove the halywards, I would discourage using the shrink stuff or tape. The first can break loose in the sheeve as the line turns, and the second can just break, period. Then you've got a spectacular problem. I have had success sewing the two bitter ends together with heavy-duty fishing line, criss crossing to ensure good sturdy tensil strength that won't break. Pull or yank to test the strength before proceeding to change out the halyard for cleaning. The advantage of the fishing line system is that it's more flexible as the two points pass over the sheeves atop the mast. This is the most critical point of the entire trip.
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Chip Freund
Old climber's trick
I did a good bit of cave climbing and repelling during college. As you can image, the ropes we used got pretty dirty. We devised a cheap little device that would work well on running rigging as well. It is made up out of PVC pipe fittings (1-"T", a hose adapter, and compression fittings). You will also need a scrap piece of rubber (old inner tube works well). The PVC compression fittings should be somewhat larger than your line. Cut two disks out of the rubber and place a slice about as long as the dia. of your line in the middle. Place the disks into the threaded ends of the compression fittings and screw them onto the "T" opposite each other. The hose adapter goes on the base of the "T". You now have a line washer, just hook it up to a garden hose and run the line through it. You will have to feed the line through from the tail end as the shackle will not pass through the fittings. It is a great activity for the kids as you tend to get wet.
I did a good bit of cave climbing and repelling during college. As you can image, the ropes we used got pretty dirty. We devised a cheap little device that would work well on running rigging as well. It is made up out of PVC pipe fittings (1-"T", a hose adapter, and compression fittings). You will also need a scrap piece of rubber (old inner tube works well). The PVC compression fittings should be somewhat larger than your line. Cut two disks out of the rubber and place a slice about as long as the dia. of your line in the middle. Place the disks into the threaded ends of the compression fittings and screw them onto the "T" opposite each other. The hose adapter goes on the base of the "T". You now have a line washer, just hook it up to a garden hose and run the line through it. You will have to feed the line through from the tail end as the shackle will not pass through the fittings. It is a great activity for the kids as you tend to get wet.
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