use spinnaker halyard for roller furler jib?

[Corinne]

I have '79 C30 standard. First full season. Yard rigged everything. Attempted to put jib on the roller (Profurl). Messenger line broke about 18" from top of the mast. Now what? Until I find a willing victim to climb the mast...can I use the spinnaker halyard to raise the jib on the furler?

 

[Joe Barrett]

Go ahead but it won't furl

I've used the Spin halyard when the genoa halyard broke but you probably will not be able to furl the sail, it will wrap around the forestay above the top of the furler. You'll at least be able to sail! BTW get used to going up with a bosun's chair, it won't be your last time.

 

[Joe]

It's no big deal...

... you can probably find a few kind souls around the marina to help you go up the mast and re lead the line. It he/she is really kind they might go up for you. It shouldn't take too long. It it's internal you'll have to tie a loop and a small weight to the end of the messenger so you can fish it out through the exit block.Question.... why didn't you have the yard correct the problem instead of handing it over to you broken?

 

[Jerry]

I did mine w/o going up the mast.

It can be done w/o going up the mast but seemingly no one recommends it. On my 1984 Catalina 30 I was able to undo the headstay, remove the roller furler, reassemble it with a new halyard and reinstall it on the loosened headstay. I just made sure the lower stays and shrouds were tight, loosened the backstay slightly, ran the the mainsail and the spinnaker halyards tied to the bow rail to support the mast. Then I slacked off the headstay turnbuckle a bit, disconnected the headstay, did the work and put everything back the way it was. Worked fine for me even though there was a mild breeze at the time. Everyone I talked to said not to do it that way. Previous experience with the boat made me take the chance. Took me about 2 hours and had no problems. But, of course, if anyone wishes to do it that way that would be their own decision.