Halyard Frustration

[sneuman]

Just a quick note to say that I went up the mast again with the bicycle chain-cum-messenger line.

It worked!

Many thanks for all your advice!

[Dkobyrne]

Hi,

I am looking for the best way to securely attach a mousline (about 5 mm) to a halyard or reefing line so I can pull them to service over winter. I am hoping to use a whipping with a loop at the end of the halyard that I can tie the mouseline to. But I cannot find a good technique for a secure whipping that gives the loop and also looking for best knot to use to tie the mouseline.

Given the repercissions of losing the halyard in the mast there must be a bext practice idea out there. You mention leaving a loop but picture does not give the answer.

Any help appreciated.

Declan

Originally Posted by Joli

Whipping the end of a line is stright forward. When I whip a halyard end I also include a messenger loop or a reeving loop with the whipping twine. It allows you to tie a small messenger to the halyard end and pull it through. If it is a tight fit you can taper the messenger to halyard connection with tape.

A loop incorporated into the whipping is a handy thing. It makes it very easy to pull halyards in the fall and replace them with cheap messengers.

Sorry I can't find a photo of the loop with the whipped end incorporated.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by Joli

I whip the end tightly and add a messenger loop.

I believe it is called a flemish loop. At least that's what John Rousmanierre calls it.

Also what is KISS?

[SabreKai]

When I bought Sabre Dance, I had to replace all the halyards. I bought a reel of yacht braid, put an axle thru it and then duct taped the end of the new line to the end of the old halyard. For security I pulled a couple or 5 rounds of whipping twine through both ends with a sailors palm n needle. Then just hauled away until the new line was in. This way I had a nice tight smooth junction between old n new, and no binding what so ever.

Sabre

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by ssullivan

Since we're doing new halyards anyway, and they probably need whipping, Joli's method sounds perfect.

The fish tape is still a must aboard. I can't even count the number of times I've used it for plumbing, electrical and other times things are stuck in weird places. They don't hang up on anything because they have a rounded end.

Would you push the fish up to the top of the mast from the bottom or down the mast from the top? I would think that going down the mast would make the fish harder to find at the exit hole.

[edsailing]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

Also what is KISS?

KISS = Keep it simple, stupid.

In other words, don't go complicated, when a simple solution will do.

[unbusted67]

Ohhhh so this whole time people have been calling me stupid not trying to make out with me.

[barnakiel]

Take a small fishing sinker, olive type. Therad some strong nylon and chuck it into the top sheave. Make sure all inner halyards are taut. The sinker will soon be at the base where you can fish it our with a piece of hooked wire. Thread the new halyard. Easy.

The problem is that most of the time you may cross another halyard or electrical conduit and then there is the mess when your new halyards gets under tension. But if your conduit is neat against the wall and if none of your halyards runs across (e.g. from the left sheave to the right exit) then you will be fine.

b.

[Cheechako]

Assuming the old halyard is not there and these are internal halyards, I was told once to use a piece of bicycle chain.... flexible enough to go around the sheave and weighty enough to go down inside the mast where you can fish it out of the exit hole.... never tried it but sounded like a good idea! Whoops... I now see someone already meantioned bycycle chain....

[STPABR]

Originally Posted by edsailing

KISS = Keep it simple, stupid.

In other words, don't go complicated, when a simple solution will do.

I resent the term of "Stupid"

I believe KISS means Keep It Simple SAILOR......

[imagine2frolic]

Since this has popped up. I have used heat shrink to butt 2 lines together to make them as small as possible to pass through an opening........i2f

[Unicorn Dreams]

Love my external halyards.

Lots easier to change..

[imagine2frolic]

External halyards are just another compromise.......i2f

[Unicorn Dreams]

Not really a compromise.
Just done that way for thousands of years, then someone probably figured halyards looked prettier by not being seen.
Personally, I don't like excessive amounts of rigging and electrical wires inside the mast.
Know of ONE instance, as unlikely as it may be of a boat that had a short or grounded masthead tricolor that started a fire in the mast and burnt through all 3 halyards while under sail. Skipper said it was one hell of a surprise.
I know it's probably about 1 in 100 million chance of it happening again. But I bet that was a hell of a rush to lose your genny and main at the same time..

[imagine2frolic]

Sure it can be a problem of one sort, but still everything is a compromise. Unless you are telling us you do have the perfect boat without a single flaw? So good on you for the halyards external, but what is it you have that's not perfect? That was my point.........i2f