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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/24/2011 : 11:37:35

So, there I was on the Bow at Anchor as I pulled on the Messenger to raise the Jib up the CDI Furler.
About half(ish) way up my inappropriate knot released and the messenger fell leaving the Jib partly hoisted and the tail of the Jib Furler halyard was hanging limply well out of reach. The tail was about 14' from the deck.

I solved this problem... but! How would you do it.
Catalina 250 Water Ballast at Anchor only Peggy & I onboard on a quiet weekend at Sands Key on a beautiful day. The halyard tail did have a stop knot in it!

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - britinusa on 09/24/2011 11:38:42

Voyager
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5417 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2011 : 12:34:36

If that happened on Passage, a pole would be involved. I'd either use my 16' boat pole with a humongous fishing hook on it, or my saltwater fishing pole with my weighted hook. I'd have to be careful not to hook the sail... but that's what I would think to do. Some other folks have advised on this forum to pull the halyard all the way up and attach a coat-hanger wire to the main halyard and try to hook it that way.

Edited by - on

Prospector
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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2011 : 17:28:01

I know I can shimmy up the mast as far as the spreaders. From there this kind of stuff is usually an easy grab. If it is higher, More engineering is involved.

Edited by - on

John Russell
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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2011 : 17:35:50

I did that the very first time I rigged the boat. Fortunately, the guys on travelift nearby noticed my dilemma and had pity on the newbie. They found a bosun's chair, went up the mast and retrieved the halyard. And, they didn't laugh loud enough for me to hear them as they walked away. Nice guys.

Edited by - on

OJ
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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2011 : 17:38:49

When raising the mast this spring - the cable that wraps around the mast got stuck at the spreaders. We placed our 8' stepladder (folded) on the cabintop and leaned it against the mast. Went up the ladder and grabbed the cable with a boat hook.

Of course you may have a hard time snagging an unkotted line with a boat hook.

SOP? no. Unsafe? Not with a spotter at the base of the ladder.

Edited by - OJ on 09/24/2011 17:43:41

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 09/25/2011 : 09:49:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 ...We placed our 8' stepladder (folded) on the cabintop and leaned it against the mast...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">So Paul is out there at anchor, and pulls his 8' stepladder out of the cabin... (or maybe the lazarette) ...and leans it against the mast... and hopes a $+!nkp*+ doesn't go by...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/25/2011 09:50:38

britinusa
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Response Posted - 09/25/2011 : 11:46:31

Sailors are always prepared

[url="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=collapsible+ladder&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12569319473115736131&sa=X&ei=j3Z_Tq-NJoHGgAf2g80v&ved=0CIkBEPICMAI"]Cabin Ladder[/url]

Hmmm, now if it came in a bag, then we would probably have one on board. After all, we do have bags of bags in bags on board in a bag (hope Peggy doesn't read this

Paul

Edited by - on

Ben
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Response Posted - 09/25/2011 : 16:10:38

I've had my main halyard separate from my mainsail once, going to the top of the mast; and I lashed my fully extended whisker pole, my boathook, and a broom handle together with a musky lure on the end and fished it down. :)

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2011 : 16:14:55

We're not fishers, so no suitable lures on board, but good reason to have them!

Paul

Edited by - on

JohnP
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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2011 : 05:39:04

Chris and Bruce have good suggestions. I'll add this one.

If the halyard has no knot to grab, I would use a 10' pole with duct tape at the end to lightly hold on to the loose line and bring it down 6 feet or so, to the point at which it could be reached by hand. I would push the sticky side of the tape against the line pressed to the mast to attach it to the pole.

Edited by - JohnP on 09/26/2011 05:57:21

piseas
Former Treasurer

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2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2011 : 11:28:52

Paul, Humm. My line to fly my burgee broke. I have tried several things, none which have worked. This would probably do the trick but to spend $200 for something I would probably never use again. Humm, I will have to think about it. Wish Coscto had them. <s>And maybe a few feet longer would be nice too. </s>They do have 15 1/2' at $279!

Great find.
Steve A
PS What did you lean it on? the mast? Do you think the spreaders would take that weight?

Edited by - piseas on 09/26/2011 11:41:08

GaryB
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4312 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2011 : 18:16:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 Chris and Bruce have good suggestions. I'll add this one.

If the halyard has no knot to grab, I would use a 10' pole with duct tape at the end to lightly hold on to the loose line and bring it down 6 feet or so, to the point at which it could be reached by hand. I would push the sticky side of the tape against the line pressed to the mast to attach it to the pole.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Velcro wrapped around the end of the line and the end of a pole. Holds better than tape!

Edited by - on

OJ
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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2011 : 18:31:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 [quote] . . . So Paul is out there at anchor . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Oops, guess I missed that part!

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John Russell
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Response Posted - 09/26/2011 : 18:57:55

So paul, you never said how you solved the dilemma. Let me take a shot at it. Did you slowly push the sail luff tape up the furler causing the halyard to come down until you were able to reach the line or, did Peggy get up on your shoulders? Would've paid admission for the latter.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 10/01/2011 : 12:45:02

No way could we 'push' the sail up the furler. ( I need to lube the furler so that that jib slides easier.)

My solution.
Secured the Jib to the furler to prevent it pulling the line up higher and giving me time to figure it out.

Measure: Extended the boat hook to max and tried to reach the line. Could just get at it.

Used velcro to secure an eye bolt to the end of the boat hook.

Got the admiral on deck.. needed a hand to keep me on the boat.

Tied an open clove hitch in the bight of a thin line and passed it through the eye of the bolt, so making a double loop that when tightened would secure the hanging halyard.

Put two throwable cushions on the deck just in front of the mast to extend my reach.

Peggy held the ends of the thin line and I stood on the cushions and got the loops around the furler halyard. Peggy carefully pulled on the line closing the loops and securing the line to the boat hook.

Da Dahhhhh!

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 10/01/2011 12:45:52

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