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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

help! no halyards!

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vera
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/12/2004 : 10:29:31

My wife accidentally pulled BOTH the jib and the main halyard to the mast head with the sails removed. Aside from throwing her overboard, is there any trick to get them back without dropping the mast? (I don't have a chair or steps either)

Edited by - on

frankr
Captain

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256 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 10:41:15

You might try getting 2 or 3 pieces of 3/4 inch pvc pipe. Attaching it all together with a wire snag on the end and try to snag the ends and pull them down.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5937 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 11:02:05

Recently someone on the forum suggested you attach a treble fish hook to the pipe or pole to snag the halyard. I've never tried it, but it sounds like a good idea.

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 11:20:05

Would rope climbing ascenders and a harness work for climbing the forestay?

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 11:45:34

I guess a common approach if all else fails is to drop the mast down far enough to snag or grab the halyards, or drop it all the way if necessary. Also its not good to have the admiral scared or afraid. We have all done stupid things with or without help. It just isn't all published yet.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 12:32:31

Call SuperMan, one quick jump and he has it for you.

Edited by - on

dgabel
1st Mate

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USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 13:54:30

One method that has worked for me is to move the boat to a fixed dock at low tide. In Northport Harbor, that puts the boat about 10 feet below the level of the dock. Not it's much easier to snag something aloft with whatever you have to try it. We've used a pruning hook to great effect.

This assumes, of course, that you are in an area affected by tides, and that there is a fixed dock somewhere that you can get to.

Dave Gabel
Walkure, '79 fin keel, tall rig, Hull 1484.

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 15:44:51

Vera,

DO NOT THROW YOUR WIFE OVERBOARD! It is a waste of a perfectly usable wife.

I use an extension ladder well braced and tied and extended to the spreaders when I work on the steaming and deck lights. If you do that, you would only need a hook-thingy about 14 feet long.

Otherwise, taking the mast down is not that hard.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 15:53:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 Would rope climbing ascenders and a harness work for climbing the forestay?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Most ascenders, etc you buy at climbing stores will NOT work on wire (assuming you have a wire forestay). Even if they do, they may pull strands. Unless you a)have ascenders you know are rated for wire and the size wire you have and b)experience climbing and down-climbing an angled line, I'd advise being very careful.

I have done a lot of climbing with ascenders. I need to work on the halyards and lights this winter and I plan to bring the mast down.

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 17:46:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ilnadi
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 Would rope climbing ascenders and a harness work for climbing the forestay?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Most ascenders, etc you buy at climbing stores will NOT work on wire. Even if they do, they may pull strands.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Exactly the kind of thing I'd try, and then I'd be back here on Monday complaining about the outcome. Glad I asked!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2004 : 22:07:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ilnadi
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 Would rope climbing ascenders and a harness work for climbing the forestay?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Most ascenders, etc you buy at climbing stores will NOT work on wire. Even if they do, they may pull strands.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Exactly the kind of thing I'd try, and then I'd be back here on Monday complaining about the outcome. Glad I asked!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Whew--I was just about to try it, too... Thanks for the warning!

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2004 : 14:08:09

The treble hook thingie that Steve mentioned was my suggestion and has worked for me on one occasion...wonder if it worked for the fellow who asked initially?

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2004 : 14:11:57

WHAT ! She she raised both halyards to the top without a pennant? Egad some women will do anything to keep her honey on the hard DAGNABIT!!!!

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2004 : 14:50:44

Gee,

I wish I'd thought of the treble-hook idea last week. It would have saved me a ride in a bosun's chair when the knot the rigger put on the main halyard shackle came undone as I was hoisting the sail.

Fortunately it fouled around the radio antenna so I didn't have to fish it back though the mast.

On the bright side, I got to practice some of those special words without embarassing anyone.

Edited by - on

frank679
1st Mate

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USA
42 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2004 : 15:22:33

Been there done that. My solution (1)attach an extended golf ball retriever to a boat hook. (2) Wrap the inside of the retriever with duct tape (sticky side out). (3) Go fish.
It worked for me.

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2004 : 20:06:13

Would a magnet on pole extensions work if there are shackles on the halyard ends?

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2004 : 20:27:22

Would a magnet on pole extensions work if there are shackles on the halyard ends? - Steve

'Not likely ... I would expect the shackle to be made of stainless steel, and good stainless steel isn't attracted by a magnet.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 08:17:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tinob
 The treble hook thingie that Steve mentioned was my suggestion and has worked for me on one occasion...wonder if it worked for the fellow who asked initially?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I haven't been out to the lake this month, so haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Someone also suggested trying to snag the halyard with a pole extension wrapped at the upper end with a foot or so of duck tape sticky side out. I'll probably try the duck tape first, since I have some at hand, whereas fish hooks I would have to buy somewhere.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 15:24:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by lcharlot
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tinob
 The treble hook thingie that Steve mentioned was my suggestion and has worked for me on one occasion...wonder if it worked for the fellow who asked initially?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I haven't been out to the lake this month, so haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Someone also suggested trying to snag the halyard with a pole extension wrapped at the upper end with a foot or so of duck tape sticky side out. I'll probably try the duck tape first, since I have some at hand, whereas fish hooks I would have to buy somewhere.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Larry: What brought you into this? Sounds like you (or your First Mate) lost a halyard too...

Three hooks are better than one, but I would think that a bent piece of coathanger wire (or the like) taped to the end of a pole would be able to catch the shackle. I'd be concerned about the fish hook barb catching in the other halyard--you might not be able to get it out.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/15/2004 15:30:55

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