Halyards replacement

[zoidberg]

I need to run new mousing lines in respect of all the halyards for my presently-horizontal mast. Most of those I'd fitted have rotted.

I have a set of 'lecky's grp Fishing Rods, to run light line/'lecky cabling along ducts and through bulkheads, but doubt it will manage multiple passes within the mast.

Another idea noticed is the use of a strong ( neodymium? ) magnet moved along the outside which draws a smaller piece - a 'mouse' - up the inside, pulling a light line.

Does anyone have useful experience/suggestions on 'how to do' this effectively....?

 

[thinwater]

You could buy electrician's fish cables/rods. Pretty cheap at a discount place.

If the duct is continuous, sometimes you can vacuum the string, particularly with small ball on the end.

 

[Neeves]

I have 5mm nylon rods, 1m long with screw connectors at each end so I can extend the 1m to however many rods I have (and I can source extra rods, if I ever have a 20m mast )

I use these for both horizontal or vertical work, usually horizontal where each part of a run is short.

For mast work I have always worked vertically, using gravity and a bicycle (or similar) chain.

You seem to imply the mouse lines have rotted. Why not extract each halyard in turn, drawing through (horizontally) 2 mouse lines, one to pull through the original or a replacement halyard and one to leave in the mast (just in case).

If you have an empty mast then I would set it vertically, drop mouse lines + bicycle chain down, using gravity. Again I might drop down 2 mouse lines.

I think neodymium magnets would work, one inside, two out - if you have a smooth, or almost smooth, mast. So no joints (many mast are made in more than one section joined by a sleeve(s) and rivets. Neodymium magnets are very strong but will struggle when they meet rivets, or bolts. You will need two magnets outside as when you reach a barrier you will need to fish about to find a way past. You will need immense patience but, again, if you succeed threading one lightweight mouse line you can pull a bunch through.

It will all be so much easier if you did not pull everything out of the mast.

Jonathan

 

[Daydream believer]

I have 5mm nylon rods, 1m long with screw connectors at each end so I can extend the 1m to however many rods I have (and I can source extra rods, if I ever have a 20m mast )
Jonathan

+1 for a Draper acces kit comprising 10 - 1 metre rods. I also have a pack of 300mm rods because I find them better for use in the cabin when I have to fit additional wiring. However, be aware that the threaded ends do not take a lot of flexing & can break off if abused. So try to keep straight when pushing up the mast

 

[B27]

Getting the halyards from A to B is not hard.
Having them not wrapped around one another may be harder!

I found it helped to change the mouse lines for ~6mm rope, at least then you can feel if there is a wrap inside, and the rope won't go down the side of a sheave etc.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

My new halliards are outside the mast (topping lift still inside). Just like in the old days. Bit more bang and rattle, but less greif if it goes at sea or ashore

 

[RivalRedwing]

If you have a friendly rigger nearby (and depending on you access arrangements) a long length of old rigging wire can be used as as good mouse feeder.

 

[Stemar]

ISTM that there's a lot to be said for external halyards

 

[thinwater]

ISTM that there's a lot to be said for external halyards

... Most of it negative.

 

[Refueler]

ISTM that there's a lot to be said for external halyards

easier to replace ... easier to stop banging mast unlike those that bang inside mast ....

 

[Stemar]

... Most of it negative.

OK, I'll bite. Refueler has given some of the positives; what are the negatives? I'll grant that it's tidier - the mast is prettier without all that string.

 

[thinwater]

OK, I'll bite. Refueler has given some of the positives; what are the negatives? I'll grant that it's tidier - the mast is prettier without all that string.

Really?

Airflow around the mast and mainsail is disturbed by external halyards. Noise and banging under way are greater as they whistle in the wind.

Internal halyards only bang if improperly installed. Mine never have, across 3 boats. I've never had a halyard fail because I inspect and replacement before that; the main thing is watching for chafe problems at the masthead, primarily worn or seized bearings. So no significant downsides.

Neater does not actually come into IMO. And the VAST majority of sailor and builders are in the internal camp, so I feel OK. I have had a boat with external halyards, and it was NOT better IME.

 

[Refueler]

Really?

Airflow around the mast and mainsail is disturbed by external halyards. Noise and banging under way are greater as they whistle in the wind.

[/QUOTE]

OH .. and what about that spinnaker halyard / stroms'l halyard .... topping lift that are normally part or fully external ....
C'mon ... bit stretching a point !! Having sailed and grown up with many external halyard masts - I disagree with you.

Internal halyards only bang if improperly installed. Mine never have, across 3 boats. I've never had a halyard fail because I inspect and replacement before that; the main thing is watching for chafe problems at the masthead, primarily worn or seized bearings. So no significant downsides.

Neater does not actually come into IMO. And the VAST majority of sailor and builders are in the internal camp, so I feel OK. I have had a boat with external halyards, and it was NOT better IME.

Internal halyards are only 'quiet' if mast has internal tubing guides - or other additions to control the internal part of halyards - but problem is actually most small to medium sized boats do not have such and they bang inside the mast - NOT due to bad installation - but due to design.

No-one said either is better - until you interpreted it that way .. All I did was give a few reasons why External can be advantage .. not that its better ...

 

[thinwater]

OH .. and what about that spinnaker halyard / stroms'l halyard .... topping lift that are normally part or fully external ....
C'mon ... bit stretching a point !! Having sailed and grown up with many external halyard masts - I disagree with you.

Internal halyards are only 'quiet' if mast has internal tubing guides - or other additions to control the internal part of halyards - but problem is actually most small to medium sized boats do not have such and they bang inside the mast - NOT due to bad installation - but due to design.

No-one said either is better - until you interpreted it that way .. All I did was give a few reasons why External can be advantage .. not that its better ...
[/QUOTE]

I was just playin' guys. You saw the wink, I hope. But for what it's worth, you will never see an external halyard on a rotating mast on a multihull ... ever. It would completely defeat the purpose.

The topping lift is aft of the sail, so it does no disturb airflow, the upwards part is inside the mast. Additionally, many performance boats don't use lifts. Only a foot or so of the spin halyard is exposed, so that is silly. And yes, the top part of the storm sail halyard is exposed but (a.) few people will ever set one and (b.) at leas the upward leg is protected from the wind.

No, you are not going to agree with me or the vast majority of boat builder and designers.

Let's move on.