Mousing line / halyard replacement problem... solved.

[sgr143]

Two years ago, as a new boat owner (new owner, old boat!), I royally cocked up replacing a spinnaker halyard, taken out for washing. I attached the mousing line to the halyard using only gaffer tape, with the predictable-in-hindsight result that the two became parted. Various attempts since to sort this out, of the "dangling a weighted line down the mast" type all failed miserably. But today, a cunning plan was put into operation - and succeeded!

The mast being off the boat allowed for the insertion of a long thin fibreglass pole (screws together in sections, like a sweep's brush: obtained from screwfix) up the mast from the base. On the end of the pole was taped a stick magnet from a Geomag set. The pole was marked for length so as to be able to position the magnet under the sheave near the top of the mast. Another magnet was attached to the end of a mousing line, and lowered over the sheave into the mast. This resulted in a highly satisfying "snick" as the two magnets snapped together. The pole was carefully withdrawn, pulling the mousing line down though the mast. The mousing line was then sewn (very firmly) to the long-departed halyard, which was pulled back into its proper place. Oh yes.

Steve

 

[Eeyore]

What sort of diameter is this "long thin fibreglass pole?" Any link to the item?

 

[sgr143]

8mm. https://www.screwfix.com/p/cablequick-cable-access-kit-10m/82483
This is a 10m long set, originally bought to sort out a similar problem when the main halyard snapped on my RS Vision. It was just long enough to do the job, as the sheave was about 7/8 of the way up the mast; I'd need another rod or two to reach all the way up the mast. Screwfix and others also do more sophisticated (and longer) sets. Try "cabling rods" in a search engine.

 

[zoidberg]

8mm. https://www.screwfix.com/p/cablequick-cable-access-kit-10m/82483
Try "cabling rods" in a search engine.

That magnet tip is a good 'un, and I'll use that shortly. However, the Screwfix kit is relatively expensive.
Try eBay/UK for 'CABLE ACCESS KIT'.... They offer several for less than £10

 

[sgr143]

However, the Screwfix kit is relatively expensive. Try eBay/UK for 'CABLE ACCESS KIT'.... They offer several for less than £10

For sure - when I did a search just now, I found there were lots out there. It was the magnet trick I was so very chuffed with. SNICK!

 

[Eeyore]

Thanks guys.

 

[Jabs]

Not tried it with a mast but I had a roof rack with straps running from one side to the other, across the roof, inside a rectangular tube. They got pulled out.

I used a vacuum cleaner to 'suck' them through!

Useful trick maybe!

Tony.

 

[syTaika]

Two years ago, I mounted a removable Solent stay, so I needed a new halyard. It was before the season so the mast was laying horizontally on its back. I taped a mousing line to a piece of iron and used a strong magnet outside of the mast to pull the mousing line through the hole for the sheave box to the mast base. The first trial failed of course, but the second time was successful.

 

[Jabs]

Two years ago, I mounted a removable Solent stay, so I needed a new halyard. It was before the season so the mast was laying horizontally on its back. I taped a mousing line to a piece of iron and used a strong magnet outside of the mast to pull the mousing line through the hole for the sheave box to the mast base. The first trial failed of course, but the second time was successful.

Genius!

Tony

 

[Lodesman77]

Am I right in thinking that the OP has taken two years to solve his problem? That's a lot of thinking time...

 

[sgr143]

Am I right in thinking that the OP has taken two years to solve his problem? That's a lot of thinking time...

You are right.... 2 years! Various attempts to sort it out from the top end with the mast in place failed dismally. This is the first time I've had the mast down, primarily to sort out a defective furler (see other posts), so now I've been able to take a sort of per rectum approach.

 

[Lodesman77]

Well congratulations on sorting the problem; I hope there aren't any mice/birds nests in your spinnaker...