Need some advice on new sailboat

[meginvan]

Hi,

We just bought a boat and the previous owner pulled the mainsail rope off the boom through the pulley at the top of the mast and dropped it.

I've looked online and only videos and explanations are with the rope still attached at the top of the mast.

How do we get the rope to the top of the mast again? Can the bosun chair attach to another line maybe?

Thanks in advance .

 

[skipmac]

Sorry not totally clear on what you're referring to. Are you asking about the line that is used to hoist the mainsail up the mast? That would be the main halyard. If yes, does the halyard go up to the top of the mast around the pulley and down inside the mast to come out around the bottom or lower side of the mast? Or does the rope go over the pulley at the top and just down the other side of the mast? Last question, doesn't the boat have two sails, main sail and jib? Then it should have two halyards. You could use the second to go up the mast although I prefer having a second line as a safety when I go up the mast.

 

[meginvan]

I'll be going to check on the boat on the weekend and do the 3 hour drive. I've printed your answer and I'll try and get the information to your questions. If its not sorted out by the time I'm back. Either way I'll repost and not leave you hanging.

My hubby says the boom is sitting in a cradle on top of a fiberglass dodger. This is a Yorkton 35. We do have a jib which is thankfully still operational. I'm not sure which way the line is supposed to go on the main sail but will try to figure it out when I go there. I'll take a few pics just in case.

If we do go up the jib what can we attach the second line to for safety?

 

[skipmac]

FIRST THING. If you are not experienced in going up a boat's mast and if you don't have the proper kit to do so then don't. AND if you plan to be hoisted up on a halyard make sure your helpers working the winch know what they're doing and don't drop you. Even on a 35' boat the fall from up the mast could easily kill you or leave you permanently injured.

If the boat has only two halyards then you might not have another line to use for a safety. Some boats have several. I am rigged with six. Two jib halyards, two main sail halyards (one used for a topping lift), a spinnaker halyard and a staysail halyard (which only goes partway up the mast). On 35' boat I think you might have more than two, maybe a spinnaker halyard. That would be better than nothing for a safety but these are generally not as sturdy as the others.

 

[skipmac]

I'll be going to check on the boat on the weekend and do the 3 hour drive. I've printed your answer and I'll try and get the information to your questions. If its not sorted out by the time I'm back. Either way I'll repost and not leave you hanging.

My hubby says the boom is sitting in a cradle on top of a fiberglass dodger. This is a Yorkton 35. We do have a jib which is thankfully still operational. I'm not sure which way the line is supposed to go on the main sail but will try to figure it out when I go there. I'll take a few pics just in case.

If we do go up the jib what can we attach the second line to for safety?

By the way, that cradle holding the boom goes by the grim name of boom cradle.

Might I suggest you get a book or two on basic boating, one with a diagram of the boat, mast, rigging and all the parts. That way you can get the proper names for all the bits and it makes asking questions much easier and will usually get you a better answer.

Good luck and congrats on the new (to you) boat

 

[rotrax]

Hi,

We just bought a boat and the previous owner pulled the mainsail rope off the boom through the pulley at the top of the mast and dropped it.

I've looked online and only videos and explanations are with the rope still attached at the top of the mast.

How do we get the rope to the top of the mast again? Can the bosun chair attach to another line maybe?

Thanks in advance .

In that case I would get the rigger to do it and bill the previous owner.............................

 

[V1701]

If it is the main halyard and if it's external then climbing up the mast will enable you to resolve the issue but if it goes up to the top & then inside the mast it's going to be more difficult but maybe still possible without removing the mast depending on what else is there...

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

By the way, that cradle holding the boom goes by the grim name of boom cradle.

Might I suggest you get a book or two on basic boating, one with a diagram of the boat, mast, rigging and all the parts. That way you can get the proper names for all the bits and it makes asking questions much easier and will usually get you a better answer.

Good luck and congrats on the new (to you) boat

Or do a course at a sailing school.