Reeving line through boom

[hunter323]

I very cleverly pulled through the reefing line into the boom. I now need to get a messenger through the boom to reeve the reefing line back to its original position. Any suggestions please particularly whilst keeping the mainsail in place. The boom is a standard Z Spars with 4 turning blocks at the after end and the same at the fwd end but internal with clamping cleats external. I await your help please.

 

[Hoolie]

Can you tie the messenger to your second reefing line and pull it through with that? It should be long enough to do it.

 

[pagoda]

I very cleverly pulled through the reefing line into the boom. I now need to get a messenger through the boom to reeve the reefing line back to its original position. Any suggestions please particularly whilst keeping the mainsail in place. The boom is a standard Z Spars with 4 turning blocks at the after end and the same at the fwd end but internal with clamping cleats external. I await your help please.

I had to re-reeve the whole lot when I fitted a new boom last year. It was admittedly with the mainsail / lazyjacks / cover etc off the boom. However, though the new boom came with mousing lines, I ended up using a small bolt to get one line to the other end inside the boom, tilting the boom well down aft. Pretty fiddly business. ( the new turning blocks were a tiny bit narrower than the originals -and I had to replace the reefing lines with one size down to get it to work)
With Sail & cover etc in place you might manage it by tilting using the topping lift- in conjunction with disconnecting the gooseneck- and using a strop on the main halyard to support the forward end of the boom? The boltrope/sliders should allow some movement up a little at the mast? I realise there is minimal space to manipulate things inside the forward end of the boom near the turning blocks. If you start tearing your hair out, just take the main off?
Is there a sail cover in the bolt-rope groove on the boom - with the sail "loose-footed" or is the sail in the groove itself?

Graeme

 

[ianat182]

As I posted earlier to the rigging thread ,try using a magnet and thin line with a nail, and slide the magnet along the outside of the boom, missing any rivets or screws;should be easier on a boom too.

ianat182

 

[john_morris_uk]

I've used one of the other reefing lines and roller hitched a thin line to it in the past.

Ot you could try a length of curtain rod - the stuff used for net curtains?

 

[Lady Campanula]

Perhaps what's needed, if the boom cannot be taken off the boat, is a long, thin, stiff rod.

A sufficient length of straightened 3mm galvanised fencing wire would do it. Try a friendly farmer or, if none of them about, a builders' merchant or farming co-op.

The best piece of kit for this job is a very long 4 or 5mm GRP rod, but I appreciate those are not lying around in every garden. They are in mine, however. I've got over a dozen of them....

 

[pagoda]

Perhaps what's needed, if the boom cannot be taken off the boat, is a long, thin, stiff rod.

A sufficient length of straightened 3mm galvanised fencing wire would do it. Try a friendly farmer or, if none of them about, a builders' merchant or farming co-op.

The best piece of kit for this job is a very long 4 or 5mm GRP rod, but I appreciate those are not lying around in every garden. They are in mine, however. I've got over a dozen of them....

I've used an old sail batten for jobs like that in other circumstances. - if you can find a long enough one.

 

[havandra]

Reeving lines

B&Q sell a mouse that plumbers and electricians use, it is rigid but flexible, a contradiction I know, but you probanly know what I mean. It is about 15 metres long. Should do the trick, also very handy on the boat for all sorts of similar problems.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Various electrical suppliers sell extendible sets of rods with a hook at the end and made of fibreglass. They are used for running network cables through roof spaces in offices etc. I've seen them in Maplin.

 

[simonfraser]

tape a mouse line with a loop at the end, on one of the other in boom lines

fish for it at the other end with a looped bit of metal

sounds nuts, but i've achieved it twice

i guess they might well be twisted round each other, but as long as they are not both under tension does it matter ?

 

[Norman_E]

I have used an old wire jackstay to thread messenger lines through my boom.

 

[gasdave]

Wire curtain rod is useful for this, especially if it has the little rings screwed into the end for attaching your mousing line. Just enough stiffness to be helpful and I would think quicker than the magnet trick.
I've also kept my old standing rigging for the same reason, although it would be excessively long for a boom.

 

[hunter323]

I had to re-reeve the whole lot when I fitted a new boom last year. It was admittedly with the mainsail / lazyjacks / cover etc off the boom. However, though the new boom came with mousing lines, I ended up using a small bolt to get one line to the other end inside the boom, tilting the boom well down aft. Pretty fiddly business. ( the new turning blocks were a tiny bit narrower than the originals -and I had to replace the reefing lines with one size down to get it to work)
With Sail & cover etc in place you might manage it by tilting using the topping lift- in conjunction with disconnecting the gooseneck- and using a strop on the main halyard to support the forward end of the boom? The boltrope/sliders should allow some movement up a little at the mast? I realise there is minimal space to manipulate things inside the forward end of the boom near the turning blocks. If you start tearing your hair out, just take the main off?
Is there a sail cover in the bolt-rope groove on the boom - with the sail "loose-footed" or is the sail in the groove itself?

Graeme

The sail bolt rope is in the boom groove. Thanks to all for the varying solutions which I am sure one of them will work