Technique Mousing Halyards

[Lucky Duck]

Technique for Mousing Halyards

I am looking to do this for the first time and would rather not have the two lines part while in the (keel stepped) mast!

What would be the best way of connecting the two ropes (halyards are 12mm 16/16 braid on braid) and the most cost effective type mousing rope?

 

[sailorman]

when i make up my halliards i work a loop into the whipping on one end. then use what ever cordage is to hand for a messenger, normally 2m/m terylene that is in my scran bag.
you might sew the messenger to the halliard. keep tension on both ends as you pull through to stop the messenger coming off of the mast hd sheave

 

[Tranona]

Use either method - loop or sew the messenger in to the end of the halyard. Useful to tape over the join so that nothing snags and it goes over sheaves easily.

 

[lw395]

I use 8mm cheap rope from a pound shop as the mouse, it seems more reliable than thin line.
Bear in mind that long term sunlight will weaken most cheap rope.
I generally sew the messenger to the end of the halyard and tape over the join.

 

[rob2]

I also prefer a more substantial and cheap polypropylene rope as a mouse. It cannot drop off a pulley like a thin line and jam. For the time it will be in place it will not degrade, but the ends are prone to unravelling so it should be heat sealed and then "whipped" by binding in insulating tape. Sew it to the halyard, butted end to end and a thin wrap of tape to stop it jamming as it goes past obstructions.

Rob

 

[flaming]

I am looking to do this for the first time and would rather not have the two lines part while in the (keel stepped) mast!

What would be the best way of connecting the two ropes (halyards are 12mm 16/16 braid on braid) and the most cost effective type mousing rope?

We use thin cheap line. Doesn't really matter what.

Don't try and join both halyards at once, but get the mouse into the mast, then pull the new halyard through.

I have a tried and tested knot / electrical tape method that I use, that could be summed up as "more is more". If you're looking to do this one evening midweek drop me a line and I'll come give you a hand.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I am looking to do this for the first time and would rather not have the two lines part while in the (keel stepped) mast!

What would be the best way of connecting the two ropes (halyards are 12mm 16/16 braid on braid) and the most cost effective type mousing rope?

I use some 5mm braided stuff i acquired somewhere as the mousing line, and sew it onto the end of the halyards with a sailmaker's needle and whipping twine. End to end, not side by side, by the way, and whipped after it has been sewn to make the join reasonably smooth.

 

[Twister_Ken]

when i make up my halliards i work a loop into the whipping on one end. then use what ever cordage is to hand for a messenger, normally 2m/m terylene that is in my scran bag.

+1

 

[Lucky Duck]

If you're looking to do this one evening midweek drop me a line and I'll come give you a hand.

That would be very helpful, thank you :encouragement: Will send a PM shortly.

Plus many thanks for the other posts giving tips the guidance, the new ropes will definately have loops!

 

[RobbieW]

We use thin cheap line. Doesn't really matter what.

Don't try and join both halyards at once, but get the mouse into the mast, then pull the new halyard through.

I have a tried and tested knot / electrical tape method that I use, that could be summed up as "more is more". If you're looking to do this one evening midweek drop me a line and I'll come give you a hand.

Pretty much my method - knots are a couple of rolling hitches with electrical tape over them. Alternatively sew a loop with heavy whipping twine into the end of the halyard then youve a ready made pull through for changing/washing/etc.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have been replacing all halyards with 6 mm polypropylene for 20 years now. I bought a 200 metre coil from a farmers supplier, very cheap. The ends of the polyprop and halyards are heat sealed. I use short lengths of soft iron galvanised wire to join the two, the same ones have been in use for about five years now, prior to that I used stainless but now have none left. Just push the wires through the ends of the ropes and hook them together, squeezing the wire closed if the loop looks too large to go through the sheaves. I usually do five masthead halyards and the spinnaker pole uphaul in about half an hour.

In the last couple of years the polyprop has finally deteriorated to an extent that I no longer use it. The problem is that the outer fibres have gone brittle and break off, creating masses of blue dust. I dumped it all last year, replacing with cheap Greek line around 4 mm.