Too simple a sloution?

[NPMR]

Since putting the radar reflector permanently on the front of the mast, above the spreaders, we have suffered from the bight of the mainsail halyard attached to the headboard flipping round the mast and becoming trapped round the radar reflector, necessitating a trip up the mast to retrieve it or lashing boat hooks, spinnaker poles et al to get at it.

My solution,originally, now the mast is out, was to put fancy stainless steel 'granny bars' round it. SWMBO's solution was to take some of our chimney sweeping rods with us (light, screw together for length etc - actually not a bad idea but can't admit it) or ...

In a flash of inspiration this morning, I believe I have the answer - but what's the downside? None?

My new idea, is to simply run a light string from port to starboard spreader, taking a turn round the radar reflector on the way. Won't this stop the halyard getting itself round the reflector? Will the string 'sing' like a guitar string?

Too simple to be realistic? Am I missing something?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

perfect solution...

On a previous boat, I tied a light line from the stay to a small d-loop rivetted to the mast to stop much the same thing....

your solution is a bit easier and quicker!

 

[NPMR]

That's what I thought - I love cheap solutions!

 

[fireball]

If you tension it, you may get a vibration setting up a resonance in the rigging ... so perhaps not too tight?

 

[jamesjermain]

You'll be amazed what a rope can get caught round. I wouldn't bet my butt on your bit of string, I'm afraid.

 

[dt4134]

As an alternative, try using a sail tie or a strop at the mast to hold the headboard of the sail down until you're ready to hoist. This allows you to keep the halyard under a small amount of tension and stops it swinging around.

 

[johnalison]

Apart from adding windage, your solution is fine. We had this problem on our last boat and evolved a complex manoeuvre which involved tying a light line and a weight (bucket) to the errant halyard, hoisting it; lowering it ahead of the mast; freeing the snag, and rehoisting and recovering using the light line. Not a pretty sight, but better than motoring home.

 

[roberth]

That's exactly what I now do after having to lash boathook and various bits of stick together and still climb a way off the deck in a lumpy sea off Dover to free a trapped halyard.

Unfortunately this is is of course the very time that this problem is most likely to occur!

 

[jstr]

Keep us posted with how it works, as I need to try something like this.

My cruising chute halyard got caught around our tri-lens last weekend and when I went up on the foredeck and gave it a yank, the tri-lens came down and landed next to me with an almighty crash - as it's heavy if it had hit me, I probably wouldn't be here! Fortunately no damage was done to the deck either.

 

[Jonny_H]

I found thin shock-cord does the job well. As it is elastic it doesn't reverberate (sp?) in the wind, but performs the same function.

On small keelboats and dinghies, this is common place to stop kite halyards etc getting caught between shrouds and spreaders / masts etc

Jonny