Winterising, new boy needs help

[1515fitzhenry]

Removing halyards using mouse. I have removed halyards that go through blocks at the top of the mast by whipping similar diameter rope end on to halyards and covering with tape. I am having trouble with halyards that come through the mast, the above system is too bulky to pass through. Do i attach a very thin line, if so am worried that when i reverse the procedure and try and pull the thicker halyard through it will jam. New to big boats and too old to try climbing masts in anything other than an emergency so looking for some experienced views. Sorry this is so basic but i am an old new boy with a wise head who does'nt want to come to a sticky end! (not on a boat anyway!).
Thanks in anticipation.
Fitzy

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[paulrossall]

You should put through a temporary line which is thinner than the halyard. You need to make sure when you replace the temp. with the proper halyard that you fix it securely and then I would wrap insulation tape around the tail of the temp. line so that a smooth profile is made onto the proper halyard.

 

[Miker]

I attached my temporary line by putting a loop of whipping twine at the end of the halyard and fastening the line to that. It made a smooth connection which did not bind. Make sure that the temporary line is strong enough to withstand the winter winds without fraying, and fasten very securely. I speak from bitter experience.

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[AuntyRinum]

No need to remove halyards for the winter. Just make sure that you have frapping lines on and the halyards will last for ever.

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[VicMallows]

They do get rather filthy though ... mine have been in place for 18 years.

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[MIKE_MCKIE]

However you attach the lazy guy to the halyard make sure it is secure & that the lazy guy is STRONG ENUFF!!!
Did mine last year & on trying to re-reeve the halyards in early January (yes I am mad) the main halyard lazy guy parted just as the join went through the masthead sheeve! The air for miles around suddenly rose about 20 degrees as I expressed my opinion of all things nautical, including cretins who used inadequate gear for the job (me of course) (as well as being mad I am also into self criticism in a big way!)
Imagine the fun of rigging a bosuns chair to the spinnaker halyard, then hoisting myself single handed up aloft to re-rig the main halyard. Single handed because all other sensible sailors were well inside nursing a nice drink in front of a warm fire, this being the first weekend in January! There were several walkers along the Marina walkway who stopped & looked at the loony in the air, but fortunately no-one offered either advice or comment.
About halfway up I started doing mental stability calculations of the " will the boat tip over when I get to the top" variety. If nothing else it lent strength to my arms to get up & down ASAP! The fact that even after 30 years at sea I am still terrified of heights only added to the gaiety of the situ! Fortunately the bicycle clips held, so I didn't desecrate anyones decks while up there!
In short, whatever way you do it, check the strength first!
Brgds
Mike


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[Benbow]

If you are leaving your mast up over winter I would certainly advise replacing halyards with 'scrap' rope.

The best way to do this is to sew a butt-joint with whipping thread and a sail needle, this is much easier than it sounds - takes perhaps 60 seconds per join and will not jam or break. I do it like this: sew back and forth a few times in 1 rope to lock the end, run a thread to the second rope straight through and back to the first, pull so ends are snug against each other. Repeat so that the join is held in a 'cage' of at least 4 threads. Pass back and forth through 1 rope a few times to lock it.

Keep plenty of tension as you run it through the mast.

If (as I do) you use cheap laid rope as you temp line, you will need to whip the ends 1st . In the spring look at the state of your keeper and be glad that it wan't your working halyard.

Hope that helps.

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