Replacing Halyards

[Mike Little]

I noticed recently that my main halyard has become frayed and has actually broken through the upper layer of dacron in several places. It looks like I will shortly need to replace the running rigging on my CD28. I know there must be an easy way of accomplishing this short of going up the mast. Does anyone have a suggestion or ideas on the best way for replacement?

On a different subject, my brother and nephew visited us over the Christmas holiday, and since neither had ever gone sailing, we decided to go out on Christmas eve. It felt real strange to be out on the boat with temps in the low 50's and not a boat to be seen. The weather was quite blustery with winds gusting to over 25 knots creating breaking waves and whitecaps. What an exciting sail!!! Went with the main and boom footed jib. We pegged out at over 10knots on a beam reach. Anyway, it was a little too cool for an extended sail, but it was sure exciting while we were out!!! I was delighted with Valhalla's performance; she was very stable and tracked well considering the gusty winds.

Everyone have a safe and prosperous 1998!

Mike



M.Little@telops.gte.com

[Bob Ohler]

Mike.... do what I did... Tie a small line, actually whipping line is best. Tie one end at the shackle end of your old halyard. Use a rolling hitch. Cut off the old shackle before doing this. Now, tie the the other end of the whipping line to the end of the new halyard. Make several loops with the whipping line between the the two halyards... leaving about a foot or so between them. Now tape the ends where the whipping line attaches to the halyards. THE KEY IS MAKE A SMOOTH TAPER BETWEEN THE THE WHIPPING LINE AND THE NEW HALYARD! Now pull on the old, take up the new, (seems appropriate at this time of year) until the end of the new halyard is in your hand! It works! But take your time; make the taper smooth so the "connection" can roll over the sheave at the top of the mast.
Good Luck!
Bob Ohler
CD25D #2
"Aloha Spirit"



bobohler@chesapeake.net

[Neil Gordon]

>>I know there must be an easy way of accomplishing this short of going up the mast.<<

You just tape or sew (or both) a new halyard to the old one, then haul away. Be careful so that the joint doesn't get caught up or fail, or it's up the mast for sure.

>> temps in the low 50's and not a boat to be seen.<<

Sounds like spring in New England. <G>


Neil
s/v Liquidity
CD28 #167



103355.34@compuserve.com

[Steve Alarcon]

Mike,

An easy way to accomplish the replacement is to attach some lite line to the bitter (free) end of the halyard being replaced, pull the lite line up through the mast head pully by pulling the halyard, disconnect the halyard from the lite line and connect the bitter (free) end of the new halyard to the lite line, then pull the new halyard back through the mast head pully with the lite line. Make sure the lite line is STRONGLY connected to the halyards or you may end up having to shinney up the mast. I use tie-wraps (ask one of the guys there at Telops who has had some telephone system installation experience where you can get some) to secure the lite line to the halyard as they are super strong and won't jam at the mast head. Others recommend sewing the lines together, and I have heard of people using duct tape (I think that's asking for trouble!).

Good luck.

Steve Alarcon
CD 30 Temerity
Seattle



alarcon@internetMCI.com