Replacing standing rigging while its, well, standing

[Dick Kobayashi]

Working with my main halyard and my headsail halyard I notice they are prett beat up. But, of course I didn't notice before the rig went up and didn't remember how bad they were last September. Can I get new rigging and install by taping it to the old to run through the mast top pulleys. Any ideas welcome...woulda, coulda shoulda sort of situation.

[David Morton]

Yes, I have done this very thing. However, I would not rely solely on tape. use some whipping twine and a good sewing needle to bring the two butt ends together, then tape over it, making sure you don't add too much bulk so that the join passes easily over the sheave. And do not force it thru the sheave with anything more than light to moderate pressure.
Good luck. and keep your bosun's chair handy!

David

[Jim Walsh]

David has the solution. Follow his advice to the letter and you'll have no problem.

[Jeff and Sarah]

Worth noting, halyards are running rigging. Your shrouds and stays are standing rigging. The advice given is sound though. Great job staying ahead of catastrophe by replacing them at the first signs of wear.

[Paul D.]

I second the sewing of the two lines together and pulling up, maybe with a bit of tape over it. Another old climber's trick I use each year to pull down the halyards for the winter and pull them up in the spring is to use some strong small stuff and tie a clove hitch on the end of the old halyard with a back up or two further down the halyard. You can then tie the other end of the small stuff in the same manner to the new halyard. I would put a bit of tape over the new halyard to make it run through the sheave smoother. Key is getting the clove hitch tied firmly but right at the end of the new halyard. If it doesn't go through with moderate pull, go have a mental cigarette. You'll probably jam it or worse, lose the halyard by breaking the small stuff. I've not had that problem however using 1/8" paracord.

The only reason I do this is it seems somewhat faster than sewing which I used to do, and takes less tools. Yes, I am a lazy sailor - which will be the name of my retirement pub somewhere near the water.

[John #126]

When you get your new halyards, have your rigger splice a reeving eye splice in the bitter end. This will run through the sheeves easily. It gives you the option of attaching a messenger line, which you can leave up whenever you want to take your halyards down.

[Jim Cornwell]

Each of Yankee's halyards has a small, tight loop of dacron cord sewn to the bitter end and further secured under the bitter end whipping. Attaching a messenger to remove and replace halyards, and for substituting a sacrificial rope during winter layup, is easily done with a needle and twine. Takes just a couple of minutes.