Chrysler Sailors Forum

So I was out on a local lake motoring around trying to find some waterfalls far back in a cove, came out and raised the main sail n all was well. Then "pop" ..mainsail down...the knot where the cable and rope connect came undone, sending the halyard skyward. Grrrrrawl....I was furious....tried everything I could think of to coax it down...no luck.

It was about 10AM in upstate SC...sun was starting to get hot. I was definitely not looking forward to putting this thing back on the trailer and dropping the mast just so I could get that damn halyard!

I took out the strap i use to strap up the rudder when on the trailer and made a saddle to sit in and attached it to the foresail halyard. Made SURE this one was tied right! Attached a block to the toerail beside the mast. Ran the halyard through the block and to the winch. Sat in the saddle and had the girlfriend crank away at the winch...nothin happened. She only weighs about 120 and couldnt budge me. I was bound and determined to get that damn halyard down...with out taking the mast down...

We regrouped...this time I just pulled the saddle over my shoulders so it went around my back and under my armpits and attached to the halyard in front of me. This way i could sorta climb the mast as she winched me to the top. It worked...amazingly well!!! I wish we would have snapped some pics...I'm sure it was a site to be seen!

Anyone know of an easier way to retrieve a lost halyard? ..I would have been S.O.L. if I had been alone...

I made a rope with climbing loops knotted into it. As I tied the loops I put a section of old gardern hose in each loop so that the loops will sprng open and I tied five sail slides into the rope to keep it close to the mast when the boat leans. I clip it to my main haul yard and pull it up then I wear my harness with the jib halyard attached and the girl firend takes the slack out of that line while I climb the rope up the main.

I have the "commercial' version of what frank made.... i wish I would have thought of "franks ladder" before I bought my ladder.... I also have a mountain climibing helmet on board that i wear when I go aloft, so if all fails and I crash to the deck.... the next owner won't have to ask the forum how to clean brains ( I assume I have some) off the non-skid....

BUt I found it hard to go past the spreaders..