halyard @ top of mast

[aeb0508]

Sunday my mainsail halyard & shackle flew up the mast when I unhooked it from the sail. Is there any reasonable way to retrieve it? I have a Catalina 22 and the mast can be stepped. I have never lost my halyard, and never stepped the mast, and hoped not to have to, since I''d have to get a boatyard to step it.

[sailr4]

Happened to me on my Cal 22.... tryed as I may, I still had to unstep the mast... Not as hard as you think... did it at the dock.

[paulk]

You could also try climbing up the mast of a friend''s bigger boat, and standing on the spreaders with a boathook to hook your halyard. Heeling your boat over so the mast-climber on your friend''s boat can grab it may be a bit more dangerous, but quicker.

[Jeff_H]

Don''t feel too badly about this. Been there, done that, got the Tee shirt. Unstepping a mast on a Catalina 22 should not be that hard. The mast is comparatively light and if I remember correctly they have a hinged mast step. Two people should be able to do it themselves. I had a 23 foot trimarran that I used to step and unstep the mast on it by myself. I would go to the Trailer Bulletin Board to see if there are any short cuts for stepping a Cat 22 mast. http://www.cruisecortez.com/webbbs/trailersailor/index.cgi

If you really do not want to lower your mast then the hot ticket is to tie up to a friend''s bigger boat (ideally 35 feet or more) and using your jib halyard around the other boats mast(ideally near his spreaders so you won''t damage their mast) haul your mast over until it is close to the big boat''s mast and then go up his mast and grab your halyard. This takes lots of fenders but probably is faster than dropping your mast. On the other hand if you lower your mast its a great chance to inspect it for wear and tear.

Good luck,
Jeff

[brucemcald]

If you really, really want to avoid stepping the mast, you might try getting a painter''s pole--12-15 feet--and lashing it to a telescoping boat hook or brush. When my throat halyard block''s eyestrap gave way and the block went to the top of the mast, I lashed together a telescoping boat hook and telescoping brush and snagged the block. My mast is about 20 feet above the deck, but the block was several feet shy of the top of the mast.

Cheers,
Bruce

[Centaur]

If you can move your boom up the sail track slide, move it up as high as you can and still climb up on it securing it by attaching the jib halyard around it and topping lift to rear. Step up on it and use a telescoping boat hook to retrieve the main halyard .... if thats not long enough tie an extention onto the boathook ... Rick R

[patg]

I own a 20'' trailersailer, a ''77 RK1. . . second season we owned the boat my wife and I experienced the same problem. . . an extendable pole, boat hook, duct tape and patience did the trick. . . as far as being hesitant to lower/step the mast, this is an skill to have owning a boat of this size. . . we can do things the big guys can''t. . .

[express]

I would motor over to your local boat yard with a haulout equitment and pay them to bring the halyard down. Lowering the mast on 22 ft sure not be a big job for two people. This is all part of the wondful experience of sailing and owning a boat.
Bill S

[hamiam]

I would goto the boat yard and pull into the area where they usually haul boats. Typically, the tracks for the travellift are quite a distance off the water. Walk out onto the tracks over the water and, using a hook if necessary, get the haylard and shoot it back down to the deck.

[Jeff_H]

Folks

You know the original halyard went up the mast in October. It must be down by now.

Jeff