Stuck Halyard

wchevron · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008

i was trying to get my genoa down from the roller furling. uncleated the halyard and started pulling down on the genoa. wouldn't budge. is was blowing about 15-20 knots today so i don't know if that would have anything to do with it. at one point i grabbed a fist full of sail and hung from it. still no
movement. does it seem like the halyard is stuck at the sheave? the halyards are external.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008

Did you use binoculars to look at the halyard at the top of the furling unit. If it is stuck, you should be able to see where it is binding, especially if the halyards are external. Chances are pretty good that it may be wrapped around the furling foil.

wchevron · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008

i tried that but i couldn't see anything twisted or caught. if it is wrapped around the foil, any way to undo it from the deck or am i going to the top of the mast.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008

Wchevron-

It depends...

It might help if you said what make/model furler you have on the boat.

wchevron · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008

it's a profurl L-31. i was just looking in the installation manual but the only troubleshooting is about furling & unfurling.

dvpamenter · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008

Sounds like the halyard is wedged between the sheave and the housing. You should be able to see this with binocs. If yes snapping the halyard sharply with an upward motion may loosen it. If not, happy climbimg.
Don

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008

Unfortunately, I think Don is right... If you can't see it at the halyard swivel, You should be able to see it with binocs, so take a look at the block at the masttop.

speciald · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008

I've had problems with the set screws on the extrusions on my ProFurl headsail furler backing out depite Loctite. Because of the scews stcking out, the top swivel jambs as it descends. Have had to go up the mast and then ride down the head stay, tightening the set screws as I descend the 85 foot mast.

wchevron · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008

ending going up the mast today. dv, you were right. the halyard was wedged between the sheave and housing. it appears as though when the rigger spliced the end of the halyard, it's now too big for the sheave/housing.
it was my first time up the mast. i got about 3/4 the way up and realized i never uncleated the genoa halyard. went the rest of the way up and couldn't get it to budge.
second time, got to the top but couldn't get the halyard free. realized i should have brought a screwdriver or something to pry it out with.
third time up, go the halyard free. pulled about 3' of it free. went back down and started unfurling the genoa. all of a sudden it wouldn't unfurl anymore. ended up twisting the base of the furler and got it all unfurled. tried to pull down the genoa but wouldn't budge.
fourth time up, now the halyard is twisted around the roller furler. get it untwisted and pull the halyard down as i'm lowering myself down.
the only good thing is by the third time up, i was feeling more comfortable using the harness & prusik rope and was getting up fairly quickly.

Faster · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008

Well done... and lessons learned!