The View From The Top

[Stillraining]

Does Half way up count?..Im always doing things Half ***

[smackdaddy]

I thought it was Zappa.

[Bene505]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

Does Half way up count?..Im always doing things Half ***

Only if you have the largest Flemish coil known to man.

Regards,
Brad

[Bene505]

Originally Posted by bobmcgov

... Bene505, sounds like you're using a single prussik on the spi halyard for backup. Which is a great idea -- but it's best to use two of em. Can't loosen one under load, so if you have two you can 'walk' them down, plus double your odds of it catching you in a fall.

We'd sometimes use a single prussik (or Klemheist) as backup on complicated rappels, with the understanding that it might save you in a fall but would be hell on roller skates to move again, even w/ the rappel device as a 'second' prussik. You can use just one, but have the means to rig a second (3' of shoelace will do ya).

It's worse than that, I think. The other end of the knot I used went to a bowline around my chest. I tie that backup knot to the spinnaker halyard. If the main sheet failed, I'd be dangling with a lot of pain on my shoulders. But I wouldn't be falling at least. And I could control the decent using the knot I used -- I tested it for a short distance.

This fall I took some of my halyards down, replacing them with a much cheaper line for the winter on the hard. On the spinnaker halyard, the smaller line "untied" from the halyard while running it through. It was "raining dacron line" for a few moments there.

In the spring I have to re-thread my spinnaker halyard through the mast. Anyone know if that's difficult to do? I figure I'll tie a 10 foot, thin messenger line to the end of it. I'll lower the spinnaker almost all the way down. Then I'll use a shop vac to suck the messenger line out through the opening in the mast where it's supposed to come out.

Regards,
Brad

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by Bene505

In the spring I have to re-thread my spinnaker halyard through the mast. Anyone know if that's difficult to do?

Regards,
Brad

go to you local home improvement store and get yourself a 100 ft stool of 3/32sd line to use a messenger. slip 8 to 10, 1/4 x 20 nuts onto the end of the line and tie a knot so they stay on. The nuts give the messenger weight so, you feed the line (knot end first) down the mast from the top, with a coat hanger fish out the line where it exits at the bottom of the mast. Then tie and tape the halyard to the end of the messenger over lapping by 6 inches and pull it on through.

[Bene505]

Originally Posted by bubb2

go to you local home improvement store and get yourself a 100 ft stool of 3/32sd line to use a messenger. slip 8 to 10, 1/4 x 20 onto the end of the line and tie a knot so they stay on. The nuts give the messenger weight so, you feed the line (knot end first) down the mast from the top, with a coat hanger fish out the line where it exits at the bottom of the mast. Then tie and tape the halyard to the end of the messenger over lapping by 6 inches and pull it on through.

That's excellent. Thanks Bubb!

There is very little extra space around the mast-exit hole. The halyard barely fits through. I lost the halyard because I used tape-only to hold the messenger line on. In the spring I may splice the messenger to the very end of the halyard using many "layers" of thread.

Regards,
Brad

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

Does Half way up count?..Im always doing things Half ***

Still - I'd like to say that I'm very impressed with the nice, neat coil on that red line...but then I see the other spaghetti all over your deck and I can't help but shake my head and sigh quietly.

What would L38 think (WWL38T)?

[Bene505]

And with 3 better-looking volunteers available, I'm surprise he was the one going up.

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by Bene505

That's excellent. Thanks Bubb!

There is very little extra space around the mast-exit hole. The halyard barely fits through. I lost the halyard because I used tape-only to hold the messenger line on. In the spring I may splice the messenger to the very end of the halyard using many "layers" of thread.

Regards,
Brad

Brad, On the bitter end of the halyard starting 6 to 10 inches back. Take the messenger line and start making half hitches around the halyard. Make 10 to 15. pull them tight. If you like belts and spenders, then
get out your sail Needle and Waxed thread and run a few stitches though the both of them before you tape over them.

[mintcakekeith]

I notice there was a mention of using prusick loops for self protection which is a good idea but you do need practice and it helps if you have a foot loop on one .I tend to use SRT kit to go up mast but use a shunt on a second halyard as back up .K