internal mast halyard-lost

[david105]

I lost the halyard, and it ran up over the top of the mast and down inside. I believe it us bunched up at the steaming wiring. I've got the other end at the step of the mast, but it is kinked and not budging...

I thought I would get a grappling style fishing hook on some twine, weighted, and try to retrieve this halyard.
It was one of those moments that happens in slo-motion and you immediately start kick yourself for the obvoiuse things i could have done to avoid this!

All sugestions are welcome, I am hopeful someone has a good idea for me to pursue. Thank you in advance, David

[knothead]

Originally Posted by david105

I lost the halyard, and it ran up over the top of the mast and down inside. I believe it us bunched up at the steaming wiring. I've got the other end at the step of the mast, but it is kinked and not budging...

I thought I would get a grappling style fishing hook on some twine, weighted, and try to retrieve this halyard.
It was one of those moments that happens in slo-motion and you immediately start kick yourself for the obvoiuse things i could have done to avoid this!

All sugestions are welcome, I am hopeful someone has a good idea for me to pursue. Thank you in advance, David

If you think it hung up at the steaming light, then you might want to go up, remove the light and see if you can't fish it out there.
Whatever you do, don't pull too hard on the line at the exit. If it's not budging, stop pulling.
What kind of rigging terminals do you have on the top of the lower shrouds?
If you have t-balls, you might have a big enough opening to remove the halyard there if you take one loose.
Good luck.

[skippertips]

Can you remove the exit blocks from their mountings at the base of the mast? It might allow a large enough opening to gently fish the line out.