[C38] Binding Halyards/Masthead

Les hlhowell at pacbell.net
Sat Jul 5 12:01:09 EDT 2008


I forgot to mention... With the sheet winches, you can develop more than
1 ton of pull.
I wouldn't force that too much, because you might bend the pins in the
sheaves if they are taking the strain.  
Then removing them would really be tough.

Regards,
Les H
On Sat, 2008-07-05 at 08:57 -0700, Les wrote:
> This sounds like something has snagged the halyard.  With no load, the
> halyard would normally just slide over the sheave.  You may have
> something lodged inside the mast.  And for it to be both halyards is
> really weird.  Do they by any chance move in tandem?  If you hold the
> jib sheet and pull the main shackle, does the jib halyard try to move
> with it?  Are they wire to rope?  If you are using wire to rope
> halyards, and this is the case, one may have fishooked and grabbed the
> other.
> 
> Regards,
> Les H
> On Sat, 2008-07-05 at 09:52 -0400, Russ and Karleen Duff wrote:
> > Thanks for the replies.  The only thing I see that is a problem is
> > that the halyards aren’t just difficult to move, they WON’T move.
> > Actually, the main halyard will move a few feet if I use the winch,
> > but then it takes all my weight to pull it down, and the jib halyard
> > won’t move at all. Does this shed any light on things? 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Sincerely,
> > Russ Duff
> > Catalina 38, Hull #112
> > "AVANTURA"
> > Lake Erie
> > Grosse Ile, Michigan
> > 
> > AVANTURA AT COMCAST DOT NET
> > 
> > 
> >                                    
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> > From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
> > [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Tom T.
> > Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 8:59 AM
> > To: Catalina 38 Listserve
> > Subject: Re: [C38] Binding Halyards/Masthead
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > Hello Russ,
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > Servicing the sheaves on our masts is difficult to do unless the mast
> > is unstepped.  Our masthead is welded captive to the mast and cannot
> > be removed so the sheaves have to be serviced with the masthead in
> > place.
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > When I unstepped my mast a few years ago, I found that one of my
> > masthead sheaves was different from the rest.  Then I found the
> > original matching sheave in the mast step where it had dropped from an
> > earlier repair attempt from a previous owner.
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > Our masthead sheaves are secured by a gate on the side of the masthead
> > held by tapped screws.  Once the plate is removed, it's easy to remove
> > the sheave pin but doing so will allow the sheave to drop to the
> > bottom of the mast if you don't secure it properly.
> > 
> > 
> > I think the only way to safely service the sheaves with the mast up is
> > to remove one halyard at a time and service one sheave at a time
> > without the load of the halyard on it.  You could then easily use wire
> > or string to secure the unloaded sheave to remove it from the
> > masthead.  I had an easier job because my mast was down laying on saw
> > horses but I did envision doing this procedure with the mast stepped
> > and believe it is possible.
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > I used marine trailer axle grease on my sheave pin.  I had tried WD40
> > and even PB Blaster when the mast was up but they were only of limited
> > success.  By completely removing the sheaves and pins, polishing any
> > corrosion off and then greasing with a waterproof grease has made my
> > halyards work very smooth and easy.
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > I had limited time when my mast was down but if I had more time, I
> > would have drilled my sheave pins and installed grease fittings so
> > future service could be done easily without any disassembly of the
> > masthead.
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > It's been several years since I serviced my masthead so I hope my
> > memory is serving me right with this advice.
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > Good luck,
> > 
> > 
> > Tom Troncalli
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> >         ----- Original Message ----- 
> >         
> >         
> >         From: Russ and Karleen Duff 
> >         
> >         
> >         To:Catalina 38 Listserve
> >         
> >         
> >         Sent: 7/5/2008 1:36:16 AM 
> >         
> >         
> >         Subject: [C38] Binding Halyards/Masthead
> >         
> >         
> >          
> >         
> >         
> >         I finally got the motor put back together and running, and now
> >         I have a problem with my main and jib halyards; they are both
> >         badly binding. I have no idea what could be causing this
> >         except that either the halyard sheaves are frozen, or maybe
> >         one, or both, of the lines have come off-track (they were fine
> >         at haul out at the end of the season). I am planning to go up
> >         the mast tomorrow to inspect things and hope for an easy fix.
> >         If it isnt, and I need to dig deeper inside, how does the
> >         masthead come off? Can it be removed with the mast up? I
> >         wouldnt think so because arent the fore and aft stays
> >         connected to it?  If it cant come off, is there any way to
> >         access the sheaves while it is on? This s_cks, I finally get
> >         the motor fixed, and now its something else (I guess thats
> >         what you get with a 27 year old boat). Any advice would be
> >         appreciated. 
> >         
> >          
> >         
> >          
> >         
> >         Sincerely,
> >         Russ Duff
> >         Catalina 38, Hull #112
> >         "AVANTURA"
> >         Lake Erie
> >         Grosse Ile, Michigan
> >         
> >         AVANTURA AT COMCAST DOT NET
> >         
> >         
> >          
> >           
> >         No virus found in this incoming message.
> >         Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> >         Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.5/1535 - Release Date: 7/4/2008 5:03 PM
> > _______________________________________________
> > Listserve mailing list
> > Listserve at catalina38.org
> > http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Listserve mailing list
> Listserve at catalina38.org
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org





More information about the Listserve mailing list