[C38] Up the mast without a backstay? (Was Binding Halyards/Masthead)

[Duff, Russ (R.W.)]

Well, I went up the mast yesterday to try to find out why my halyards were
binding. I double-checked everything before going up and found only the main
halyard was jammed; not also the jib as I previously thought. Isn't it great
when a job gets simpler? I then went up the mast and once at the masthead I
saw that the problem was just that the halyard had jumped out of the sheave
and was between it and the center divider (no dead animals down inside
somewhere!). Nothin' like an easy fix! Well, I gave up almost two hours
later with the halyard still in the same position, and after having used
three different sized screwdrivers that were sent up by bucket, and using
various attachments on my Leatherman. There is just too much stuff hanging
off of the aft end of the masthead (namely the topping lift and backstay
toggle) to get anything in there effectively and pry the wire out. So, I am
planning to head up there again and remove the topping lift and backstay so
that I can have full access. I am also going to bring a piece of steel a
little bigger than a metal ruler which should enable being able to push the
wire into position. My question to everyone is, is it ok to go up our masts
without the backstay connected (would there be enough support from the aft
lower shrouds), or should a temporary stay be rigged from somewhere above
one of the sets of spreaders before removing the backstay and going up?
Thanks.

Sincerely,
Russ Duff
Catalina 38, Hull #112
"AVANTURA"
Lake Erie
Grosse Ile, Michigan
RDUFF AT VISTEON DOT COM

AVANTURA AT COMCAST DOT NET

 

  _____  

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Russ and Karleen Duff
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 1:36 AM
To: 'Catalina 38 Listserve'
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 isn't, and
I need to dig deeper inside, how does the masthead come off? Can it be
removed with the mast up? I wouldn't think so because aren't the fore and
aft stays connected to it?  If it can't 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 it's something else (I guess that's 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

 
  
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