Irwin 34 Citation: Threading Jib Halyard

[OwaDestiny]

Hello everyone;

This weekend's sail was topped off with the jib halyard breaking at the knot. This caused the halyard to fall into the mast.

I repaired line end, wrapped electrical tape around 6 inches of line and tried to rethread the line from the mast head into the mast. The line either straight, or curved, seams to hit and bind on some obstruction in the mast head.

After two hours I admitted defeat. Does anyone have some expertise in accomplishing this task?

Thanks,
Brian

[2ndstar]

Try using a smaller line, or messenger, with a fishing weight attached to the end. Once you get it fed through, tape and sew the halyard to the other end and pull the halyard through.

Regards,
Carl

[Kefaa]

I think Carl has the best first option. It is also possible, if it was under stress when it broke, that a piece of the halyard is still in there, jambed in or on something - (possibly a place that was rubbing?). I watched a guy up from me use a wire fish tape (like you would use at home) with nearly effortless success.

[Vasco]

I've seen folks use a short section of bicycle chain attached to the halyard to give it some weight on the way down.

[hellosailor]

Brian, try using a lighter line (like "parachute" cord) that is strong enough to tug without breaking, and put a weight on the end of it. If that doesn't work, you should be able to buy an electrician's "fish tape" at any hardware store, ten bucks for 50-75' of thin steel tape that you can often force up or down the mast, past obstructions.

It could be old insulation, stuffed in to stop halyard slap, or something harder which might fray your halyard, so if there's any way to figure it out, try outsmarting it rather than just forcing past it.