Parallax wrote:

While installing the roller furling Genoa today on my CDI RF system, I
was trying to do the installation on the bow while helping my 7 yr old
daughter fish in the cockpit. Every few seconds, it was:

"Daddy, I lost my bait"
"Daddy, my line is tangled"

So I was sufficiently distracted that I managed to lose the halyard
traveller up the luff extrusion without any way to pull it back down.
The traveller is now all the way to the top (31')with no messenger
line to pull it back down (After this happened, I just went fishing
with her). Options appear to be:

Take the luff extrusion off which means taking it most of the way off
the forestay. This could require a second person to help put it back
on the forestay and getting such help is difficult.

Go up the mast and retrieve it. Now, I need to go up the mast anyway,
but hadn't expected to do it so soon. 10 yrs ago, I wouldnt have
hesitated to do this but now that I am more mortal, I am sort of
chicken.

It might be possible to take a fishing weight on some monofilament and
try to throw it up so when it comes down it gets caught on the
traveller, but its a small target.

Any other suggestions?

It wasnt a total disaster, she caught 3 fish and was thrilled.


*I* would probably climb the mast or drop the extrusion, but you might
be able to rig a loose (ish) loop around a long boat hook and push it up
the forestay with a couple of extensions (or push-pull if you have a
chute halyard). Tangle the 1' or so pennant or the slider in the hook
and pull down. I don't expect it to be easy, but I think it can be done.
(our CDI is about the same length and I think I'd drop the extrusion,
but we have a lot of helpful people on our dock. When I first mounted
ours, someone I'd never met asked if he could help... I *think* I could
do it solo, but a helper makes life easier.)

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/