I always felt smug when I heard about this happening to people because
I am religious about halyard control. Today though, as I was
straightening up for raising sail as a family shore party returned
from exploring an island, I heard a little "snick" and looked up just
in time to see the free end of the halyard disappear into the mast.

What the hell happened to the stopper knot? I remember putting it
back in after lubing the sail track last night and I always look for
it when I coil the halyard. There was a fair amount of family
participation today so maybe, "Untie that rope, the one in your hand,
not that one, the one in your hand, you know, the thing connected to
your arm, that one." got misinterpreted at some point. I know pilots
get so used to seeing things on preflights that their eyes sometimes
just skip over missing bolts. Maybe I really didn't put the knot back
in.

Whatever happened, it's probably going to be a $500 lesson by the time
I get the halyard back in. My mast is such a kludge of stuff inside
(next winter's project) that I doubt a weighted line fed in from the
top will go down the right way. I'm probably going to have to pull
the stick.

You can bet that halyard stopper knots are going to have the bitter
ends seized back to the standing part on my boats from now on. You
might want to seize yours tomorrow.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
I always felt smug when I heard about this happening to people because
I am religious about halyard control. Today though, as I was
straightening up for raising sail as a family shore party returned
from exploring an island, I heard a little "snick" and looked up just
in time to see the free end of the halyard disappear into the mast.


Two words: Matthew Walker

What the hell happened to the stopper knot? I remember putting it
back in after lubing the sail track last night and I always look for
it when I coil the halyard. There was a fair amount of family
participation today so maybe, "Untie that rope, the one in your hand,
not that one, the one in your hand, you know, the thing connected to
your arm, that one." got misinterpreted at some point. I know pilots
get so used to seeing things on preflights that their eyes sometimes
just skip over missing bolts. Maybe I really didn't put the knot back
in.


That's a pretty serious bummer... it's happened to me too,
although the halyard lesson that *really* sticks in my mind
was letting the running part of a halyard fly up the mast
while handling sails on a blustery day. My father made sure
I would not forget that mistake any time soon.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote

Two words: Matthew Walker


Can you do that with Sta Set double braid?

--

Roger Long

Two words: Matthew Walker


Roger Long wrote:
Can you do that with Sta Set double braid?


Sure, just pull the core out, seperate it into two or three
strands, and proceed as normal

That probably wouldn't work but you can do several tricks
with the core to make an unfrayable rope-end and stopper.
Alternatively, you could combine a conventional stopper knot
& whipping so that it couldn't be undone without a knife.

Nice rope work is time consuming, a big no-no in today's
American society, but it can be very practical and it
certainly sets apart a well-rigged boat to the discerning eye.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:
Two words: Matthew Walker


Roger Long wrote:
Can you do that with Sta Set double braid?


Sure, just pull the core out, seperate it into two or three
strands, and proceed as normal

That probably wouldn't work but you can do several tricks
with the core to make an unfrayable rope-end and stopper.
Alternatively, you could combine a conventional stopper knot
& whipping so that it couldn't be undone without a knife.

Nice rope work is time consuming, a big no-no in today's
American society, but it can be very practical and it
certainly sets apart a well-rigged boat to the discerning eye.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

C'mon, its not that big a problem, just use an electrical snake.

Roger Long wrote:

I always felt smug when I heard about this happening to people because
I am religious about halyard control. Today though, as I was
straightening up for raising sail as a family shore party returned
from exploring an island, I heard a little "snick" and looked up just
in time to see the free end of the halyard disappear into the mast.


Just one more reason to have external halyards.

Lew

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 01:05:26 GMT, Lew Hodgett
wrote:

Just one more reason to have external halyards.

There are pros and cons but on balance I much prefer internal:

- Fewer snarls, especially at night

- Less windage and clutter

- Less clanking and banging

I've had good luck re-leading internal halyards with an electrical
snake but the old lead sinker on twine trick should be tried first.
Patientce is your friend.

If at first you don't succeed...

You know the rest.

Lew Hodgett wrote:
Roger Long wrote:

I always felt smug when I heard about this happening to people
because I am religious about halyard control. Today though, as I
was straightening up for raising sail as a family shore party
returned from exploring an island, I heard a little "snick" and
looked up just in time to see the free end of the halyard
disappear into the mast.


Just one more reason to have external halyards.

Lew

Or bring 'em back to the cockpit, through a jammer. Don't forget the old
bicycle chain trick Roger, far better than a weight.

are ex ternals a lot noisier at night?, say at a mooring,
rocking and "slapping" the mast all night?...


"Just one more reason to have external halyards."


Lew Hodgett wrote:
Roger Long wrote:

I always felt smug when I heard about this happening to people because
I am religious about halyard control. Today though, as I was
straightening up for raising sail as a family shore party returned
from exploring an island, I heard a little "snick" and looked up just
in time to see the free end of the halyard disappear into the mast.


Just one more reason to have external halyards.

Lew

~^ beancounter ~^ wrote:

are ex ternals a lot noisier at night?, say at a mooring,
rocking and "slapping" the mast all night?...

Not if you tie them off in seaman like fashion.

Lew