"Jim" wrote in message
...
Frogwatch wrote:
Tried once again to re-install my roller furling. This consists of
taking off the forestay and then somehow pushing a heavy plastic
extrusion up said forestay (it is still attached at top). This is
done by threading a line thru said extrusion, attaching it to the
bottom of forestay end and then pulling on line while pushing
extrusion up. sorta difficult if you dont do it right..I got it right
today. Then used vice grips on the forestay to prevent it from
slipping back down while I slid the heavy plastic furling drum up the
forestay. I slipped, plastic drum fell onto dock, bounced once then
splash. OH, SH%$. Now what?
If I was younger and broke like years ago, I'd've just jumped in and
dove down to the bottom of the filthy canal and retrieved it. Not
anymore. I found various long handled implements to try to find it 8'
down and finally located it but simply couldnt get it. This water is
basically opaque so seeing it is outta the question.
Well, being older and more financially secure, I found the number of a
diver who says he'll get it out tomorrow for 30 bucks.......money well
spent I think.
We have all had days like this.
Lesson learned I hope. Assume that todays events will repeat if you don't
do something different. Get a helper. Tether everything you possibly can.
Can you get to a dock in shallow water to do this work? Better yet haul
the boat.

Sometimes poop happens. A couple trips back, I take the PVC pipe that slips
over the tilt tube on my T-8. Drop the pipe on the rear deck and watch it
roll into the nasty, algae covered water by the ramp. Since this is an 8"
piece of 3/4" pipe split down the side, I figure I will just make a new one.

Frogwatch wrote:
Tried once again to re-install my roller furling. This consists of
taking off the forestay and then somehow pushing a heavy plastic
extrusion up said forestay (it is still attached at top). This is
done by threading a line thru said extrusion, attaching it to the
bottom of forestay end and then pulling on line while pushing
extrusion up. sorta difficult if you dont do it right..I got it right
today. Then used vice grips on the forestay to prevent it from
slipping back down while I slid the heavy plastic furling drum up the
forestay. I slipped, plastic drum fell onto dock, bounced once then
splash. OH, SH%$. Now what?
If I was younger and broke like years ago, I'd've just jumped in and
dove down to the bottom of the filthy canal and retrieved it. Not
anymore. I found various long handled implements to try to find it 8'
down and finally located it but simply couldnt get it. This water is
basically opaque so seeing it is outta the question.
Well, being older and more financially secure, I found the number of a
diver who says he'll get it out tomorrow for 30 bucks.......money well
spent I think.

I'd have dropped the whole forestay and use the spinny halyard to keep
the mast stable. Gotta be a whole lot simpler to assemble it all on the
pontoon even if you do have to go up the mast twice. Now you've got it
3/4 done though you might as well continue as you are.

Any critical parts like that drum get a lanyard tied round them and tied
off to a fixed point with enough slack to finish the job. I also moor
the inflatable tender between the bow and the pontoon for a working
platform thats further under the bow than you can get the pontoon
without scraping the gelcoat off. If this isnt practical for you then
rig a tarp stretched rount the stem and up to a stancheon base each side
with the other two corners streched to the pontoon. It will catch
*most* things you drop!