southace said..
Tried to end for end my spectra/dyna head sail Halyard on Friday.
Problem was I snapped the mouse at the exit box at the top of the mast and now I have all the halyard on the deck and no mouse!

mate says that's bad!

Anytips before I go aloft and try to feed the halyard back down the mast?

Peice of cheese maybe

southace said..


Anytips before I go aloft and try to feed the halyard back down the mast?

Yes. Probably best if you have the boat alongside. If you dangle a mouse back down with a weight on it, it will most likely wind itself around every other line inside your mast if the boat is standing vertical afloat in the water.

Determine which side of the mast you want the halliard to go, then haul the mast over to that side by whatever means you have available. Then drop the weight with mouse attached down the mast so instead of dangling it actually slides down the inside of the mast.

The preparation is to make sure all other halyards are fully taught. As a weight I suggest fishing line weights of small enough diameter that you can draw through the halliard exit slot and the first line to go down be 80 lb fishing line.

The passage of the weight and line is not likely to be smooth due to bolts and rivets in the mast so I would drop it rather than feed it down. Silicone spray could be handy.

You should be smart enough to figure the rest out.

So why did your mouse snap?? It was new line wasn't it??

It is a bitch when somebody or something moves your cheese isn't it?? Read the book "Who Moved My Cheese".

Buy 30 small steel nuts, just big enough to go over your mouse line.

Tie a knot about 200mm up your mouse line, thread on 15 of the nuts, tie another know so the nuts can move a bit between the knots.
Thread the rest of the nuts on and again tie another knot so the nuts can move a bit.

You can then drop this down the mast and it will fall over/around any obstructions.

Use some fencing wire to pull out the bottom of the mast.

Oh and attach the cockpit end of the new halyard to the mouse line first and attach the clip/shackle of the halyard to something first!!!
When attaching the mouse line to the halyard I fold the mouse line back on it's self for 3 inches or so and wrap with some grey tape.
I then sew through the tape and back through the halyard with the tails back to back, sew about 3 times with some whipping twine.
Then tape over the whole lot!!

I some times use a drill bit taped to a line and you could also use a stick magnet to draw the drill bit to the outlet on the mast

southace said..
Good idea Ho2 I will try a drill bit simular size to the halyard and try feeding the halyard down from the top exit box first.
daylight savings is a great time to get them jobs and beers drunk!

if you have a screw driver and a magnet you might be able to fish for the drill bit as it comes down. If you need a hand just fly me there and supply the salt and pepper squid and a few beers

SandS said..

HG02 said..

southace said..
Good idea Ho2 I will try a drill bit simular size to the halyard and try feeding the halyard down from the top exit box first.
daylight savings is a great time to get them jobs and beers drunk!

if you have a screw driver and a magnet you might be able to fish for the drill bit as it comes down. If you need a hand just fly me there and supply the salt and pepper squid and a few beers

Yes good idea , if another pair of hands is required fly me over and while you two are sendimg and fishing the mouse . I will taste test the squid ....and beer ......

we could use your plane Sands I know you have a flocker

HG02 said..

SandS said..

HG02 said..

southace said..
Good idea Ho2 I will try a drill bit simular size to the halyard and try feeding the halyard down from the top exit box first.
daylight savings is a great time to get them jobs and beers drunk!

if you have a screw driver and a magnet you might be able to fish for the drill bit as it comes down. If you need a hand just fly me there and supply the salt and pepper squid and a few beers

Yes good idea , if another pair of hands is required fly me over and while you two are sendimg and fishing the mouse . I will taste test the squid ....and beer ......

we could use your plane Sands I know you have a flocker

I know I feel fairly flocked ATM ....... Need a holiday ....

HG02 said..
I some times use a drill bit taped to a line and you could also use a stick magnet to draw the drill bit to the outlet on the mast

That's an excellent idea. I'm going to have to steal that. I have this magnet I pulled out of a magnetron radome it would be perfect.