Issue 33 : Nov/Dec 2003
Whether your halyards are of braided or laid rope, as long as they are external, new ones can be reeved without sending a person aloft. Two things are needed: a nearly windless day and a gentle touch.
As illustrated, the ends of the old and new halyards are butted together and held there with needle and thread. Just a few turns are necessary after which they are brought up reasonably tight and tied off. The join is then wrapped with masking tape that reaches well up and down beyond the join. Its purpose is to add strength to the union as well as to produce a fair, continuous run when it passes through the block aloft.
The old halyard is now hauled all the way through the block and is then separated once the join reaches the deck, leaving only the new halyard in place and ready to work.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
