PH advice on a practical matter req'd
Discussion
How to fit internal rope haliards to a mast?
Mast is a hollow aluminium tube about 30 feet long, diameter about five inches or so.
Haliards are two ropes each about 60 feet long that need to go inside the mast, with each end coming out of a small hole - one set of holes is on top of the mast, the other set is about six feet from the bottom.
Like pushing a bit of cotton through a plastic straw, only the straw is 30 feet long.
Mast is not currently fitted to boat so is horizontal.
Would be ideal if I could tie some string to the tail of a small trained mouse, and have the mouse pull the string through, but I can't train a small mouse in time.
How would you do it?
I will attempt to carry out the best PH idea this weekend.
Ta.
Mast is a hollow aluminium tube about 30 feet long, diameter about five inches or so.
Haliards are two ropes each about 60 feet long that need to go inside the mast, with each end coming out of a small hole - one set of holes is on top of the mast, the other set is about six feet from the bottom.
Like pushing a bit of cotton through a plastic straw, only the straw is 30 feet long.
Mast is not currently fitted to boat so is horizontal.
Would be ideal if I could tie some string to the tail of a small trained mouse, and have the mouse pull the string through, but I can't train a small mouse in time.
How would you do it?
I will attempt to carry out the best PH idea this weekend.
Ta.
It may work in a similar way to how we drew telephone cable (10 bit) through a 12m underground tube.
Tie a length of string to a screwed up plastic bag and push in from one end. Get a vaccum cleaner and suck from the other. This should draw the bag and sting to that end. Tie the end of the string to the rope and pull the string through from the vaccumed end and the rope will now be running inside the mast....or well it may be.
Tie a length of string to a screwed up plastic bag and push in from one end. Get a vaccum cleaner and suck from the other. This should draw the bag and sting to that end. Tie the end of the string to the rope and pull the string through from the vaccumed end and the rope will now be running inside the mast....or well it may be.
Cheers.
I like the rocket idea, only it's not Bonfire night where I am.
I like the vacuum idea very much, only there are some bolts and rivets and things where the bag would snag inside.
The holes where the lines go in /out are only a cm or so wide so can't put anything too elaborate like a r/c helicopter or pygmy (even an exceptionally short one) inside.
I like the rocket idea, only it's not Bonfire night where I am.
I like the vacuum idea very much, only there are some bolts and rivets and things where the bag would snag inside.
The holes where the lines go in /out are only a cm or so wide so can't put anything too elaborate like a r/c helicopter or pygmy (even an exceptionally short one) inside.
I believe the correct nautical term is reeving a mast. Go to a garden center and buy a 20 meter roll of gardening wire. This will be flexible enough to push down the hole and strong enough not to bend too much.
Create a small loop at the end you are pushing down the mast. Cut a piece off the other end of the wire and fashion a hook by doubling up the wire a few times. You can use this to snag the loop at the other end of the mast and pull it through the hole.
You can now attach the rope to the wire and pull the rope through. A flexible claw pickup tool may also be handy to pull the wire through and easier than the hook. I think Halfords sell them.
Create a small loop at the end you are pushing down the mast. Cut a piece off the other end of the wire and fashion a hook by doubling up the wire a few times. You can use this to snag the loop at the other end of the mast and pull it through the hole.
You can now attach the rope to the wire and pull the rope through. A flexible claw pickup tool may also be handy to pull the wire through and easier than the hook. I think Halfords sell them.
Tie a line to a hungry rat. Offer fruit and nut chocolate at the other end, and a cigarette lighter at your end. It won't need training.
Failing that, elevate the mast to 30 - 45 degrees (if you can without the thing snapping), weight the line with tungsten and feed it through.
Job jobbed.
Failing that, elevate the mast to 30 - 45 degrees (if you can without the thing snapping), weight the line with tungsten and feed it through.
Job jobbed.
Mobile Chicane said:
Tie a line to a hungry rat. Offer fruit and nut chocolate at the other end, and a cigarette lighter at your end. It won't need training.
Failing that, elevate the mast to 30 - 45 degrees (if you can without the thing snapping), weight the line with tungsten and feed it through.
Job jobbed.
Fishing weight tied to the end was my thinking also. You could also try a flatish shaped piece of electrical wire as its not that flexible.Failing that, elevate the mast to 30 - 45 degrees (if you can without the thing snapping), weight the line with tungsten and feed it through.
Job jobbed.
I have a sensible reply, this method worked when I had to re-halyard my Merlin Rocket mast years ago.
Ingredients
- 1x mast
- 1x garage roof (safe to walk on (akthough you could use an upper floor window if it corresponds roughly to the height of the mast)
- 1x wd40
- 1x plumb bob
- 1x lots of string
- 1x new halyard
I simply lent the mast up against said garage (at an angle so I can reach the top of the mast while standing on top) and climb up on to garage. Sprayed the top pulley with liberal amounts of WD to make sure it ran well. Attached the bob to the end of the string. Removed the fitting for the top pulley so the bob would go inside. Lowered the bob down the inside of the mast, until it can be caught at the 6ft hole (fitting removed) and pulled through so you have the sting going in the top and coming out of the bottom.
Remove bob & monkey around with the string until you have it going through both bottom and top fitting and both fittings re-fitted. Attach end of new halyard to end of string at 6ft hole. Go back on the roof (or do from the ground if your string was long enough) and pull the halyard up the mast until it's re-threaded. untie string. Job done.
in short - do the job vertically and use gravity
Ingredients
- 1x mast
- 1x garage roof (safe to walk on (akthough you could use an upper floor window if it corresponds roughly to the height of the mast)
- 1x wd40
- 1x plumb bob
- 1x lots of string
- 1x new halyard
I simply lent the mast up against said garage (at an angle so I can reach the top of the mast while standing on top) and climb up on to garage. Sprayed the top pulley with liberal amounts of WD to make sure it ran well. Attached the bob to the end of the string. Removed the fitting for the top pulley so the bob would go inside. Lowered the bob down the inside of the mast, until it can be caught at the 6ft hole (fitting removed) and pulled through so you have the sting going in the top and coming out of the bottom.
Remove bob & monkey around with the string until you have it going through both bottom and top fitting and both fittings re-fitted. Attach end of new halyard to end of string at 6ft hole. Go back on the roof (or do from the ground if your string was long enough) and pull the halyard up the mast until it's re-threaded. untie string. Job done.
in short - do the job vertically and use gravity
Ayahuasca said:
Good suggestion. But there is no roof - best I have is a step ladder. The angle won't be anything like vertical but that was kind of how I envisage trying to do it.
Ok, how about this, you will need a helper. Insert weight & string while mast horizontal, at the top end. Get your mate to but his foot against the heel of the mast, so as to step it. Raise the mast by walking along it. With it now vertical get your mate to hold it vertical (lean up against a building maybe) and hope the weight drops down due to gravity. you may need to jimmy it slightly by tugging and flicking your end of the string. Catch the weight once it's at the bottom, hey presto.
jains15 said:
Ayahuasca said:
Good suggestion. But there is no roof - best I have is a step ladder. The angle won't be anything like vertical but that was kind of how I envisage trying to do it.
Ok, how about this, you will need a helper. Insert weight & string while mast horizontal, at the top end. Get your mate to but his foot against the heel of the mast, so as to step it. Raise the mast by walking along it. With it now vertical get your mate to hold it vertical (lean up against a building maybe) and hope the weight drops down due to gravity. you may need to jimmy it slightly by tugging and flicking your end of the string. Catch the weight once it's at the bottom, hey presto.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff