Jammed main Halyard!

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:15 am

Last night I was out on Lady Jo with a customer sailing it what little wind we could squeeze out of the air when after about 45 minutes of very slow progress the wind completely died! Dang. Beautiful evening too!
The lady asked if she could raise and lower the sails by herself since nothing else was happening so I said SURE! She raised and lowered the jib fine but the main got jammed 3/4 of the way down! we tried to no avail to get it free and headed back to the dock. Dead calm, watching salmon jump and harbor seals chase the salmon. Once on the trailer I snagged a couple of guys to help unstep the mast with the main still up.

Once the mast was down I settled in for the slow relaxing process of sliding the main off the mast and wrapping things up for a trip home.
Next thing I know there is a familiar jeep rolling up with OutnBacker!

We had a great chat and he hung out while I packed up Lady Jo! we discovered the rope part of the main halyard had slipped off the sheave and was jammed between the sheave and the mast! Dang. So I have something to play with at home now!

On the way home I was called for a delivery of a 38' Catalina from Anacortes to Seattle on Saturday. Man I love sailing! LOL!
( especially on other boats! )

Scott

OutnBacker · Post by **OutnBacker** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:25 pm

"On the way home I was called for a delivery of a 38' Catalina from Anacortes to Seattle on Saturday. Man I love sailing! LOL! "

Man, it must totally suck to be you!

Chrysler20%26 · Post by **Chrysler20%26** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:33 am

The cabal attaches to the sail, an the other end of the cabal attaches to the rope. So the rope dose not go over the sheave.????

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:06 am

My mistake! It was the cable that jammed not the rope. The rope does not go over the sheave!

Scott

OutnBacker · Post by **OutnBacker** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 6:56 pm

Did you get a chance to draw the masthead sides together yet? I looked at mine when after I got home and there should be no space between the three pieces. That bolt holding the forestay might not be enough, given its placement. You might have to go with the two bolt thing I mentioned. Once the opening has been made, there's a good chance that it will jam again soon.

John