Main and spin halyard stuck inside of rig right aftet stepping mast

[John Andrew2]

Had an unusual issue pop up last weekend at the Big Daddy regatta in Richmond CA.

We stepped the rig, launched the boat and proceeded to hoist sails only to find that both the main and spinnaker halyards were completely stuck inside the mast. No amount of pulling would break them loose. We loosened the rig to the point of it being completely sloppy and shook the mask pretty well to see if perhaps a shroud terminal fitting had pinched both of the halyards somehow. (seemed like a long shot for both to get caught)

After lots of shaking the rig and even pulling up the keel and tipping the boat on its side at the dock we still couldn't move either of the halyards. Next we decided to drop the rig at the dock and inspect to see what was going on. Upon getting the rig down horizontal (just like on the trailer but at the dock) we were able to move both the halyards freely.

We stood the rig up again thinking we were good but much to our surprise, both halyards were again stuck somewhere inside the mast - although the main halyard did move about 5 feet under lots of pressure before it got completely stuck again.

We dropped the rig again and stood it up again (not easy in the water even with two people lifting it on deck) and we were finally successful in moving the halyards with no issues...

In all the years and through 2 U20s, we've never had this happen. The spreader bar stays in all the time and the halyards haven't been re-run in 18 months.

Any ideas on what might be happening?
Also, should the halyards be in front of the spreader bar or aft of the spreader bar?

Thanks,

[Josh Jones]

That's very interesting

When installing the spreaders, you are supposed to have the mast laying guide down (this would allow the halyards to fall naturally towards the aft of the mast), the spreader bar is swept backwards to this tells me that there is going to be more room behind the spreader bar, also the mast should be swept backwards when stepped so this would be another demerit for placing, the halyards in front of the spreader bar.

So, halyards behind the spreader bar seems most appropriate.  Have a look at the official setup guide for visuals of inserting the spreader bar.

https://u20classforum.org/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=899.0;attach=1189

Where are yours?

-Josh

[John Andrew2]

Good tip on the halyards being aft of the spreader bar.

I could imagine how the V shaped bar could make a nice "jam cleat" space on both sides of the front edge of the spreader bar where it meets the the inside of the extrusion. I honestly don't recall which way mine are set up but I'm guessing the halyards currently run in front of the bar. I'll have to pull the bar out and see (the bar lives permanently in the mast and the spreaders go on and off the bar on both sides for travel).

[TimPorter]

I have had a halyard do the same and it was caught behind the "t-ball" of the forestay or shroud.  I don't remember which one. 

[Josh Jones]

That reminds me, when I installed my shrouds, I stuck those little rubber things in above the ball, and I thought to myself that it seems so unlikely that they would just stay there. But I pushed on and trusted that they would.

Anyone lost these things or found that they were missing after unstepping your mast?