How to re-thread your halyards in the mast?

Ed: The traditional method is described in the Basic Boating Book and is still relevant, but I have also received a note on another method of re-threading halyards (Thanks Oliver!) which may be easier if you have a long rod and enough workspace, as below:

Note that Richard Estaugh’s stated method for threading the halliards is the old standard method,  which of course works well (including also for wooden masts),  but when I collected a new mast from his firm around ten years ago the method they used was much easier.    However you do need a horizontal working space at least twice the length of the mast;   so for most of us either the club lawn or the boat park would be the place to do the job.

• Lay the mast horizontal on either a (long) workbench (or resting on two benches spaced apart),  or on the ground.
• Remove all the halliard sheaves (one would want to do that anyway even in the “standard” method).
• Remove the heel fitting.
• Make up a very long wooden batten,  at least as long as the mast,  with a wire hook or loop on the end.
• Push this batten up the mast to the appropriate halliard sheave,  hook on the halliard,  and pull it through.
• Pull the halliard out through the appropriate aperture at the bottom.
• Re-insert sheaves and heel fitting.

Job done!