Meat Hooks

Part of The Underway Gourmet by Suzy O'Keefe

Few things on a sailboat are more annoying and painful than "meat hooks" (those sharp broken wire ends in halyards and lifelines). Cutting off the sharp ends still leaves snags. Taping them over is equally ineffective. What you can do that does work is to break them off "in the quick". This is done by pushing the bit of wire back and forth, back and forth until it breaks off below the surface. Use any metal hand tool, pliers, screwdriver, etc. or just a piece of metal with a sharp edge. Don't try to hold on to the tip of the wire... this is guaranteed NOT to work. Just push (fold) the wire back and forth until it breaks. This will probably be 6 to 12 times. Repeat for each "meat hook" and you'll have a smooth halyard once again that won't snag you, your sheets, or your sails.

Please remember though that each broken wire compromises the strength and integrity of the wire halyard or lifeline. (According to some, a single meathook is cause enough to condemn a shroud in standing rigging.) These damaged wires should be replaces before you suffer a catastrophic failure. But as a temporary solution, removing the "meat hooks" will improve the quality of your life!