Strop for temporary stay or shroud
 

Hello all,
Is there a simple and safe design for a strop to put around the mast to accomodate a temporary stay or shroud on the mast for emergency jury rig, or replacement and maintenance on the standing rigging.
The temporary stay or shroud will be made of wire rope with thimbled eyes in the ends, and a handybilly. The idea is to use a shackle connection from the strop to the wire and then to the handybilly which will be secured to the stemhead, or chain plate for tensioning.
The mast is aluminum and deck stepped at approximately 30 feet high for a 29 foot Columbia.
Sound and safe input appreciated.
Seawolf

Just anchor your jib or spin. halyard to whatever angel purchase you need and tighten carefully with your winch...then make the repair...I think a repair could be affected just as quick if not quicker then messing with some sort of "Strop" around the mast that may slip anyway and caus multiple trips up the mast.

I carry a used forestay on my boat..it is the longest piece of rigging on the boat...It has one Sagged eye and a Stay-lock in a baggie taped to it..If I ever loose anything I would temporarly support as mentioned and then when conditions allowed go aloft and swap out the offender...it can be cut down to length and used where needed.

Depending on sea conditions, I would definitely consider fashioning a strop of sorts, in addition to any suitable halyards. I've managed a few different situations, all depending on rig type, where you want to add support etc. For instance, at the lowers, a length of spectra rolling hitched (with a couple of half hitches at the end for safety) around the mast just above the spreaders works well. Basically, all you want to do is make sure you are putting most of the load that the strop creates onto the rig itself, and not any specific fittings ie. the spreaders. Thats why I generally use a rolling hitch, with at least 3 turns. For a mast head strop, check out the fittings, and once again employ the hitch, using whatever suitable fittings are up there to prevent the hitch from sliding down the mast. Uncovered spectra (or vectran, or any other low stretch fibre) works especially well as it 'bites' better than covered rope when using the hitch. Of course you must always be aware of UV damage to any uncovered section.