:: Has anyone ever tried to clean their boat's hull by
:: heeling the boat while in a slip--by pulling the mast
:: over using a halyard? Would this sideways pressure at
:: the top of the mast damage the block in the mast head?
:: is there some other problem with this method?
I have done this many times with no problem, but you absolutely do not want that halyard wheel turning even a little at such an angle. I run the main halyard to a long 3:1 purchase that I've already secured to the dock one slip over. You should be able to get about 30 deg of heel with this method. Bow and stern lines need to be properly set so that the hull is at a convenient destance from the dock when heeled. They can be let out under load if needed, but not taken up. A long pole with a 45 deg adapter and a swiveling end piece for the cleaning pad works well. Most of these have a velcro attachment, which I have found only works well with the finer grade of cleaning pad. Coarser grades simply fell off.