Am I too fat to go up the mast ?

[eebygum]

Well I don't think so, but my partner definately has reservations !

In preparing the Hunter Horizon 26 for relaunching next week we've just put the batteries back in and the tri-colour light at the top of the mast is not working. Tested the electrics and there is definately current going up the mast. No problem I say, the bulb must have gone. I'll go up and change it, just the opportunity to test out those new mast ladders.

But will it take your weight my partner says.

Pardon me, I maybe vertically challenged but my 11 stone frame is not that heavy to put a bend in the bloody thing.

But the mast is raked back my partner says, and the boat is tilted backwards ?

Well I'll just hold on harder to the mast. If Ellen can do it at three times the height in the Southern ocean in a force 8, I can do it 30 feet up while the boat is out the bleedin water. Plus that that huge roller reefing forestay is going to stop the mast falling down on your head !

But the baby stay's won't provide much lateral support my partner says ?

I'm not exactly planning to be swinging from side to side, now am I

But are you sure my partner says ?

No problem I said, I will seek the wise counsel of the YBW forum members. Now who agrees that I'm not too fat to go up the Hunter Horizon mast to change the lightbulb ?



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Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

 

[LadyInBed]

I'm 16 stone, and my daughter winched me up my mast (33ft boat).
(One turn around a mast winch then onto electric anchor windlass).
It all went very smoothly.

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[tr7v8]

Pardon me saying so but "If Ellen can do it at three times the height in the Southern ocean in a force 8, I can do it 30 feet up while the boat is out the bleedin water. Plus that that huge roller reefing forestay is going to stop the mast falling down on your head ! "

Didn't her mast fall down..........



<hr width=100% size=1>Jim

Draco 2500

 

[tcm]

I don't think it's the being too fat, per se. But you'll have big leverage in anything but pure vertical, and the boat wil upset to one side or the other. Monster weight of ellens boat meant her extra leverage was relatively tiny. 26 footer sounds borderlinish. Do you have a halyard you can pull/winch with another boat really very very hard indeed, and test the stability that way for a start? Or could you avoid the mast climbing by using a high quayside or a bridge at low water?

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[charles_reed]

We all have..

a personal self-image and no matter what anyone else tells us cling to it.

If you think you're too fat...don't.

However I would recommend against ever going up a mast on the hard.
Always do with the boat it in the water.

Unless your rigging is at the point of collapse it's likely to hold about x 20 the load you'd exert.
Best tell your partner, better to find the rigging weakness now than when your at sea.

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[jonjo]

Sounds a bit marginal, stability of the cradle/props is the bigger issue.

If you do go up remember:

1 - At this time of year it gets chilly when working up the mast, more so if you sweated on the way up.

2 - Tell the wincher to stand back in the cockpit once you start working, I am thinking dropped screwdriver in skull here.

3 - How will you get down if your primary lift mechanism gets tangled?

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[maxi]

With the boat ashore - forget it.

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[jimi]

not while the boat's out the water.

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[Avocet]

I'm very interested in this thread - I was going to ask the same question but was waiting until I next went down to the boat and got the dimensions of the mast section. It's a 27 footer with a relatively stumpy mast and is masthead-rigged. That said, I weigh 15-and-a-bit stone (probably nearer 16 with tools and clothing, if I'm honest!) so I was wondering about buckling the mast.

Sorry I can't be much help but someone once told me never to climb a mast that wasn't thicker than my arm. As my arm is tapered and my mast is oval (but not tapered) I'm a bit confused by this!

I could work out the buckling load if I had the faintest idea how much "compression" was already on it as a result of the shrouds and stays but without that I'm a bit stuck.

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[claymore]

I find it interesting

That all your partners concerns are for the mast.
Perhaps this is masking concerns about your safety - so maybe it might be less stressful if you got a young whipper to nip up and do the job.
I agree totally with Jimi about not doing it whilst the boat is out of the water.
Charles makes a good point too - there are no 'proper man' points to be gained for going up masts - if you've any doubts at all than send someone else up.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[MADFISH]

I have read all the posts in this thread and have a reality point of view.

I have a horizon 26. I have had the same problem. The view of having the boat in the water is indeed best practice however, as long as there is not too much wind there is no problem with stability of a horizon 26 with 11 stone up the mast whilst ashore as long as there are props well banged in under the stern and the bow.

The mast is well up to carrying your weight but it is not an easy job to get you to the top. I am lucky as I can freeclimb to the hounds with someone taking up the slack. It is then a grind to get me from there to the masthead as the halyard winch is only a lewmar 6. (Ensure the clutch is closed).

The most likely problem is corrosion in the bulb holder. (this is what I found). Take with you screwdrivers, emery tape and a small wire brush. A voltmeter is also useful.

Where are you based? If it is local to the solent I am sure we can come to some arrangement if you are reluctant to go up yourself.

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[SimonD]

I've just been two thirds of the way up the mast of my 27 footer (on the water!) and weigh in at 16 stone. I must admit I did consider the "weight to strength ratio" but not too seriously and it seemed fine. I took the main halyard through the jib sheet block to get a good lead back to the primary winch (x16 ST) and my wife had no real trouble winch grinding.

My only word of caution would be, if you're nervous of heights, try it but be prepared to bottle out. I nearly did! It's pretty scary up there!

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[jimi]

Not at all ..

Single handed mast ascending. Easy way to do it is to tie a large sack of heavy stuff .. ideally about 5stone heavier than you to a halyard and winch to the mast top. Tie on to the winching end at the mast using a rolling hitch and then release the clutch. It tends to work best if both ends of the halyard are outside the mast.

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[MADFISH]

In the early nineties I did several large Sigma 33 regattas. (National champs, Europeans etc). After rolling out of the beer tent we used to go back to the boats and have rig races.

This consisted of racing the bowman of the neighbouring boat up the rig to the hounds and then slide down the forestay. I could never beat Scott Moody (aka moody boats). To be honest it is a bit of a miricle we are alive today! We used no safety line or bosuns chair.

Bit older and wiser with a healthy leval of fear now!

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[qsiv]

Re: We all have..

I agree - I hate even working on deck when ashore (thats just one reason I stay afloat except for scrubbing).

Going 80 feet up the mast doesnt worry me, nor climbing in general - but I get as nervous as anything wandering around on deck which is only 12 to 14 feet above the concrete. Dont know why - it's quite irrational, but I wouldnt dare go aloft when ashore.

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[Guest]

Re: never too fat

who am i kidding.... makes life difficult up a mast.

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[Sybarite]

How much weight do you think is on your mast and rigging when you are heeled to 45° ?

No problem.


John

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[anabel]

It would be unwise to try climbing the mast while the boat is out of the water. It is most unlikely that the mast would fail but, out of the water, there is a distinct possibility that the boat could 'capsize'. Think of the damage this might do to your lovely tricolour light!!!!!!!!!!

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[eebygum]

Well I've certainly received lots of good humerous advice !

Thanks for the advice on the possible problem, the boat is very firmly secured with supports under the stern but I suspect we may leave it until the boat goes in the water next Friday. I'm not afraid of the height myself, after being hauled to the top of a 33 footer a bosun's chair on my competent crew course.

The boat is kept in the North West and we will be moving down it down to North Wales at Easter. Check out further details on the Hunter Horizon website I set-up at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hunterhorizon/

My boat is sunrise.

Cheers


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Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

 

[Avocet]

No more than when it's on the pontoon!

Isn't it all side-loading when heeled?





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