Best way to attach halyard to bosun's chair

[nigelmercier]

It's possible for the pin or lanyard on a pin to snag on something, releasing it. That's why I tape the shackle.
Unless it is a very small boat, the weight of me is pretty trivial compared to the load on a halyard.

Quite, although I use a cable tie through the ring on the pin then round the body. No way is that moving.

 

[NormanS]

Don't rely on the shackle - I have seen them fail. Bowline or if you are a climber then figure of 8 retrace. Most boats I have worked on tend not to even rely on a bosuns chair, they have failed in the past. My personal preference is the load on a bosuns chair and a climbing harness as back-up. Then either 2 halyards or 1 halyard and a static line system. The second option is easier if there is just 2 of you, because you can't safely operate 2 halyards at once.

You forgot the lifejacket.

 

[winsbury]

My experience from rock climbing:

Personally I wouldnt use a grigri for ' soloing' - rock climbing term for climing with a rope single handed - which is essentially what mast climbing is because pulling the lever hard completely releases the brake...easily done either in a panicky moment or by catching it accidentally. Take a look instead at the Edelrid Eddy, a very similar device but that fails safe by auto locking if the rope goes through too fast..much safer though a few pounds dearer.

Figure 8 doubled is the preferred knot though many old school climbers do still use bowline but a stopper knot inthe bitter end is a good precaution.

7-8mm is the thinnest rope used by climbers but a/ this isually doubled up and b/climbing rope is dynamic , ie it stretches to decelerate falling forces gracefully. Halyards are static , non stretchy, so not suitable for protecting from a fall and therefore must never be allowed any slack, even a little bit will generate horrific forces in the event of a slip.

Other pertinent advice: Keep single points of failure minimised, be aware of sharp edges the rope may go over, never use a shackle or carabiner where a knot can be used instead, use multible anchor ponts and spread the load between them if possible, dont climb solo unless unavoidable.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

For safety I would use another halyard e.g. spinnaker, to be attached to daughter's lifejacket D-ring.

Uneasy. Even with a crutch strap I wouldnt like to rely on a lifejacket harness for that sort of use. Without a crutch strap its a definite no.


[/QUOTE]Alternatively, I could also attach second line to bosun's chair.

Thoughts ?[/QUOTE]

Much better idea.

I do a lot of mast climbing thanks to a pal too tight to buy a decent windex. I always use the spinny halyard as a safety line tied to the chair. I use the main halyard as thye lifting line attached with a shackle. After all, if the yard lifts your boat bu crane they will be relying on a shackle not a knot.

 

[Woodlouse]

I think you will find on many big yachts, it is normal to use the shackles, as it is bad practice to tie knots in the dyneema (or whatever) rope.
On really big boats, the mere weight of a bloke won't pull the knots properly tight anyway. Although modern rope is probably smaller and more supple than when I went up the mast on Creighton's.
Safety in these matters is not about using one idea, it is about being thorough and careful.
Actually, thinking about it maybe on Creighton's we used a screwgate crab through the fixed eye in the snap shackle? And a proper climbing harness.

I've seen shackles used but it is far from the norm. Usually if the halyards are too big to tie a knot in then there is a service halyard for sending people up.

Climbing harnesses are popular, but dreadful if your spending any time up there, unless the boat has splashed out for a lovely big petzl harness with a nice bench seat attachment.

 

[Malabar]

Every day countless people working on large yachts get hoisted up the largest masts in the world on powered winches sitting in harnesses or chairs tied on to a single halyard with a bowline. A few might use a double figure of eight, but eventually they'll give up on it because it takes so long to tie. Accidents are almost unheard of, even with some pretty dodgy practices at times.

Just don't tell an MCA examiner!

 

[winsbury]

Climbing harnesses are popular, but dreadful if your spending any time up there, unless the boat has splashed out for a lovely big petzl harness with a nice bench seat attachment.

Sport climbing harnesses arent really designed for hanging around in, but full body working harnesses for tree surgeons etc often are and are extremely comfy with attachments for tools etc.