Bosuns chair - which one to get?

Ripster

Ripster

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I want to get a Bosuns chair. I have read through previous threads on here about safety harnesses and the use of knots not shackles etc., so that is all very useful. Thankfully I already own a fall arrest harness from other activities, so back-up is taken care of. The boat has three halliards and a topping lift, so plenty of lines for use in going aloft.

When looking around, there are various types at various prices. This will be for occasional use only (I hope) - so which is the one to get? Prices seem to vary from 50 quid to 300+ The Crewsaver model comes up a lot in chandleries via Google - but which ones have you all tried and tested :)
 
I've got a crewsaver (not at the boat at the moment, but it looks like the pictures of the crewlift 40). Seems to do the job.

Unless you're a midget do check the weight limits on these things. Mine is 100Kgs but I've seen some of them rated at 90Kg. A reasonably tall bloke, fully clothed and carrying a toolkit doesn't have to be a salad dodger to exceed that.
 
I think the one I have came from Compass 24, who no longer sell in the UK, but the important thing is that it has a rigid seat. The all canvas type can be very uncomfortable because the tend to squeeze you. The Crewsaver one looks OK but I prefer mine because it has a single lifting ring with front and side straps permanently fitted, making it impossible to get lifted with it incorrectly rigged. You will see what I mean if you compare the Crewsaver one with the Lalizas professional model seen here. http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/tool.../professional-bosuns-chair1001157.bhtml#photo I am not by the way a fan of Lalizas equipment, and am not recommending that model, as I am not even sure it has a rigid seat, but the way all straps come to a single lifting ring appeals to me.
 
Found a couple rated at 700kgs. Unfortunately, 100kgs would not be enough margin for me though I believe this is the seat wood rather than the harness and supports.
 
Have you considered making one yourself? It is what I did. It is easy to do,and the cost a few pounds only, a suitable piece of strong wood or ply for a seat drill 4 holes to pass the ropes through and some rope for supports. Since you have already got a harness it would be ideal.
 
The wooden ones are much more comfortable.
I made mine from a piece of 4 x 2 and 10mm rope. Nice little job done sitting in the cockpit on a warm evening but not too much red wine!
 
wully1 said:
I went to Tiso and bought a proper climbing harness which was cheaper and us far more comfortable than the bosons chair I had.
Click to expand...

We carry both a Plastimo chair and a climbing harness donated by a mountaineering ex crewman. Harness has the advantage of getting me higher for working at the masthead, but 10 minutes vertical in the harness sends my legs numb. Interesting when you get back to deck level.
 
typhoonNige said:
We carry both a Plastimo chair and a climbing harness donated by a mountaineering ex crewman. Harness has the advantage of getting me higher for working at the masthead, but 10 minutes vertical in the harness sends my legs numb. Interesting when you get back to deck level.
Click to expand...

You can get climbing harnesses for extended use, they have much wider straps for comfort (and much cheaper than the Spinlock option). Still not going to be as comfortable as a proper wooden seat though.
 
My experience has never included a comfortable experience. Either in a bosun's chair, climbing harness or safety harness.
After any length of time aloft my legs and bum get a bit uncomfortable.

Noted the issue about the weight limits too, will be checking the rating of the chair we have on board at the moment. Me & a bag of tools must be over 100kg. Very heavy tools of course.

Also the chair can make it difficult to reach and work on the top of the mast. Look forward to seeing the ideal, comfortable solution.
 
Norman_E said:
I think the one I have came from Compass 24, who no longer sell in the UK, but the important thing is that it has a rigid seat. The all canvas type can be very uncomfortable because the tend to squeeze you. The Crewsaver one looks OK but I prefer mine because it has a single lifting ring with front and side straps permanently fitted, making it impossible to get lifted with it incorrectly rigged. You will see what I mean if you compare the Crewsaver one with the Lalizas professional model seen here. http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/tool.../professional-bosuns-chair1001157.bhtml#photo I am not by the way a fan of Lalizas equipment, and am not recommending that model, as I am not even sure it has a rigid seat, but the way all straps come to a single lifting ring appeals to me.
Click to expand...

Two observations;- my Compass chair originally had a D ring on the webbing. As soon as any load was put on the line, this ring capsized cramming all the webbing into one corner. This stress concentration concerned me and the ring was removed. We now tie the halyard directly to the webbing with a fisherman's bend. (Despite formally informing the manufacturer, the design was never changed). It is almost always used for our demo ascents which now number over 2000 (mostly on our 15' exhibition mast). It does have a hard seat. I confess that I have doubled up the webbing as some of our exhibition visitors have been in the 30 stone region. (We do always use a separate safety line).

However, bosun's chairs are designed for that i.e. sitting. As such. it is not too uncomfortable and if you are hoisted in a sitting position, that is fine (save for the exhausted winch man!). The problem is that if you are climbing, your legs straighten out and you will slide forward until the crutch strap stops you. It is then difficult to wriggle your backside into a comfortable position unless you have top-of-the mast steps (or, of course, a MastaClimba!).

I also have a Lalizas chair which has short straps. When the hoisting halyard becomes chock-a-block, this shortness allows a higher ascent that long straps would. However, the same shortness also compresses your chest and I personally find they seriously restrict my breathing. In full oilies, I think it would be impossible to use.

I have tried climbing harnesses but found them uncomfortable round the thighs and they have led to cases of DVT. However, talking to Barney Green (the climbing expert) he makes the point that a harness is designed either for climbing or sitting. I have a meeting to arrange with him as he recommends an Eclipse harness which has very broad thigh straps which I think would be good;- http://www.heightec.com/equipment/h...pse-rope-access-sit-harness-with-side-ds.html

To the OP, if your need is to fix mast head problems, you need to get your shoulders above it. Trying to change a light bulb (or is that now all in the past with LEDs?) above your head, is not easy. If, as I often point out, you want a perch to take photos from, you need a comfortable seat. (We sold a MastaClimba to a fleet photographer who used the masthead for pictures of the bikini (or not!) clad beauties swimming in the crystal clear. He had once spent 5 hours there and had no use in his legs for several hours afterwards. After his purchase, he was able to alternate standing and sitting and to shuffle his backside.) If you can contrive something to stand on, it is a huge improvement.

Whatever takes your fancy, don't part with your readies without trying your choice. In a chandlers, this is probably not possible. If you are near a mast, insist on it. Otherwise, wait for the next SBS. We always offer use of our mast to the likes of Spinlock and TCS for trials and we will make sure you are safe!
 
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wully1 said:
I went to Tiso and bought a proper climbing harness which was cheaper and us far more comfortable than the bosons chair I had.
Click to expand...
Both my sons much prefer climbing harnesses to bosuns chairs. I keep suggesting they winch me up but insist on going themselves. Interestingly the one with the most sailing experience but no climbing uses two lines with bowlines, the other who has sailed a fair bit but also climbed insists on doubled figure-of-8s on both lines.
 
Re Graham Wright's comments, I cannot check my bosuns chair as it is on the boat. It may not be from Compass 24, and I think it has a round ring on the webbing. It is packed in a red bag, that can be clipped to it to act as a tool bag when aloft, perhaps someone here can identify the make. I find it much more comfortable than the all canvas one that came with the boat.
 
Norman_E said:
Re Graham Wright's comments, I cannot check my bosuns chair as it is on the boat. It may not be from Compass 24, and I think it has a round ring on the webbing. It is packed in a red bag, that can be clipped to it to act as a tool bag when aloft, perhaps someone here can identify the make. I find it much more comfortable than the all canvas one that came with the boat.
Click to expand...

My Compass one came in a blue bag which doubled as a tool bag.
 
phanakapan said:
I like mine- I feel comfortable and safe at all times, I can work for extended periods, and it still feels ok whether being winched up or climbing the mast steps.

http://www.marinechandlery.com/solent-bosun-s-chair
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That looks quite frightening. Neither of those photos show a separate safety attachment and the left hand one looks precarious and ready for a back flip. Long webbing straps reduce this danger. There is a danger of falling out of a harness if one inverts.

There are some published tests on professional harnesses which highlight this.

I recall a case of an elderly gentleman working at the top of his mast standing on footrests. He lost his grip and was not otherwise secured and ended up hanging from his feet trapped in the rests. I understand his ankles eventually snapped and he fell to his death on the deck. A horrible way to die.
 
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