Can a bosuns chair fail?

[Oscarpop]

I have had my current bosuns chair for 6 years, and have never had to use it.

It was kept in a locker in my old Jag 25, and then a locker on my Hanse 320.

It now sits in another locker on the new vessel and I need to get up the mast.

I used it the other day to go up to the first set of spreaders and it seemed ok, however my question is, can it fail due to old age?

There is no sign of wear on the stitching, some salt water corrosion on the eyelets and that is all.

It is the type that plastimo sell that has a wooden seat sewn into and is covered in canvas/sailcloth. It is similar to this although mine is maroon.

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/tool...Bosuns_Chair&gclid=COCvmfCWg7ICFcEOfAod3DUA4A

I don't want to be 20m up the mast and for the thing to fall apart.

 

[tom52]

The obvious answer is yes anything can fail and nothing made of cloth and thread will last for ever.

But stored away from damp and sunlight I would expect considerably longer than six years.

Thorough inspection followed by a long sit in the chair with your feet a few inches from the ground with your wife (or similar) sat on your knee should reassure.

 

[john_morris_uk]

A thorough and sound inspection of all the stitching and webbing etc should be made before you use it. Ours is even older than yours and its fine - although I do look at it carefully before use. It probably helps that we now have has steps and the bosuns chair is more of a 'safety chair' than a device to be wound up the mast in.

 

[pcatterall]

If in doubt cant you do a belt and braces job somehow. The chair is really a comfort item so abit of line from what it fastens to and then around you would be there in case the chair itself failed.

 

[sarabande]

do I recall XM having a recall issue with bosun's chairs about 6 years ago ? They mended something at the shackle end ?

 

[PlankWalker]

I've had my bosun's chair about 35 years I found it in a locker of a boat I bought.

Its 1 inch thick oak with a hole in each corner,I gave it a new length of 12mm Marlow-braid about 10 years ago and I check the double sheet bend underneath each time I use it,

I reckon it will see me out.

Plank

 

[nimbusgb]

Thorough inspection followed by a long sit in the chair with your feet a few inches from the ground with your wife (or similar) sat on your knee should reassure.

Although that could stress it just to the point that it fails the next time you use it

 

[BAtoo]

If in doubt cant you do a belt and braces job somehow. The chair is really a comfort item so abit of line from what it fastens to and then around you would be there in case the chair itself failed.

A better "braces" approach would be a full harness attached to the lifting line or safety line.....

 

[Graham_Wright]

I bought a Compass bosun's chair which was attached to the hoisting line by a D shackle. As soon as a load went on, the shackle capsized resulting in the webbing accumulating in a ruck in one corner. The stress concentration concerned me and the agent promised to have the design changed. it never was.

However safe it looks, you should use a safety backup. I use a separate harness with a short length of line attached to an Ascendeur. I clip this onto whatever is handy at the time and move it as required. My safety then becomes my responsibility.

Our chair has been used for MastaClimba demonstrations for 1560 ascents.

However, in view of the safety considerations, I have added a second very substantial webbing strap that is actually bolted through the hard seat.

I suspect that if the chair failed, we might lose a sale!

 

[ropeworkuk]

LOLER & WAH regulations

If you are teaching people to use the mastaclimba system then you will fall under:

LOLER 1998 (lifting operations lifting equipment regulations 1998)
and WAH 2005 (Work at height regulations 2005)

One of the points is that all equipment is inspected every 6 months by a qualified LOLER inspector and a document is issued to pass/fail every item used within the climbing/lifting system.

This is a bit like a car MOT

Justin

 

[Robert Wilson]

As Tom52 said, "anything can fail" - and it usually does when least expected or most dangerous moment.
I made myself a jacob's ladder out of rope and substantial oak "rungs" from my house's flooring. This is hoisted on my main halyard and a spare jib halyard. When I "climb the mast" by the ladder, usually solo (and I'm terrified of heights) I use my bosun's chair, plus a harness. Bosun's chair uses spinnaker halyard and the topping lift onto my harness.
As I'm climbing I have a "strop" from the chair tied to the sninnaker halyard with a rolling-hitch and another from harness to topping lift, both adjusted every few feet just in case something fails or I slip.
It's right rigmarole, and time consuming - but I'm confident I've done as much as possible to stay safe.
Haven't had to do it "at sea" yet...............

 

[vyv_cox]

I bought a Compass bosun's chair which was attached to the hoisting line by a D shackle. As soon as a load went on, the shackle capsized resulting in the webbing accumulating in a ruck in one corner. The stress concentration concerned me and the agent promised to have the design changed. it never was.

Mine has two pins at the apex of the curve of the D. Improves the situation a little. Was yours like that or is it a later modification? I can't get their website to open to check.

 

[KREW2]

I hoisted my little girl up the mast a few weeks ago. She is precious and I don't trust just 1 line, or the chair fittings, or the halyard. So, she wears a safety harness to which I attach the second line. It's never been needed, but I do feel a little bit more at ease.
This is her 8 years ago as an impoverished student

 

[johnalison]

As far as the average cruising yachtsman goes, as long as it looks and feels sound, it's probably OK. A friend of ours once had one similar to mine, made of plasticky stuff with a solid seat which managed to break while he was aloft, which was a bit painful but not dangerous. I know people who still go aloft with nothing more than a plank of wood, which I don't recommend.

 

[PlankWalker]

I know people who still go aloft with nothing more than a plank of wood, which I don't recommend.[/QUOTE]

Fred Dibnah never used anything else.

Plank

 

[wotayottie]

As far as the average cruising yachtsman goes, as long as it looks and feels sound, it's probably OK. A friend of ours once had one similar to mine, made of plasticky stuff with a solid seat which managed to break while he was aloft, which was a bit painful but not dangerous. I know people who still go aloft with nothing more than a plank of wood, which I don't recommend.

My plank broke last time. Uncomfortable strain on the gusset but was still safe.

 

[Graham_Wright]

If you are teaching people to use the mastaclimba system then you will fall under:

LOLER 1998 (lifting operations lifting equipment regulations 1998)
and WAH 2005 (Work at height regulations 2005)

One of the points is that all equipment is inspected every 6 months by a qualified LOLER inspector and a document is issued to pass/fail every item used within the climbing/lifting system.

This is a bit like a car MOT

Justin

No we do not!

I have checked with HSE at Bristol who actually visited and Trading Standards Gloucester (who are local and also visited).

Both their views were that the MastaClimba is an aid to climbing and is not a safety-critical item. The chair certainly is but most are not certificated in any way (which is scary).

However, for what it's worth, I reckon the MastaClimba is damn near indestructible as anyone who has seen one will (hopefully!) agree.

 

[pathfinderstu]

during my early seafaring education as a cadet and am not retirement age yet.we used a piece of wood with 4 holes in each corner with the rope thru and tied in a bowline waist high. you pulled yourself up towards the rope that was thru a single block. when you got to the required height you held the rope together to stop slipping, passed the bightover your head and under you legs forming a knot that when you pushed the slack end thru you lowered yourself on, you allways made up the knots yourself before going up.

times have changed !

 

[ropeworkuk]

No we do not!

I have checked with HSE at Bristol who actually visited and Trading Standards Gloucester (who are local and also visited).

Both their views were that the MastaClimba is an aid to climbing and is not a safety-critical item. The chair certainly is but most are not certificated in any way (which is scary).

However, for what it's worth, I reckon the MastaClimba is damn near indestructible as anyone who has seen one will (hopefully!) agree.

If the HSE have said the mastaclimba system is a climbing aid then you are correct.

However the entire life support system ropes, boson chair, harness, karabiners, connectors ect... All come under the regulations i have stated!

This equipment has to be CE certified to the relevent EN standard and has to have a LOLER inspection every 6 months by a LOLER inspector.
Also to be inspected daily by the user and a weekly written record of usage kept.

 

[savageseadog]

All bosun's chairs will last a lifetime