Going up the mast

KREW2

KREW2

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My antenna and wind vane at the top of the mast was bent by the crane on lift out. Luckily I have a plucky little daughter who is happy to go up the mast, which we will do after re-launch. Being cautious I always attach two halyards, one back to a winch to help her climb, another has a turn put round a cleat, and tensioned accordingly. I now have an electric anchor windlass, it's a Loframs Cobra 1000watt, can this be used to help her up the mast?
 
My 800 watt Qick windlass gives a max. working load of 290 kg. and a max pull of 820 kg so yours should cope I would think.
The risk with using such a powerful device might be if something snags. You may not realise until something breaks. Be careful !!
 
earlybird said:
My 800 watt Qick windlass gives a max. working load of 290 kg. and a max pull of 820 kg so yours should cope I would think.
The risk with using such a powerful device might be if something snags. You may not realise until something breaks. Be careful !!
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Thanks, and a good point. As I said it won't be until next April, but before I even consider it I would like to get to know al the possible dangers.

Dratsea:
It was a club liftout, so we are the boatyard.
 
KREW2 said:
Luckily I have a plucky little daughter who is happy to go up the mast
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Yep...those four year old's do a fantastic job! I had mine around the back of the engine yesterday changing the stern gland. She'll be up the chimney tonight but I've told her to be quick as those flames burn terrible....:p
 
skodster said:
Yep...those four year old's do a fantastic job! I had mine around the back of the engine yesterday changing the stern gland. She'll be up the chimney tonight but I've told her to be quick as those flames burn terrible....:p
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You got it. Here she is 5 years ago at 20, an impoverished student teacher, so a tenner was well received. I spose the price will have gone up somewhat. Pity I can't get her to do it before the VAT increase next year.

 
Having just read another thread about mast climbing I'm unashamedly bumping this one.
Can I assume that nobody on here has used an electric winch, or windlass to assist someone climbing a mast.
 
Top Tip: Invite forumites to come and help you.
You will meet forumites, and have a ready source of comedy.

Here is Full Circle up Morgana's mast, powered by Morgana, D3B, Mr Vreny.
The comedy element was we did it at sea......

IMG_3085.jpg


Image044.jpg
 
I often use the electric anchor winch, which has a rope drum and hand held control, just take it easy and it takes all the effort out and lets you concentrate on safety, my daughter is happy to go up but not a feather weight, hope she doesnt read this or dad will be sent up!
 
KREW2 said:
Can I assume that nobody on here has used an electric winch, or windlass to assist someone climbing a mast.
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No! I go up my mast using the electric winch.
I put a turn round the mast winch then lead the halyard forward to the electric winch.
I pull upward on any close by fixed bit to take a bit of the pressure off the line and a friend presses the button for the winch in short bursts to stop the motor overheating as I weigh 15 odd stone! :o
Also it allows for a small 'ease back' on the tail of the line to the winch to reposition the winch turns to the center.

UpMast1.jpg
. . . Note the diligent saftey team!
 
Thanks for the re-assurance. It seems that short bursts is the way to go, for the sake of the windlass, and monitoring any snagging that may occur.
 
I was once winched up using an electric winch - never again.

The two people in control, one on the line and one on the button were a bit over enthusiastic and the speed I went up gave me little time to fend off spreaders and other obstacles on the way.

Communication was difficult as they were busy watching the line and concentrating on not getting a riding turn with little awareness of what was going on at my end. Reaction time from my shouts to stopping the pull was dangerous.

I much prefer the slower speed and better control from two trusted crew using a winch handle and sweat.

However you do it, trust, good communication, slow and safe are the key considerations.
 
KREW2 said:
My antenna and wind vane at the top of the mast was bent by the crane on lift out. Luckily I have a plucky little daughter who is happy to go up the mast, which we will do after re-launch. Being cautious I always attach two halyards, one back to a winch to help her climb, another has a turn put round a cleat, and tensioned accordingly. I now have an electric anchor windlass, it's a Loframs Cobra 1000watt, can this be used to help her up the mast?
Click to expand...

In my windlass handbook it states the equipment must not be used for hauling or other use.
I guess there is a reason for that, beyond just mindless H & S rubric. Go with the advice. Winding an amateur up the mast is heavy work but there is no hurry, so take it easy and keep the halyard tension on the winch at all times.

If the mastop gear is bent, you will probably get a nil result sending up an untrained person however willing. There may be fractures you cannot easily see, or breakages that may result from re-bending the gear. Worth getting the yard to go up and sort it out so the gear will work under way.

Folks often get worried about having a second line when someone is aloft. This is puzzling -if the main halyard is not 100% up to the job, no one should be going aloft on it! The halyard itself is not likely to fail - the weak point is the shackle or whatever that connects to the sail headboard. A second line can actually get in the way and cause confusion - keep it simple I say.

IMO there is a greater risk that the climber inverts than the halyard fails, and a lot of bosun's chairs offer no real protection from this potential disaster!

PWG.
 
PeterGibbs said:
Folks often get worried about having a second line when someone is aloft. This is puzzling -if the main halyard is not 100% up to the job, no one should be going aloft on it! The halyard itself is not likely to fail - the weak point is the shackle or whatever that connects to the sail headboard. A second line can actually get in the way and cause confusion - keep it simple I say.
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Off the top of my head I can think of four cases where I've seen a halyard go, so I would not recommend gambling someone's life on one. And of course you never trust the shackle when going aloft.

A second safety line should not be at all difficult to manage.
 
I've been up my mast 8 times this year - 2x to remove then replace the LED tri-colour, 1x to replace the spinnaker halyard block and 5x to remove and eventually refit the wind gear* bent by a mast clash with the boat next door. All done on my tod by strolling up a webbing mast ladder hoisted up the mainsail track. I did try using a safety line but it was more hassle than value. .... but then I don't have a bosun's chair (or any mates!).

*If your Raymarine wind arm gets bent just loosen the connecting sleeve and reposition the sensors back to vertical. Don't take the thing off, straighten the arm and then find that the connector has to be absolutely central in the sleeve (which is now offset by the kink of the bit you straightened) otherwise it won't connect and it helps if there is someone down below to tell you if it is working, otherwise it's up and down the mast like a yo-yo till it does.
 
A second vote for George Deffee mast ladder.

My wind indicator blew out of the vhf radio aeriel over last winter. The normal route of being winched up while enjoying the view sitting in the bosuns chair did not give sufficient height to do the work required.

The mast ladder uses the main halyard so a second line is required for safety.

The bosuns chair is more comfortable, if I can use that term, but the ladder will get you above the height of the mast.

My boat does not have an electric winch but I've been hoisted up with one many times on my pal's 47 foot Beneteau.

Always use a knot, don't use a shackle for attachment. I prefer to have a safety line, too. I usually wear a harness with D ring on the back so the safety line is pretty-much out of the way.

We mostly use walkie-talkies for communication. Not very dignified to be screaming from the top of a mast. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for reminding me, thats what I did last time my daughter went up the mast. A halyard attached to the chair, and she wore a harness with a saftey line on.
The only thing bent is the antenna, thats what she will be bringing down so I can inspect and straighten it, then realign the wind vane.
Then up she goes again.
 
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Having spent an hour or two up the mast last year can I recommend a wooden bar to stand on. Mines attached to ascenders which is how I go up, but you could attach it anywhere available.
It is handy to be able to change your weight pressure points as well as being able to get the extra height to look down on the mast head. I would suggest a proper harness though - I use a trapeze harness which is comfortable enough.
 
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