Going up the mast

mrplastic

mrplastic

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One of the upgrades for my 311 Oceanis is to fit a new mast head anemometer and tv aerial. Doing the work is simple enough but going up the mast is of something I have not done before. Not worried about heights but any tips or useful advice about the easiest / safest way to do this? The boat is ashore in a cradle, should I wait until she's afloat or forget the whole thing and get the yard to do it? I'm a big believer in wherever possible being self capable in all areas (especially boat related) just in case one day I need to do something where outside assistance is unavailable but have also learnt to listen to words of wisdom!
 
I have a tape mast ladder which goes up on the main halyard with slugs to keep it in the track. I've also used a climbing harness on the main halyard, but would advise that it's almost impossible to winch up a static passenger, he has to actively shin up the mast.
I'd not consider doing either out of the water and would seriously consider bribing a 13-15 year-old to do the job.

My granddaughter is an ideal candidate being a seasoned wall/rock climber, usually competing successfully with boys and men considerably older.
 
Having had to paint my two storey house I've had to climb close to the top of my 30 ft ladder. It's OK provided you don't look down (If I was a tradesman painting a house using a ladder would be illegal in this country)
 
bearing in mind your preference to be able to manage when far from help why not Make up a 'climbing kit' so you have it on board for eventuallities and emergencies.
I have a climbing harness and made up a climbing board for my feet. This enables me to use my legs to do the climbing and my arms to just move the climbing line up as I progress. You should have a safety line maned by crew or if solo using an ascender.
Ideally at some time fit two folding steps near the top so you can stand on them without swinging around. Take your phone up if alone. Have a secure bag for all your tools.
 
Get a good quality bosuns chair, or make one from a piece of stout wood & 8 mm lines.
Then get someone to winch you up using the topping lift of spinnaker halliard as a fail safe
One tip with a bosuns chair is to tie a line to the halliard that goes behind your back at shoulder level with one end over your shoulder & one under your armpit on the opp side. This enables you to lean back & helps to make you feel a bit safer. This is more so when you want to swing out to the spreader tips & can no longer hold the mast
Another one is to take a line under the chair. If the stitching broke - or in my case the wooden seat broke- you would drop into the loop.
In my case the seat broke at the top of the mast & I dropped into the loop the wood nipped my rear end in between the 2 parts. I was screaming in agony until lowered down & when I played cricket 3 weeks later I had to have a "runner" as I could only walk slowly.
Tie the halliard to the chair as well as shackle it ,as shackles can come undone - as happened to a friend of mine just as his feet touched the deck when being lowered
However, going up the mast in a chair is no big deal if you have good winches for the hoister & do it sensibly
 
mrplastic said:
One of the upgrades for my 311 Oceanis is to fit a new mast head anemometer and tv aerial. Doing the work is simple enough but going up the mast is of something I have not done before. Not worried about heights but any tips or useful advice about the easiest / safest way to do this? The boat is ashore in a cradle, should I wait until she's afloat or forget the whole thing and get the yard to do it? I'm a big believer in wherever possible being self capable in all areas (especially boat related) just in case one day I need to do something where outside assistance is unavailable but have also learnt to listen to words of wisdom!
Click to expand...

The anemometer and tv aerial are at the top of the mast, I assume? In which case, probably, a bosuns' chair and/or a harness will not give the necessary height. I had a 361 and the wind direction indicator made a bit for freedom over one winter. I bought one of these:-

http://www.gdeffee.freeserve.co.uk/

Always use a secondary line, too.

Not the easiest or most comfortable diy job on a boat but it does get a bit easier with experience.

When you have a piece of reliable, fit for purpose kit, it's remarkable how often it get used.
 
mrplastic said:
One of the upgrades for my 311 Oceanis is to fit a new mast head anemometer and tv aerial. Doing the work is simple enough but going up the mast is of something I have not done before. Not worried about heights but any tips or useful advice about the easiest / safest way to do this? The boat is ashore in a cradle, should I wait until she's afloat or forget the whole thing and get the yard to do it? I'm a big believer in wherever possible being self capable in all areas (especially boat related) just in case one day I need to do something where outside assistance is unavailable but have also learnt to listen to words of wisdom!
Click to expand...

I suggest you read the many posts on this topic.

If your boat is in a cradle, it should be safe to climb. (If a boat is sitting on its keel with props and wedges, it certainly is not safe.) If you fall from the masthead, you will probably hit the deck not the water so being afloat doesn't help much in that respect (unless, of course, you are on a nice beam reach but then you are lost in the water and drown!).

Read the posts and then ask the question again. It is a hot topic!
 
mrplastic said:
One of the upgrades for my 311 Oceanis is to fit a new mast head anemometer and tv aerial. Doing the work is simple enough but going up the mast is of something I have not done before. Not worried about heights but any tips or useful advice about the easiest / safest way to do this? The boat is ashore in a cradle, should I wait until she's afloat or forget the whole thing and get the yard to do it? I'm a big believer in wherever possible being self capable in all areas (especially boat related) just in case one day I need to do something where outside assistance is unavailable but have also learnt to listen to words of wisdom!
Click to expand...

there are many ways to get up a mast, it will depend on how much you are prepared to spend and if you have help at hand. To do it at minimal cost a bosuns chair and safety harness are basic requirements. A halyard on each and a man to tail each one. If you then want to make things easier for the man on the chair halyard make up a short stout foot board and use a 3rd halyard, you can then use this to stand on while the chair is pulled up tight. sitting down then allows the foot board to be raised and you can then stand up again. This makes it possible for you to 'walk' up the mast without any significant effort form thos on deck. You then have the ability to stand up at the mast head and reach all the stuff at the mast head. A strap to put round the mast head will give you something to brace against if required.

I have also used a webbing mast ladder ashore and found it easy to climb but it needs to be made to suit your boat and have the right mast slides fitted.

Pm me if you want more details.

Yoda
 
Graham_Wright said:
I suggest you read the many posts on this topic.
Click to expand...
If you do, you will discover the superb device known as a MastaClimba, which Graham himself sells http://www.mastaclimba.com/

I don't like heights, and I feel quite comfortable using this as a climbing aid. It means I can get up the mast with just Mrs Nigel on the winch, putting in virtually no effort.
 
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As others have said, if you want to work on the top of the mast then the conventional bosun chair approach won't really work - you need something to support your feet so you can stand up and work over the top of the mast. I use a top climba which is a good way of getting up, although it is not fast - and the mastaclimba above does the same thing
 
nigelmercier said:
If you do, you will discover the superb device known as a MastaClimba, which Graham himself sells http://www.mastaclimba.com/

I don't like heights, and I feel quite comfortable using this as a climbing aid. It means I can get up the mast with just Mrs Nigel on the winch, putting in virtually no effort.
Click to expand...

Thanks to everybody for all the tips and advice, the Masterclimba looks like the bit of kit for me so will follow that up.

Thanks again!
 
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