How to reach the top of my mast without a hoist?

Boreades

Boreades

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Greetings all.

I wonder if anyone has found anywhere in Plymouth that one could tie-up alongside and then reach the top of the mast without climbing it? I need to get to the top of my mast to fix the wind gauge and fit a new LED tricolour, but can't climb the mast.

Regards
Keith
 
Top of mast

What you will find is that the top of the mast will move hugely with any waves or wash and it will be very difficult to work on it.Indeed the mast may be in danger of smashing into whatever you are standing on.
Bring it down either with crane or by lowering it on a pivot. I have done some limited work on my mast top 27ft mast from a jetty with mast lowered to about 20 degrees from horizontal. That is hard enough with constant movement. however good luck olewill
 
I need to get up top on my Contessa 26 soon. She lies in a mud berth. Very secure. Why not look for one to use for a tide or two and get someone to climb it for you?
 
I have mast steps and a number of friends have used them to access the top of their masts. It takes a little sorting out to ensure the masts are close, without fouling the rigging. Once sorted, the masts can be brought together using a halyard and some weight on the side of the lightest boat.
Allan
 
I've retrieved lofted halyards from the mast top of a 24 footer by tying it up to a convenient barge. Wouldnt want to try anything more complicated than that though. If you really dont want to climb your mast then the only option is to drop it, or hire a cherry picker!
 
Why does the OP not want to climb his mast?
Size of boat?
Knowing that would help suggest solutions.

The Cherry Picker may not be such a daft idea, around here there is a window cleaning firm that uses one and hires it out.

Channel Islands quayside at low tide is nicest option.
 
This thread just reminded me of the picture in PBO a few months back of a boat undergoing stability tests whilst in a marina berth. basically she was hauled over to her beam ends to measure righting moment. Whilst laid flat, the mast head was over the adjacent pontoon so the crew changed the light bulbs!

In Southampton some of our club members used to moor alongside a survey vessel which looked to be covered in a scaffolding frame and would climb up to do work aloft, lassoing the mast and pulling it over to them. It had the advantage that you were moored in the lee of a larger vessel which rose and fell with the tide, just like the yacht. Unfortunately that vessel has gone now.

What sort of boat and keel configuration? A bilge keeler can often dry out alongside a high wharf - though might need harbourmaster's permission. Not quite so easy with a fin, but may still be possible.

Rob.
 
Plymouth Yavht Haven have a cherry picker attachment for the crane they use for lifting masts, maybe you could have a word with Scott, the yard manager and see if you could use it?
 
lw395 said:
Why does the OP not want to climb his mast?
Size of boat?
Knowing that would help suggest solutions.
Click to expand...

Profile says Beneteau 32.

Even if you are quite happy to go up the mast yourself, and can haul yourself up with jumars etc, it can be difficult to find a competent person willing and able to do the necessary deck duties. We are not all 'clubable' types. (Yes, I know numerous ocean single-handers would think nothing of it).
 
OK, enough of us on here from Plymouth. Where abouts are you in Plymouth? I'm sure somebody could help. I went up my mast the other day with nothing more than a bosun's chair, a small wooden 'seat' for my feet and the co-ordination of 2 helpers. The wooden seat allows you to stand up and then sit back, raise feet, stand up etc, etc. low cost and easy to do. So guys, anybody else prepared to help a fellow forumite?

Yoda
 
Boreades said:
2 x children, too small to hold the weight
1 x wife, with arthritic hands, too weak to hold the weight.
Click to expand...

You need a MastaClimba.

As reported elsewhere, at the LBS a couple appeared, man around 6'6"" wife petite. They bought and their mast climbing rôles are reversed.

I'll lend you one if you want to try it.

I'm 72, wife is (very) unfit and it takes me two minutes up a 42' mast with very little effort.

pm me if you want to take up my offer.

Have a demo;-
http://www.theboatworkshop.co.uk/fl...wConnections.php&6=boatshowButtons.php&5=1409


Why doesn't this link work? the same one in my previous post did.

Fifth edit;- does now!
 
Last edited:
yoda said:
OK, enough of us on here from Plymouth. Where abouts are you in Plymouth? I'm sure somebody could help. I went up my mast the other day with nothing more than a bosun's chair, a small wooden 'seat' for my feet and the co-ordination of 2 helpers. The wooden seat allows you to stand up and then sit back, raise feet, stand up etc, etc. low cost and easy to do. So guys, anybody else prepared to help a fellow forumite?

Yoda
Click to expand...

That's the spirit!
I'm not in Plymouth unfortunately.
 
yoda said:
OK, enough of us on here from Plymouth. Where abouts are you in Plymouth? I'm sure somebody could help. I went up my mast the other day with nothing more than a bosun's chair, a small wooden 'seat' for my feet and the co-ordination of 2 helpers. The wooden seat allows you to stand up and then sit back, raise feet, stand up etc, etc. low cost and easy to do. So guys, anybody else prepared to help a fellow forumite?

Yoda
Click to expand...
I agree. Happy to come and either go up the mast m'self or winch someone else up. What's the job that's got to be done at the top?

I've got a fit crew arriving on Monday morning and might find a few minutes if you are desparate. Alternatively I might be in Plymouth on Sunday afternoon?
 
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