Shiver Metimbers
Well-Known Member
I have to go up the mast to look at the forestay. I will be buying a Boson's Chair to do this, what is the best technique? I weigh 14 stone there will be two of us, will there be much winching effort involved?
Mast Climbing.
- Thread starter Shiver Metimbers
- Start date
TiggerToo
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
...will there be much winching effort involved?
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Yes.
I have found that a couple of climbing ascenders have been money well spent. But I did have a climbing harness already at hand. A bosun's chair has always seen a bit flimsy/insecure to me
...will there be much winching effort involved?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes.
I have found that a couple of climbing ascenders have been money well spent. But I did have a climbing harness already at hand. A bosun's chair has always seen a bit flimsy/insecure to me
agurney
Well-Known Member
A couple of lengths of rope with prusik knots onto a halyard. One pair of ends attaches to the bosun's chair, the other makes a pair of stirrups. Stand up, sit down a few times and you are the top of the mast in a jiffy. You could always have a harness attached to a separate halyard for safety.
Beats buying a couple of ascenders that are only used a couple of times and corrode at the bottom of a locker.
Beats buying a couple of ascenders that are only used a couple of times and corrode at the bottom of a locker.
JohnTH
Well-Known Member
Pull a ladder up, secure top and bottom then start climbing. Watch out for wash from passing vessels. All very standard stuff, plenty of elf and safety stuff, do not fall off, drop things, make sure there is a safety harness available to put by the body.
Good luck.
John
Good luck.
John
oceanpilgrim
Well-Known Member
hi i have a pair of ascenders on a harness with a pair of stirrups attached,one off the best buys i've made
earlybird
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
there will be two of us, will there be much winching effort involved?
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It might be just about possible, provided that you are fit, agile and assist by hauling yourself up the mast and rigging. Even so, it will probably be at the limit of your assistant's capability. If your assistant is female, then forget it. I use 2 ascenders and a bosun's chair. Highly recommended. I have no rope climbing background, I'm over 15 stone, unfit and a pensioner, but I can climb my mast without assistance, (provided I can have a lie-down afterwards! ). This kit is sold, more expensively, as a "Top-Climber". It's well worth having aboard.
there will be two of us, will there be much winching effort involved?
[/ QUOTE ]
It might be just about possible, provided that you are fit, agile and assist by hauling yourself up the mast and rigging. Even so, it will probably be at the limit of your assistant's capability. If your assistant is female, then forget it. I use 2 ascenders and a bosun's chair. Highly recommended. I have no rope climbing background, I'm over 15 stone, unfit and a pensioner, but I can climb my mast without assistance, (provided I can have a lie-down afterwards! ). This kit is sold, more expensively, as a "Top-Climber". It's well worth having aboard.
rallyveteran
Well-Known Member
I've got a top climber now but before I had just a bosun's chair and found the secret to reducing the load on the wincher was for the chair occupier to do as much climbing as possible - either using the forestay or just by pushing on spreaders and other items attached to the mast.
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
I find that all I have to do is pull myself up on a halyard and swmbo can just take in the slack down below. I do like the idea of these prusik knots, though.
Shame I'm scared of heights.
Shame I'm scared of heights.
smeaks
Well-Known Member
let me know when you want to climb and I will man the winch for you.
agurney
Well-Known Member
The beauty of the prusiks or ascenders is that you don't need anyone on the winch, you can do it solo.
JohnTH
Well-Known Member
Go on Sharkbate, buy a ladder and avoid all the hard work winching. not to mention avoiding that out of control feeling in the Boson's Chair !
homa
Well-Known Member
A few years ago I bought myself one of those web ladders that have mast slides fitted. remove mast gate, slot into main sail track and hoist to the top of the mast. I can easily get myself to the top of the mast on my own. and it all fits into a neat bag when not in use.
I wear a safety harness for security. It also has a belt at the top so you can work with both hands. Only down side is you are standing when working, so unless the steps are rigid, your feet get cramp. Best compromise I have found is to wear boots with stiff soles.
Not cheap, but I spend half my time aboard singlehanded.
At sea I wouldn't use the ladder, but would go up in a Bosun's chair if I had Crew.
I wear a safety harness for security. It also has a belt at the top so you can work with both hands. Only down side is you are standing when working, so unless the steps are rigid, your feet get cramp. Best compromise I have found is to wear boots with stiff soles.
Not cheap, but I spend half my time aboard singlehanded.
At sea I wouldn't use the ladder, but would go up in a Bosun's chair if I had Crew.
Shiver Metimbers
Well-Known Member
Where will I get a 15 metre ladder and how can I transport it to the marina?
flyingscampi
Well-Known Member
JohnTH
Well-Known Member
B&Q sell ladders and there are hire shops. I bet that if you ask the marina will perhaps have one.
I use one of those that vanishes into its self. For a 15m mast though I expect two will be needed (buy or hire). The point about cramp is true as is the fix - good footware.
The down side to a ladder is that they are heavy and, unless there is a roof rack on the car, difficult to transport.
I use one of those that vanishes into its self. For a 15m mast though I expect two will be needed (buy or hire). The point about cramp is true as is the fix - good footware.
The down side to a ladder is that they are heavy and, unless there is a roof rack on the car, difficult to transport.
snooks
Well-Known Member
Before you start, get the halyard you want to go up on, tie a line to it, pull it up the mast and inspect the rope you're going to go up on, then do it with the safety line.
So you know the ropes are safe, now check the harness, make sure it looks in good condition with nothing worn or frayed, if it's new this is less of a problem.
Whichever line you decide to go up on, make sure you can thread it to get to your primary winch or windlass (if you have one with a drum). Make sure it has a good lead fro the mast to the toerail/strong point and snatchblock through the genoa car and turning block to the winch, make sure the line doesn't rub on anything.
Then make sure the safety line can be tighenend from the winching position.
Now tie the ropes (main and safety) to the ring on bosun's chair (don't use clips or quick release shackles) If you have to use a shackle (on a wire halyard) use a second shackle and tape it up.
Then it's just a case of winching you up....go up 3 ft take in the safety, go up another 3 ft take in the safety. Then tighten the safety every now and again once you go up.
If you're using the windlass make sure the rope is fed on from the base of the drum and kept low with a block at the base of the forestay/strongpoint on the bow
Main thing is take it slowly, for the person winching if nothing else!!
So you know the ropes are safe, now check the harness, make sure it looks in good condition with nothing worn or frayed, if it's new this is less of a problem.
Whichever line you decide to go up on, make sure you can thread it to get to your primary winch or windlass (if you have one with a drum). Make sure it has a good lead fro the mast to the toerail/strong point and snatchblock through the genoa car and turning block to the winch, make sure the line doesn't rub on anything.
Then make sure the safety line can be tighenend from the winching position.
Now tie the ropes (main and safety) to the ring on bosun's chair (don't use clips or quick release shackles) If you have to use a shackle (on a wire halyard) use a second shackle and tape it up.
Then it's just a case of winching you up....go up 3 ft take in the safety, go up another 3 ft take in the safety. Then tighten the safety every now and again once you go up.
If you're using the windlass make sure the rope is fed on from the base of the drum and kept low with a block at the base of the forestay/strongpoint on the bow
Main thing is take it slowly, for the person winching if nothing else!!
Vara
Well-Known Member
I would disagree with putting both main and safety line to ring on chair. The two should have no common parts.
Safety line should go to say chest harness.
OTOH the Dibnah method of no safety at all worked for him /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
http://technorati.com/videos/youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D6W_7uIapoHc
Safety line should go to say chest harness.
OTOH the Dibnah method of no safety at all worked for him /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
http://technorati.com/videos/youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D6W_7uIapoHc
Elemental
Well-Known Member
I really wouldn't go with the bosun's chair. I'd buy a reasonable quality climbing harness instead. Climbing harnesses are designed to hold you in the event of an inversion, I don't think I'd want to rely on a bosun's chair to do that.
When I go up the mast, with a helper around, I generally tie into the main halyard (don't use shackles) and the spinnaker halyard. I generally climb the mast, by using the shrouds/spreaders/whateverelse and then rest in the harness every couple of metres or so. Very little winching involved - just the occasional 'tug' to pull me up a tricky bit. The spinnaker halyard is just a safety and never takes any load.
Coming down, the helper just eases the rope around the winch (usually find that only a couple of turns are required to very easily control my descent. I grab a couple of metres of spinnaker halyard, the helper makes that off, lowers me a couple of metres on the main. Brakes the main and releases the spinnaker halyard and the process repeats. Drama free and I feel very secure with two independent lines and a secure harness.
When I go up the mast, with a helper around, I generally tie into the main halyard (don't use shackles) and the spinnaker halyard. I generally climb the mast, by using the shrouds/spreaders/whateverelse and then rest in the harness every couple of metres or so. Very little winching involved - just the occasional 'tug' to pull me up a tricky bit. The spinnaker halyard is just a safety and never takes any load.
Coming down, the helper just eases the rope around the winch (usually find that only a couple of turns are required to very easily control my descent. I grab a couple of metres of spinnaker halyard, the helper makes that off, lowers me a couple of metres on the main. Brakes the main and releases the spinnaker halyard and the process repeats. Drama free and I feel very secure with two independent lines and a secure harness.
lw395
Well-Known Member
I use a climbing harness, a petzl ascender and a wooden bar with two footloops and a harken camcleat. Leg muscles do all the work, and you have a secure footrest at the top so you can stand up and see the masthead stuff. It has the advantage of symmetry.
A second halyard is always used as a safety, and to descend on.
Mind you, fit people just climb the mast without any strings, you just have to be used to it, and careful! The right footwear that will grip the mast between your feet helps. Wellies grip varnish well but look silly!
Take care. Test everything out before you get more than 1ft off the deck.
A second halyard is always used as a safety, and to descend on.
Mind you, fit people just climb the mast without any strings, you just have to be used to it, and careful! The right footwear that will grip the mast between your feet helps. Wellies grip varnish well but look silly!
Take care. Test everything out before you get more than 1ft off the deck.
nigelstgeorge
Well-Known Member
Firstly for safety sake use 2 x halyards. MAin and topping lift. (if you ever renew running rigging in the future always provide a topping lift that can either act as a spare main halylard or support your weight up the mast) Top Climbers are good i that you can go up on your own; although it is nice to have someone tail the second safety halylard and they can let you down more quickly that way. Years ago there was a device called a 'mast climber' shaped in a triangle shape with the bottom rung for your feet and through the centre of the device was a square piece of tubing with a jamming cleat on the top. To use one sits in a bosuns chair and pushes down with your feet to rise your bottom up and then your partner below just pulls the bosuns chair up and tails the halyard. Note one halyard for the mast climber and one for the bosuns chair. Huge advanges in that there in NO effort for the person pulling up the bosuns chair and at the top of the mast one can stand up to look down on the electrics etc to see the problem. I use either the top climber of mast climber regularly and I am just shy of 16 stone and knocking on a bit.
Everybody should have a device on their boat for emergency going up the mast.
Everybody should have a device on their boat for emergency going up the mast.
