mast climbing

[petersto]

I am over 6ft and weigh about 14 stone. I need to climb the mast to look at my ariel. The boat a Westerly Centaur is in the water. Would it be advisable for me to climb the mast bearing in mind the leverage when I reach the top.
Thanks in anticipation.

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[Robin]

You are a veritable lightweight, no problem at all!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Georgio]

should be fine, just check hallyards are in good condition and you have somone strong to winch.

On my boat I always ask crew to stay central to the boat when I'm up the mast to avoid movement. can also be a good idea to put sailbags at the bottom of the mast to protect the deck should you drop a tool from the top.

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[rhc21]

No problems I would say, although make sure you've got someone strong enough to winch you up, it's not easy. I have a mast ladder that fits into the sail groove so climb myself and obviously also use a harness with wifey taking ip th slack, my wife would stand no chance of winching me up (14.5 stone) alone. I would suggest you tie any tools to yourself just incase you drop anything and also try and take everthing you need. It's a pain when you forget something small and have to come down!
As long as you hold on to the mast a bit of rocking is no problem!!

Richard.

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[pelissima]

Hi Rchard,
did u make it yourself or else, where and how much??
Rgds George

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[wiggy]

I have an extra 2 stone on you and my wife has no chance of winching me up, I use a climbing harness and climb with slack being taken up below. Its hard work but made easier by the harness compared to a bosuns chair, mind you my legs go dead if I have to hang around at the top for long!

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I would suggest you tie any tools to yourself just incase you drop anything and also try and take everthing you need. It's a pain when you forget something small and have to come down!

This is where a bucket, tied to your spinnaker halyard, for tools comes into play. Saves carrying tools to the top, you pull the bucket up once there, and you can send it down for crew to replenish if you forget something.

hope this helps.....


<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Trevor_swfyc]

I think you need to carry out a risk assessment. What are all the risks and are they worth it. Far better to send the wife up if she weighs less than you and you are stronger and more able on the winch. This reduces the risk to yourself unless she drops a tool on your head from 10 metres up. /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

Trevor

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[BustinAround]

I'd go for a climbing harness every time, even if there's someone strong enough to winch you up. Feels so much more secure, and IS so much more secure! Hell, you could even start doing somersaults and you'd be fine!



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[bruce]

an inline antenna meter mounted at the radio would allow you to check anytime. would show swr power output and % modulation. just a thought...

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[petersto]

Trevour
I am impressed with your line of thought but how do you get your wife down the boat in the first place.


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[rhc21]

George,
I got mine from Hurst Marine http://www.hurst-marine.fsnet.co.uk/
Price as their web page.
It works very well, the only problem being that you have to take all the sail guides out before you can raise it as it obviously runs up the same channel. I had not though of this but if you have lazy jacks the sail stays on the boom anyway or you could just tie it down. You also need two lines, one for the ladder and one for the harness/chair. It does however make going up the mast very easy, because it's fixed to the mast it doesn't swing about.

Richard.

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[TheoSr]

Bucket is fine idea, but make sure it is heavier than the halyard or else it will fly up uncontrolled the last few meters. Better still, tie the loose end of the halyard to the bucket to prevent this. Don't know about stones but at 135 kg myself, have always lowered the mast.

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[BrendanChandler]

I use a climbing harness and pull myself up using a single and double block. This makes the job very easy. The little lady takes up slack on a halyard attached to the harness and Bob's your auntie.

For the spacially challenged, I attach a double block to a halyard and a single block to my harness. I attach the end of the line to the single block, lead it through the double block, back through the single block and through the double block.
I hoist the double block to the top of the mast and make it off.
I then haul on the end of the line and because of the blocks, it is very easy to haul myself up whilst s.w.m.o. takes in the slack. I have a carrier bag with my tools attached to the harness and a reel of very light line so that she can easily attach any tools I may have forgotten.

Brendan

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[StephenW]

Use 2 lines - one tied to your bosuns chair/harness, the other formed into a loop as a stirrup.

Raise the stirrup about 2-3 feet, push yourelf up straight by straightening your leg and get wife to take up slack in the rope tied to you. Ensure each haul-up ends with the line being seured safely. Repeat till at the top!

Very easy, if a bit slow, but works very well and provides a margin of safety with 2 lines.

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[bobnewbury]

Having suffered an irrational fear of heights all my life I find going up our 12 metre mast absolute purgatory. I've never felt safe in a bosun's chair as I always felt that I'd tip out backwards.

I invested in a climbing harness with a clever little carabena type thingy which grips the downward fall of the halyard and allows me to climb the steps and take up the slack at the same time. That way, if I do slip/faint/undergo cardiac arrest then I won't drop 10 feet and be brought up suddenly.

Talking of which, if you get a climbing harness take great care in arranging the straps or you could end up singing soprano for a fortnight.

I speak from experience.

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[William_H]

Climbing mast (being pulled up on a halyard) is probably more scary than dangerous. Having said that there is no way I will try again to go up my mast on a smaller very tender boat. You should perhaps try it but don't be too dismayed if you decide it is a silly bugger's game. You may find some lightweight younger fool to do it for you. Of course you will need to get at the top of the mast occasionally but if you can put it off until the mast is lowered. You will possibly be disapointed that checking the aerial will not actually help. Give me a pm if you want details on building a standby vhf antenna that may help you out. If you have a deck mounted mast then it is time to consider setting up to lower the mast yourself. Thats another story again pm if want advice. regards ole will

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[Trevor_swfyc]

I know its not easy, weather has to be very little cloud, temperature above 20 C wind no more than 15 mph force 2 preferred. Overnight stay in a marina rather than my favourite creek, which she says is creepy. Oh and a meal for two in the marina bar usually works.
Apart from that pleading I really need your help holding something on the boat, sometimes works but not half as well as the former.

All the best.
Trevor


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[Spyro]

Assuming you mean will the boat tip right over when you reach the top? Try this. Take halyard from top of mast and stand on the pontoon or quayside try pulling on the halyard that is attached to the top of the mast, if when you have all of your weight on the halyard and the boat won't tip over any more then I would say it would be safe to climb the mast. Don't know if its a proven way of doing it but it worked for me.

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[Lori]

we also have a mast ladder it's made of webbing with footloop thingys. It slides up the groome in the mast on slugs so you are attached to the mast itself. Use an extra line/harness. Even I went up on it (and I;m a girl) no worries, Odd being 40 feet up, the boat looks really small. I think thery are about £100 to buy new.

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