Masthead working...

jonathankent

jonathankent

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Dec 2005
Messages
1,733
Location
Cornwall
Visit site
Now I believe I have identified my VHF problem... the worst place it could be, the masthead antenna. Now I haven't got a way of climbing the mast, i.e. no winches etc, so what other possible ways are there of repairing this.... I would rather not have to pay £150 to have the mast unstepped and stepped again.... ideal would be a low bridge that I could moor up against, but don't know of anywhere around Helford / Falmouth where this is possible. Any suggestions....
 
Boat yards often have a small mast crane which can lift you up in bosun's chair to the mast head.... Mashfords? I should bit the bullet and have a new antenna - for the yard to do that for you (they may not want to let you do it yourself) should not take an hour as there is the original one up there still to 'lead' the new cable down the mast...

I had similar problems with my Prout and ended up buying a webbing set of mast steps that hoist up the mainsail groove with the main halyard then you walk - well climb up - trouble is they cost £150 but I hope to use them more often -

Michael
 
If your boat is < 23' and your mast base will allow it to tip to the horizontal rearwards when the forestay is undone, three people should be able to lower it. One on a rope from the crosstrees through the bow roller and back up and the other two walking the mast down along coachroof & cockpit. This comes from an original Westerly handbook - I've done it a couple of times on my 23'er.
The only catch is the rigging screws need to be tied up before raising again as they can get caught at an odd angle on the A bolts and bend.
I don't think this method would be safe if the mast base would have to be disconnected or lifted out first.
If that's the case, do you know anyone who goes potholing? They have some nifty wire ladders you might be able to borrow.
Nick
 
You may consider that it is worth investing in and practicing with some mast climbing equipment so that you are equiped with the gear and knowledge to do any task which may be required at mast head hieght.
A good quality bosuns chair (one that wraps around your posterior!!) is a start then two ascenders from a climbing shop. The climbing technique is simple using your mainsail halyard and the topping lift (and possibly another line if you have one as a safety line held by an assistant!).
If you are doing this solo then a mobile phone can be useful if anything gets jammed when you are up there!!
A caving (electron ladder) or a standard buiders ladder can make going up easy but you will still need at least one ascender as a safety device or a pal on the end of a line.
Good luck
 
I use a tape mast ladder which goes up the mainsail track on the main halyard.

Not particularly morale-boosting on a tapered mast at 14.8m from waterline, but the only effective way of getting there single-handed as most other methods require a strong winchman at the bottom.

If I can find someone to look after things below, I still use the ladder and a climbing harness onto the topping lift.
Personally I find the climbing harness far better fitting and more secure than a bosun's chair.
 
If this is on a 19 foot boat as in your profile, I wouldn't consider going up the mast if I weighed more that about 4 stone /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

Don't pay the yard to do it, find a friend who has done it before and do it yourself - should take you about an hour!
 
Thanks to all so far who have responded.

I like the idea of these ladders that can be hoisted up the mainsail track - haven't seen these before. Can you recommend anywhere for them?
 
[ QUOTE ]
If this is on a 19 foot boat as in your profile, I wouldn't consider going up the mast if I weighed more that about 4 stone /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]
I have to admit, this thought has crossed my mind. It is on my 19' boat, and as you probably guessed the mast is quite flexible. It is only deck stepped and no support in the cabin. I have always had the thought of the weight/force all being concentrated into one very small area down something that is flexible. I suppose I have assumed that it must be OK... others climb their masts afterall. I would rather not climb it, but I have to weigh up the financial implications of not doing so..... a nice sturdy ladder would be ideal, assuming it is stable, afterall reconnecting the coax into the base of the antenna should only take 5 minutes.
 
Now I am embarassed to say this, as I have read it many times before, but what exactly is a tabernacle??

At the mast foot is a small metal plate screwed into the deck with 3 screws. Welded to this plate is an inch high piece of metal in exactly the same shape as the internals of the mast, to which the mast slots over this and is stopped from sliding side to side etc. The mast is then held into this, to stop it from lifting again, by a nut & bolt right through from one side of the mast to the other.

Hope that all makes sense.
 
No that isn't a tabernacle as such. A tabernacle at its simplest is a pair of plates that come up vertically about a foot or so on either side of the base of the mast, with two bolts through the mast, one near the top of the plates and one near the bottom. By taking out the bottom bolt you can then tilt the mast backwards or forwards to the horizontal, by lowering with the forestay or backstay, to work on it. There are more complicated versions or some that are just a glorified hinge, but the general principal is applied particularly on trailer sailers and the mast can be raised quite often single handed.

It sounds as if your mast sits on a pre cast foot. The weight of the mast isn't particularly great, could you not enlist some help - I would have thought that two people would be able to lift and lower a mast that size.
 
We tried with 3 of us... couldn't manage it. By the time it was all rigged, roller furler all attached, and then trying to do it on to the deck from ground level... just not possible. Might have been possible if we had more space at could work at deck height rather than 'bottom of keel' height.

It sounds like the tabernacle could be fairly easy to make, and then would make any future masthead work a lot easier to do. But, I suppose the mast would nee to be lifted to do that. I bet there is a gap under the mast foot aswell isn't there to allow it to pivot?
 
The "A" frame method of lifting and lowering might be your best bet with this smaller size boat. I'm not a fan of mast climbing. Recently I needed to get to the top of mine, a 26 foot yacht. I parked alongside a fish trawler, put the laticed boom out as far as possible. Climbed up this till I was the same height as the mast top and with a rope winched the mast the remaining distance in to me. Easy and safe to work from. Bridge would have been another way but you have to worry about tide as well.
 
[ QUOTE ]
...It sounds like the tabernacle could be fairly easy to make, and then would make any future masthead work a lot easier to do. But, I suppose the mast would nee to be lifted to do that. I bet there is a gap under the mast foot aswell isn't there to allow it to pivot?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would think you could probably find a second hand one or even have one fabricated for less than £150 which would simplify things in the future and save money in the long run - have a look round at a few other boats, trailer sailers if you can find them, to see the various types. There shouldn't be a gap underneath as you want the weight taken on the foot of the mast, not the through bolts, so there is a bit of play around the top bolt to allow this. The "hinge" type actually allows the mast to sit on a block a bit like you have now.

Food for thought, but not a solution to your immediate problem though. Personally, I would still look at the other alternatives to mast climbing on a boat of that size - but then again I am 17 stone /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
If your mast is the same as on my Fantasie 19 then its approx 6.8 metres high and is stepped on coachroof with a pivot bolt on the stern side so the mast can be lowered quite easily by two people better with three if on the water.
First remove the boom then mark all the bottle screws top and bottom with insulation tape or simular then loosen off to take tension off the mast, do not disconnect. Have ready at base of mast spanners for removal of swing bolt when mast is laid back infact it helps to lossen bolt ready. Also a long handled sweeping brush for second person to use to take the weight of mast at rear of cockpit. Now fasten a length of rope to forestay above deck fitting so that you could use it to tie off if you have problem during lowering mast, then keeping hold of forstay or roller reefing in your case disconnect the forstay fitting and slowly lower the mast back to person in cockpit have the coachroof hatch closed so the mast does not rest onto it causing damage, person stood astride cockpit seats with long brush raised will be able to take some weight as the mast is lowered back to him, when he as the mast in hand he can move to the stern and can balance the mast at its midpoint on his shoulder whilst the person who lowered the mast takes out the bolt so the mast can be moved forward to bring the mast head onto the stern. Reraising the mast is reverse of above. If third person available position them at rear foot of mast to help support whilst lowering and raising.
Its straight forward if you prepare everything and should not take very long. If you have a masthead light on a stainless bracket held on by alloy pop rivits check it is held firm my rivet heads looked perfect but the rivets where corroded behind the plate and broke off easy. Also my plastic sail savers on the spreaders were brittle and broke easy. Inspect everything and be prepared to fix them if neccessary.
Climbing the mast his not a good option in my view its difficult to get high enough to work with out having to reach up and you are at the wrong end of a pendleum so people below moving accross the boat can swing you through a 6 foot arc no trouble, I know I have been there changing a mast head bulb.
If I lived nearer I would come and give you an hand.
Best regards John
 
Hi Jonathan. Firstly don't even think about climbing the mast. Your weight up high when the boat is in the water will precipitate a nasty roll that will have you coming down PDQ. So you must get the mast down.
A tabernacle can be as simple as a piece of heavy aluminium or Stainless bent in a U shape the flat bottom having the mast sitting in it. The sides don't have to be very high (aprox 4 inches.). The trick is to make the hole sloppy and carve away the aft bottom of the mast to allow for tipping over while the weight of the mast is always on the base not on the hinge bolt.

Anyway to solve ytour immediate problem Lake Sailor had some great pictures of using an A frame to lift/lower the mast. The poles need to be very long such that they can come together above the spreaders with enough room for a tackle. As you lift the mast with the tackle you release the stays. If the attachment is high enough (above CofG) the mast will remain vertical and you can grasp the base and pull it forward while l;owering the middle down. If the lift is not from above the CofG then the mast will tend to topple the toppling force beying proportional to the inbalance. So with helpers managing the base you could cope with a lower lift point but make it as higfh as poss.
The A frame should be mounted slightly ahead of the mast attached at the gunwhales and stayed fore and aft. It must be strong enough to take entire mast weight. It must lift the mast up and out of the plug on the deck. Release forestays and loosen side stays. Make up a little A frame to go at the treansom to sit the mast on when down.
The main A frame could be made of Al tubing or wood and you should aim for 5 metres long each leg. good luck.
You need to get organsed I reckon you can't own a small boat without being able to drop the mast yourself for all sorts of jobs. olewill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top