Sheave stuck at the top of the mast

[rogerthebodger]

I see what you mean!

Thats a very bad design as there should be a seperator plate between the sheaves to prevent the halyard jumping off the sheave.

 

[ibbo]

Mines like that, I'd better do something while the mast is down.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I spent 2 hours up my mast on Sunday & had no problem drilling holes for the wind instrument . The problem was getting the old wires out & the new ones in. Whilst the last post shows the halyard attached to the chair high up my halyard was joined to my bosuns chair at waist level. This pulled the 2 ends together rather too tightly but secure never the less.
I tied it as I would never rely on a shackle.
I did not bother about mast hugging etc I just pushed myself clear of everything & let myself be winched up.
My main problem was that I had no water & in the heat I suddenly found myself going faint due, possibly, to dehydration & the fact that the straps were very tight around my legs.
As I started to go dizzy I shouted to my son below to let me down fast - which he did. It was a good 45 minutes before I could walk about properly & 90 minutes before I felt fit to drive home.

I'd recommend the TopClimber (no affiliation). No winching your way up (so you can do it solo, like I did, Liz was down below looking after the kids), no way you can fall out of it, no pressure points on your legs (it is very comfortable), and gives you somewhere to plant your feet (on the strops). It does require a level of fitness, but that is mostly due to me not getting the technique right!

https://topclimberinternational.com/

It does take a while to get down though as you caterpillar down the rope. The smaller the steps you make the easier it is.

 

[Graham_Wright]

I'd recommend the TopClimber (no affiliation). No winching your way up (so you can do it solo, like I did, Liz was down below looking after the kids), no way you can fall out of it, no pressure points on your legs (it is very comfortable), and gives you somewhere to plant your feet (on the strops). It does require a level of fitness, but that is mostly due to me not getting the technique right!

https://topclimberinternational.com/

It does take a while to get down though as you caterpillar down the rope. The smaller the steps you make the easier it is.

I'm saying nothing.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thats a very bad design as there should be a seperator plate between the sheaves to prevent the halyard jumping off the sheave.

The edge of that bit of the sheave actually broke off. There is (well, was in my case now) a separator of Tufnol, it just was overloaded by the pull and the angle that I put on the sheave. This was purely my fault I'm afraid. Too much pull, at the wrong angle. I was using the sheave and that line for something it was not intended with far more force than it was accustomed to and it bust.

Mike, I wouldn't worry too much about a redesign - I might replace those sheaves if you have the mast down with new ones. If the side of mine hadn't snapped off it probably wouldn't have hopped off....

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I'm saying nothing.

I should get all BBC about it "Other mast climbing devices are available"!!

 

[Graham_Wright]

I should get all BBC about it "Other mast climbing devices are available"!! and they on't hurt your feet or spread your legs!

 

[Hadenough]

Whoever makes the "something else" needs to improve the adhesive used for sticking the rubber mast protector pad on. Mine came off the "something else" the first and second time (after re-fixing) I used it. It's held on with meaty cable ties now. BTW the "something else" is a good bit of kit but does take some fiddling to set up especially on an in mast reefing mast. But to be fair they all do.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Whoever makes the "something else" needs to improve the adhesive used for sticking the rubber mast protector pad on. Mine came off the "something else" the first and second time (after re-fixing) I used it. It's held on with meaty cable ties now. BTW the "something else" is a good bit of kit but does take some fiddling to set up especially on an in mast reefing mast. But to be fair they all do.

Point taken. Sticking anything to polyethylene is a trial. The claim is it wears and is designed to be replaced. I've just tried CT1 on mine.

With in-mast reefing, you are probably not able to use the maine halyard and you do need two lines. I'm fortunate (paranoid?) and have a topping lift and a staysail halyard but the trick I was shown rolleyes at the boat show was to hoist a block with a becket with the topping lift. The static line attaches to the becket and a line run over the sheave for the chair. The reduction in safety (trivial though it may be) suggests extra care be taken with safety.

Andy Freemantle of Freemantle rigging had a special backing block made with a hard white plastic pad mechanically affixed to the black one but then he gives his a real hammering climbing, he claims, up to five masts a day.

I suggest you ask the manufacturer for a replacement - he does give a lifetime guarantee (he's getting on in years mind!).

 

[KAL]

I get on very well with my Mastaclimba. The only slight embuggerance is when I get to the point where the lower shrouds attach to the mast, which means wiggling around them.