Using electric anchor windlass for mast-climbing?

DeeGee

DeeGee

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I was reading a famous name book on everything about the boat, and he says not to use an electric anchor windlass for man-hauling up the mast. Wonder whether peeps with electric windlass have experience to support or contradict this? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
My observations of mast ascents [I've not needed to do so myself] suggest that the preferred method is for the ascender to do the climbing with the winch man taking up the slack and allowing the ascender to rest when he needs to. In theory you could use an electric winch but the consequences of any slip up eg. halliard caught around ascender's neck and/or a spreader could be severe due to the greater power of an electric winch.
 
I was lost at the start of the thread now...

Quite a lot of people use a electric winch to go up a mast. We watched Valsheda on the owners first picnic doing it. I've done it while fitting radars.

So what is the difference between a electric winch and an electric windlass?

Could it be someone imagined they would use the gypsy for putting the rope around? i.e not a capstan.

Could it be they assumed they would not have a fair lead to the mast base?

Could it be that a windlass has clutches and some have a release mechanism?

Could it mean they imagined someone would go up without a safety as well?

Could it mean that the pull rate is uncontrolled/too fast?

Someone explain please?
 
You mean it would be anymore dangerous than a winch gorilla looking down at a winch instead of up at you! I can tell you it takes some lungs to stop someone engrossed in pulling my weight up a mast.
 
I've often used the anchor windlass, as both hoister and hoistee. Some say the problem is that the halyard knot or shackle can be dragged into the mast box if the hoister is inattentive. I think that would be the least of your problems if the hoister were so inept! The windlass is usually very convenient for observing the hoistee - far enough forward and ahead of the mast, so signals should be easily understood. I don't really see the problem.
 
Me too, I cant see the issue.
IF the hoister isnt sufficiently clued up to watch your every move and gesture, get a new hoister.
It seems this thread is making you aware of the hoisters shortcomings, rather than the equipment to hoist with.

On the drum, round the cleat ready to make fast when needed.
 
Well all I said was that the dangers were obvious, which they are. If you have people who are competant and know the dangers, all well and good.
If however you wish to reduce risk, reduce the potential dangers, don't use a powered winch, it's really as simple as that.
Personally I'm happier climbing under my own traction where I'm 100% in control of what happens.
 
I agree - I'm happier pulling myself up (I use a 2:1 purchase) than get anyone else to pull me up - but I can't see whats wrong with a windlass - electric or otherwise ... it is only another winch!!
If it isn't powerful enough - you could always do it with a 2:1 ...

Still - as long as you have a safety line everyone should be happy!
 
After many years in the rigging business (albeit not nautical, but entertainment), and although i don't have a mast of climbable proportions on board, the one quote that will always ring in your ears at the inquest is "was the bit of equipment being used for its intended purpose?"

If it's not designed to haul personnel, you shouldn't be using it.

Rant over
A
 
[ QUOTE ]
the one quote that will always ring in your ears at the inquest is "was the bit of equipment being used for its intended purpose?"

If it's not designed to haul personnel, you shouldn't be using it.

Rant over
A

[/ QUOTE ]Quite so.
I feel I'm qualified to comment on this as I was a very active caver for many years and did a few of the worlds biggest caves. I rigged, abseiled and prusikked miles of rope. Anything more than a couple of feet off the ground, don't mess about!
 
I've often wondered if an electric winch + remote control could be the lazy sailors answer to easy and fast mast ascent and descent!
 
My coily cord is only about 3 feet long fully extended, so a huge drum of coily cable would be needed.
Who would tail the windlass winch? After all the one I have is not self tailing!
 
Ha thats not a proper remote thats just a pretend remote, a dinky toy remote ,, get a proper one and a self tailing winch or a very long halyard so yocan self tail
 
[ QUOTE ]
You might end up with a sort of nautical equivalent of the Bricklayer's story by Gerard Hoffnung!

[/ QUOTE ]Now, where do we find a barrel on my boat?...

Interesting responses to this thread. The original article (Nigel Calder) accentuated the results of a mistake on the 'ground-man' (for want of a better term), as do the responses here. The consequences of the groundman bollocking up are pretty much the same with an electric winch or windlass (drum), it seems to me. One should always have a second safety line rigged, so the worst drop should be the amount of slack you permit between each incremental hoist. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I also note a significant difference in responses between theoreticians and those who have actually done it. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I have tried the windlass for hauling out of the sea (practice, not serious) and found it is difficult to regulate the amount of 'pull', especially with somewhat un-fair lead. SWMBO 'jerked' me up most uncomfortably, but I thought better to be jerked up, than to not be able to get back at all.

The motivation for what some think as dangerous? Not much alternative when one is an overweight, underfit lump, with a somewhat smaller spouse !
 
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