windvanes

[chappy]

My windvane broke of the top of my mast & has now gone, i think the windvane was the type that come with a vhf ariel, the ariel is still attached to the top of the mast, do i have to get a new windvane with ariel or is there a way of just buying a windvane and attach it to the existing ariel.
Also i have never used a bosuns chair before, how do they work, is it by attaching it to the main halyard & winching your self up or is it by another means, i weigh about 14 stone would this be a problem?

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[waterboy]

Sorry but can't help you about the windvane part but a Top Climber from Yachtstyle (Camberley based) should get you up the mast without too much problem. I have one and it is well worth my weight in gold.

<hr width=100% size=1>I never make the same mistake twice. I always make new ones.

 

[Sunnyseeker]

Bosuns chair, is just tied to main halyard (dont shackle it as shackles have been known to open!) then you'll need a helper to winch as you climb, usually a joint effort.
A better way which you can do on your own is with two jammers available from climbing suppliers, one loop goes to your foot and the other loop to harness or bosuns chair. you simply stand in the loop slide the seat jammer up the rope, then sit, slide th leg loop jammer up 2 feet and then stand. Ask how in a climbing shop.

Its very safe and easy to use. Make sure you have as many of your tools as you can attached with line to you or your harness seat, screww drivers can do a lot of damage!

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[alahol2]

I've just recently replaced a 'normal' windvane (ie one on it's own stick) from a bosuns chair. I was at the absolute limit of my reach when the bosun's chair was hard against the masthead pulleys. You may find that you can't reach over the top of the aerial to put the new vane on. There are a couple of fiddly little screws to tighten (or drop). It may be easier to remove the aerial, fit the vane on deck, then go back up to refit and line up.
I'd definitely suggest you get at least one brawny helper to winch you up, possibly another to tail the winch. Every time I've been up I've found it scary, but maybe that's just me.
I'm sure I've seen the replacement windvanes available in chandlers.
Good Luck

<hr width=100% size=1>I really would rather be sailing...

 

[extravert]

One of the bits on a windvane of mine broke. A spare was available, but it was nearly as much as a new one, so I replaced the lot and got a some more spares as well. I hunted around, and Compass were the cheapest for a new windvane.

From what I remember, the windvane part goes over the top of the whip aerial if it's one of the combined types. I could not reach the top of the aerial to fit it over, but the aerial wire was sufficiently flexible to bend it so that it was pointind downwards, slip the windvane over it and work it down the aerial, and then let go of the aerial wire.

I can imagine flicking a windvane half way across the harbour and impaling someone if I let go of the aerial too soon, but I made sure I didn't do that.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[tome]

One advantage of the TopClimber is that it has foot straps which go to the masthead. This allows you to stand above the mast, essential if working on windvane/windex/antenna/tricolour etc.

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[shamrock]

No one mentions it here but I have always made sure that if I go up the mast, I clip a second halyard to the bosuns chair. This acts as a safety line in case anything fails with the first.

As your helper on deck winches you up, they also stop every couple of feet to take up the slack on the other line. Reverse coming down.

It's a bit more hassle but I've broken enough halyards in use to be concerned about the consequences and likelihood of the one I've put my weight on giving way.

I still worry that it leaves the bosun's chair ring as the single point of failure but short of tying the safety line around you (difficult to do in any safe way), I can't think of a practical alternative.

Going up alone with climbing thingies has the same risk - but it's tougher to rig a safety line. Perhaps running a line through a pulley hoisted to the masthead, which you then clip one end to the chair, and loop the other end around you abseiling style so that in an accident the friction holds it around you and gives you a chance to get down OK.

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[Jeremy_W]

I'd also attach the topping lift to the bosun's chair as a back-up. Carry a ball of string with you (so you can drop the weighted end to the deck to hoist up any tool that you've forgotten), a small bag for tools and some Blutak for securing screws to the end of screwdrivers.

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[Benbow]

As any climber will tell you, the fewer links in the system upon which your life hangs the better.

So I completely agree that an independant safety line is essential but I absolutely would not tie it to the ring on the bosuns chair. ideally wear a proper climbing harness and attach it directly to that. Otherwise tying it round your middle with a bowline is an acceptable alternative. If you fall on it, it will hurt but you will live. Your deck-level assistant must be able to rapidly lower you if that happens.

After all thats how climbers did it for many years.

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[Greylaguk]

Additional safety line a must. To get round the single point of failure (bosuns chair) wear your harness and attach the spare line to your harness....should be safer that attaching both lines to the bosuns chair. SWMBO swears by it 'cos she is the one that goes up the mast.

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