Backstay replacement

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BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
We are going to replace the backstay tomorrow (finally).

Plan is to use the main halyard for the bosun's chair and a second for a safety line. The third halyard will be run to the toe rail aft as a temporary backstay. Likewise, when the climber hits the spreaders we will rig a heavy line from above the spreaders aft as a temporary backstay. I also have an 1/8 in fixed wire topping lift going to the boom and can hardend the boom vang and mainsheet (aft traveler) as a third source of "stay."

Plan is to go to the top with a messenger line for pulling up tools, etc...use it to pass the new halyard up then perform a quick swap up top and come down. The boat will be on her mooring and conditions are supposed to be mild tomorrow.

Any last minute tips?

thanks,

Bob
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Why not use

a jib halyard to go up? Being on the aft end of the mast if you use the main halyard for the chair may make it more difficult to connect the backstay at the top than if you are forward of the mast and can reach around. It also lets you use the main halyard as a temporary support.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
There are no sails on the boat, so any of the halyards could be employed. I appreciate your recommendation.
 
Richard Bryer

Richard Bryer

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Jun 3, 2004
890
Hunter 34 Toronto, Ontario Canada
Tape the shackles shut on the halyards that you have attached to the bosun's chair
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
Good idea Richard.

Any tricks on how to run the main hoisting line and safety line? I figured to either just alternate them, so the potential fall isn't more than a few feet, or to have the climber hug the mast occaisonally.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Richard's right, plus...

Better yet, don't use the shackles AT ALL. I was up at the top of my C25 mast years ago, looked at the shackle right in front of my eyes and saw it was open. Never got down so quick in all my life (beat falling!).

Forget the shackles, tie a bowline with two tucks after it.

Do not use a shackle.

OK?
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: Richard's right, plus...

By Shackles are we referring to "Snap Shackles"? Screw pin shackles are perfectly safe.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
Halyards are rope to wire, except for the spin halyard, so we will likely use the shackles and tape them.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
Any suggestions on how much ~40 feet of 1 x 19 can be expected to stretch?
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
There was a debate on the stretch subject a short while ago and someone suggested that the mechanical stretch from new was about .1 percent . so 480 inches times .001 equals about a half inch.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
I called Rigging Only and they said approximately the diameter of the wire or 0.25" for 1/4" rigging. So somewhere between 0.25 and 0.50. In any case the turnbuckle will have plenty of play for that.
 
B

bffatcat

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Jun 8, 2004
853
Pearson 26W Marblehead
New backstay my 2c

Bob dont use shackles at all to hoist the chair tie a bowline it wont let go. Someone is going to be up at the top of your mast with no backstay connected. If it were me I wouldnt send
anyone up that weights more than 125lbs
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
As, previously stated...you can't tie a bowline in wire!
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
BobM said:
As, previously stated...you can't tie a bowline in wire!
Click to expand
Avoid snap shackles and use a screw pin shackle. However I am not sure I would climb on a rope to wire splice.
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

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Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
I have to climb my mast this week with a wire to rope halyard. I am not that excited about it. But I am all nimbly bimbly and I am going to be hanging onto the mast and assisting the ascent with my bare feet on the mast. One wire halyard looks to be in good shape the other is all kinked. I will use the kinked one for my support and the straight one for the mast support and put a support above the spreaders on the way up.
BobM-don't use shackles just tie a bowline!;)
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Hermit usually the wire halyard will extend from mast head to winch with a few turns on the winch. Hoist a new rope and tackle on the halyard. Falling less than ten feet will hurt, falling ten to twenty feet will break things and falling twenty to forty feet or more will kill.
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

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Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
I will be using new rope and climbing carribiners to attach the wire halyard to the rope. I can't think of a 100% safe way to do this.
I have one unreliable halyard as a temporary forestay and another unreliable halyard as my climbing support.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
A prusic knot on the mast, one above the spreaders and one below would arrest a fall.
 
BobT

BobT

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Sep 29, 2008
239
Gulfstar 37 North East River, Chesapeake Bay
Ross, that's a very good idea! So it looks like replacing the snap shackle with a screw shackle, wired tight, hoist a climbing line on the front side of the mast, ascenders and a prussic loop on the mast with the end carabinered to his harness, to slide up as he goes. (I bummed some actual rock climbing line from my daughter's boyfriend last year so as not to shred my halyards with those toothy ascenders that I bought after trying to climb with just two prussic loops. That was a workout.)
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

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Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
I will tie a prussik around the mast and tie it to my climbing harness. That is the safest suggestion yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0d8-Fxdx8Y I wonder how well it will work on the mast. At worst it would slow me down in a fall.
Bob- you have good wire halyards don't you? You probably wouldn't need to do this.
 
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