This is probably a stupid question, but is it possible to run up the mast on a 26ft Mac with a bos'n chair or top climber?
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I'd be afraid ... very afraid.
You could possibly do it, but I believe it would be much wiser to lower the mast to do whatever you need to do at the masthead! 6-foot stepladder ... 38-foot masthead ... which would you rather have tip out from under you, and bring you to the ground?
You could possibly do it, but I believe it would be much wiser to lower the mast to do whatever you need to do at the masthead! 6-foot stepladder ... 38-foot masthead ... which would you rather have tip out from under you, and bring you to the ground?
I am as daring a person as the next, and maybe more foolhardy, but I would not trust a line run any higher than the hounds. I recently went up the mast on a larger mast and I realized how much one depends on the correct tailing at the winch. By all means use safety at every place you can, and a 2nd line at the minimum.
On the other hand, since I don't have a roller furler, I can put my mast down and back up again in just a few minutes....why can't you?
On the other hand, since I don't have a roller furler, I can put my mast down and back up again in just a few minutes....why can't you?
No, I don't think the mast is strong enough to hold a person unless it remained exactly vertical. Any shift of gravity away from vertical would possibly cause the mast to bend and break (along with Jack's crown). I have seen several bend and broken masts. They are very thin and came down way to easily.
Plus, if you've seen the Mac videos, it takes a little over a hundred pounds at the masthead to keep/bring the mast to the horizontal.
I agree - not on a Mac. Besides the lightweight construction, the Mac is too tender. I did this once on a heavier boat and it swayed too much for my comfort level. Throw in the possibility of the Mac mast collapsing and you have a recipe for trouble.
My concern would be what is holding the weight of you and the Bos'n chair? Would you be using the main halyard that is connected to the top of the mast via a cheek block and two little screws or rivets and would that cheek block hold your weight. Or are you just going to the hound where the forestay is attached which may be held stronger and perhaps have a stronger pully block, either way it is an un-necessary risk. I was able to crease my mast right at the bail where the mast raising kit and babystays attache because I cranked on the brake winch too hard while allowing the mast to rotate and it made the mast bend and crease, had to get a replacement. Much easier to just lower the mast.
Oh well
Mostly I wanted to do it for the 'fun' aspect. But the mast seemed to flimsy and the boat too small to support my enormous torque.
Mostly I wanted to do it for the 'fun' aspect. But the mast seemed to flimsy and the boat too small to support my enormous torque.
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