Around 1978 I used a bos'n's chair to get up a mast on a friend's boat. I wonder if anyone has any experience in this. I wonder if there is some weight limit on a mast for an Islander 30. Can bos'n's chairs be homemade? Is this what you would use to change light bulbs? Thanks for whatever. Warren Hart of Islander 30 Fancy Free
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Nice N Easy
Careful
Bosn's chairs work pretty good, but I would tell you from first hand experience to not go up without a safety back up line, and someone else close by. I fell from the spreaders in March, when the line apparently rubbed on something sharp and parted. Didn't follow my own advice, and had no back up. Probably very lucky not hurt worse than I was, but am still not over it. So, BE VERY CAREFUL. It's not the fall that hurts you, but that sudden stop is really tough.
Bosn's chairs work pretty good, but I would tell you from first hand experience to not go up without a safety back up line, and someone else close by. I fell from the spreaders in March, when the line apparently rubbed on something sharp and parted. Didn't follow my own advice, and had no back up. Probably very lucky not hurt worse than I was, but am still not over it. So, BE VERY CAREFUL. It's not the fall that hurts you, but that sudden stop is really tough.
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neal
climbing harness
Anything can be homemade... how well you make it is what counts. I use a rock climbing harness and the main and jib halyards. As for the wieght limit... a coke can support over 500 pounds if evenly distributed. Key is getting it evenly distrubuted..so wouldnt go by a number. Keep in mind though that a spinnaker can exert several times the force of the wieght of the keel. ie why broaches can happen. since i wiegh several times less than my keel i feel safe going up the mast.
Anything can be homemade... how well you make it is what counts. I use a rock climbing harness and the main and jib halyards. As for the wieght limit... a coke can support over 500 pounds if evenly distributed. Key is getting it evenly distrubuted..so wouldnt go by a number. Keep in mind though that a spinnaker can exert several times the force of the wieght of the keel. ie why broaches can happen. since i wiegh several times less than my keel i feel safe going up the mast.
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petemo76
Chair
Bosun chairs are OK. It's the line that breaks. I use both main and jib halyards when I go up. I have one guy one each winch and another guy tailing each line. I HATE sudden stops. pete
Bosun chairs are OK. It's the line that breaks. I use both main and jib halyards when I go up. I have one guy one each winch and another guy tailing each line. I HATE sudden stops. pete
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Charles Barclay
Climbing the rig
I once had to climb the rig (same loads as using a bosun's chair)on a J-24 which has a less stout mast than your Islander 30. Fractional rigs like the J24 are not fully strung if you will like masthead rigs. The fun part of my J24 climb was that it was just after a mark rounding when the spinnaker halyard went zipping up the mast without the kite. It was the state championships and we were in the hunt for silver. The worst part of my trip up (and I weighed about 210lbs) was the jokers in the bar after the race who while watching a video of it said, "look at the lard-ass go up the rig". Mind you 210lbs isn't all that fat on a 6'2" frame; however I outweighed every other bowman in the regatta by at least 50 lbs.
I once had to climb the rig (same loads as using a bosun's chair)on a J-24 which has a less stout mast than your Islander 30. Fractional rigs like the J24 are not fully strung if you will like masthead rigs. The fun part of my J24 climb was that it was just after a mark rounding when the spinnaker halyard went zipping up the mast without the kite. It was the state championships and we were in the hunt for silver. The worst part of my trip up (and I weighed about 210lbs) was the jokers in the bar after the race who while watching a video of it said, "look at the lard-ass go up the rig". Mind you 210lbs isn't all that fat on a 6'2" frame; however I outweighed every other bowman in the regatta by at least 50 lbs.
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Allen
Homemade bosun's seat
I made one out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood about 12x18. Much more comfortable than the ones that wrap around your butt. I went up in a wraparounc chair to fix the windex on a friend's boat, was up there for about a half hour and when I came down, I couldn't walk. The board doesn't squish all your parts together.
I made one out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood about 12x18. Much more comfortable than the ones that wrap around your butt. I went up in a wraparounc chair to fix the windex on a friend's boat, was up there for about a half hour and when I came down, I couldn't walk. The board doesn't squish all your parts together.
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Rick A
rappel harness
I use a rappel harness instead and find it is much safer and more comfortable. Safety is an issue, you are around 40' plus above the deck. Use both the jib and main halyards, again, for safety. Use the home made stuff for things that keep you about 3' from the water.
I use a rappel harness instead and find it is much safer and more comfortable. Safety is an issue, you are around 40' plus above the deck. Use both the jib and main halyards, again, for safety. Use the home made stuff for things that keep you about 3' from the water.
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Harry
Tape those shackles
Please remember to tape the shackles closed on the primary and back-up halyards when headed to the top of the mast. This prevents accidental opening and the sudden stop on the deck!
Please remember to tape the shackles closed on the primary and back-up halyards when headed to the top of the mast. This prevents accidental opening and the sudden stop on the deck!
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