My steaming light is out. Before I attempt unstepping the mast I'd like to check the bulb - but sailors in my marina are giving me answers ranging from "Of course!" to "No way" re my going up in a bosun's chair. Continuity test on wires at bottom of mast is negative, so the problem is somewhere in that loop. P.S. A thanks to Michael on 4/20 for electrician's trick re bow light. Haven't gotten to use it yet due to family illness, but now that all under control, will try!
Can I (130 lbs) go up deck-stepped mast on H23.5?
- Thread starter Robin20020
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I did
I have a hunter 25. It's only 1.5 feet bigger than yours. I've climbed up there a few times this month. If it can't hold 130 lbs. I'd worry about sailing it. There is a reason for the line to be rated in strength to hundreds of pounds. And still that is made to snap before your mast. Stephen Fierro Captain of Calamity
I have a hunter 25. It's only 1.5 feet bigger than yours. I've climbed up there a few times this month. If it can't hold 130 lbs. I'd worry about sailing it. There is a reason for the line to be rated in strength to hundreds of pounds. And still that is made to snap before your mast. Stephen Fierro Captain of Calamity
I wouldn't
but not because of danger or tipping the boat (I wouldn't know if it was safe or not) or snapping the lift line, but if you have the same Perko dual light as I have on my H23.5, well, as I recall even when the mast was down and I was standing on a step ladder I couldn't take the thing apart, replace the bulbs, and put it back together again without dropping _something_ onto the snow. (OK, maybe the temperature was a factor!). Drop anything from up top and it could be lost. Oh, in my case the problem was the contacts at the deck connector, but your continuity tests would have shown you if that was the problem. ...RickM...
but not because of danger or tipping the boat (I wouldn't know if it was safe or not) or snapping the lift line, but if you have the same Perko dual light as I have on my H23.5, well, as I recall even when the mast was down and I was standing on a step ladder I couldn't take the thing apart, replace the bulbs, and put it back together again without dropping _something_ onto the snow. (OK, maybe the temperature was a factor!). Drop anything from up top and it could be lost. Oh, in my case the problem was the contacts at the deck connector, but your continuity tests would have shown you if that was the problem. ...RickM...
I wouldn't
But because my steaming light was somewhat touchy to remove (small screws and parts that could get away easily). I seem to have a hard time holding on to small items in my old age and can't see very good either. I dropped my mast (25.5) to do the job and did it at the dock with a couple of helpers. From past experience up the mast, I really don't think I would have been able to replace the bulb without needing to replace small parts. In then end, dropping the mast, doing the fix, and raising the mast was much easier for me. For the record, I doubt my 19 yr old son would have been able to do the job without dropping parts either.
But because my steaming light was somewhat touchy to remove (small screws and parts that could get away easily). I seem to have a hard time holding on to small items in my old age and can't see very good either. I dropped my mast (25.5) to do the job and did it at the dock with a couple of helpers. From past experience up the mast, I really don't think I would have been able to replace the bulb without needing to replace small parts. In then end, dropping the mast, doing the fix, and raising the mast was much easier for me. For the record, I doubt my 19 yr old son would have been able to do the job without dropping parts either.
Yes
I haven't done the load calculations, but a wind load puts the windward shroud(s) in tension and transfers the load to a compressive force on the deck. I just sold my Columbia 23 (who needs two boats)and I shinney'd up the mast several times, even while on the trailer, and stood on the spreaders. If the halyard gets away from you you may need to consider that maneuver. Replacing the bulb is another matter. 1. first check continuity with a volt meter across the wires w/o battery in line. If open then you either have a break in your wiring or a broken lamp filament. 2. Check for a blown fuse. 3. You need to make sure your halyard line is not worn and consider a chair and get assistance if you are going up to hang and do the work. I'd only go up if I could sit and straddle the spreaders. Two people should very easily unstep a mast on a 23. Don't be risky and join the Darwin awards list!
I haven't done the load calculations, but a wind load puts the windward shroud(s) in tension and transfers the load to a compressive force on the deck. I just sold my Columbia 23 (who needs two boats)and I shinney'd up the mast several times, even while on the trailer, and stood on the spreaders. If the halyard gets away from you you may need to consider that maneuver. Replacing the bulb is another matter. 1. first check continuity with a volt meter across the wires w/o battery in line. If open then you either have a break in your wiring or a broken lamp filament. 2. Check for a blown fuse. 3. You need to make sure your halyard line is not worn and consider a chair and get assistance if you are going up to hang and do the work. I'd only go up if I could sit and straddle the spreaders. Two people should very easily unstep a mast on a 23. Don't be risky and join the Darwin awards list!
Before You Go Up
At one point last year Crazy Dave expressed that a person's weight on the sheave might be too much. What I found on the mast light on my 23.5 was not the contacts on the connector at the mast base but where the wires were held in by the screws in the conncetor. I cut 1/4" off the wires and reconnected them and have not had a problem since.
At one point last year Crazy Dave expressed that a person's weight on the sheave might be too much. What I found on the mast light on my 23.5 was not the contacts on the connector at the mast base but where the wires were held in by the screws in the conncetor. I cut 1/4" off the wires and reconnected them and have not had a problem since.
Thanks for your reponses...
I will follow up with more rigorous testing, then it looks like unstepping the mast is also a viable option - I had ruled it out as too difficult, but it sounds like 3 people may be able to do it. I may do use that option, especially considering the 'dropping' problem a couple of you mentioned.
I will follow up with more rigorous testing, then it looks like unstepping the mast is also a viable option - I had ruled it out as too difficult, but it sounds like 3 people may be able to do it. I may do use that option, especially considering the 'dropping' problem a couple of you mentioned.
Choices
As a trailerable boat, raising / dropping the mast on a 23.5 is not a difficult thing. Is it really worth it to try to ascend to the heavens when you can work on the ground?
As a trailerable boat, raising / dropping the mast on a 23.5 is not a difficult thing. Is it really worth it to try to ascend to the heavens when you can work on the ground?
Drop the mast
Sorry for the delay, but we just returned from a week on Lake Erie. As a profesional firefighter/paramedic and former rope/vertical rescue instructor, I have no problems with hights or working on ropes. However, when given the choice between going aloft while someone who may not be used to doing so holds my life by the rope in their hands, on equipment that may be aging, worn, exposed to deteriorating sunlight for prolonged periods, and otherwise abused, or taking an hour & half to drop the mast and work in comfort and safety, I would choose the later. We keep our 23.5 on the trailer, so stepping and unstepping the mast everytime we sail is routine. It takes us about 30 minutes to rig and 45 to unrig and prep for towing. Dropping the mast for such a repair should not be a problem. While you are repairing the light, you might as well check the conntacts for corrosion and the wiring at the top of the mast for cracked and dried out insulation. I've found that the contacts both on the bulb holder and at the deck plug to be more of a problem than blown bulbs. Rob "Kinship"
Sorry for the delay, but we just returned from a week on Lake Erie. As a profesional firefighter/paramedic and former rope/vertical rescue instructor, I have no problems with hights or working on ropes. However, when given the choice between going aloft while someone who may not be used to doing so holds my life by the rope in their hands, on equipment that may be aging, worn, exposed to deteriorating sunlight for prolonged periods, and otherwise abused, or taking an hour & half to drop the mast and work in comfort and safety, I would choose the later. We keep our 23.5 on the trailer, so stepping and unstepping the mast everytime we sail is routine. It takes us about 30 minutes to rig and 45 to unrig and prep for towing. Dropping the mast for such a repair should not be a problem. While you are repairing the light, you might as well check the conntacts for corrosion and the wiring at the top of the mast for cracked and dried out insulation. I've found that the contacts both on the bulb holder and at the deck plug to be more of a problem than blown bulbs. Rob "Kinship"
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