I will need to go up the mast of my H260 in the next few weeks to repair a windex. What is the maximum weight anyone has run up the mast?
- Status
For what it's worth
I think you may find the mast will be maxed out with you hanging off the top, plus stressing the jib sheave. The moment of weight at the mast top may heal the boat more then you think at the dock, so tie off hard. Safety wise (common sense?), lowering the mast is likely a better choice. With that said, I don't know anyone who has done this in a 26, mechanicaly is is possible, if you are successful, I like to hear the story!
I think you may find the mast will be maxed out with you hanging off the top, plus stressing the jib sheave. The moment of weight at the mast top may heal the boat more then you think at the dock, so tie off hard. Safety wise (common sense?), lowering the mast is likely a better choice. With that said, I don't know anyone who has done this in a 26, mechanicaly is is possible, if you are successful, I like to hear the story!
agree....
I agree with Steve. Why mess with that? Lowering the mast is probably much easier and definitely safer. I've heard some pretty hilarious stories, keep us posted
I agree with Steve. Why mess with that? Lowering the mast is probably much easier and definitely safer. I've heard some pretty hilarious stories, keep us posted
Go on up!
See more on this subject under the previous post "Up mast to replace bulb." Nothing wrong with going up the mast. Though I would recommend finding a kid who's willing to do it. Much easier to winch them up than any adult. Play it safe. Ron M H26 Hydro-Therapy
See more on this subject under the previous post "Up mast to replace bulb." Nothing wrong with going up the mast. Though I would recommend finding a kid who's willing to do it. Much easier to winch them up than any adult. Play it safe. Ron M H26 Hydro-Therapy
Safety;
It is easier and faster just to lower the mast and replace the windex. Do not suggest going up in a boson's chair for safety reasons plus the fact you have a mast raising system which would be faster. I went up a small mast once and by the grace of God, my life was sparred when it broke and I fell three slips over into another boat. Please, lower your mast so I can hear from you for many years. Crazy Dave
It is easier and faster just to lower the mast and replace the windex. Do not suggest going up in a boson's chair for safety reasons plus the fact you have a mast raising system which would be faster. I went up a small mast once and by the grace of God, my life was sparred when it broke and I fell three slips over into another boat. Please, lower your mast so I can hear from you for many years. Crazy Dave
Dave. More info please
Dave. Now you've got me a little scared. After all I did send my most precious posessions up the mast, my daughters. Both are under 80lbs. Do you think sending such light weights up could cause an equipment failure? I need to change my VHF antenna and was plannng on sending the eldest up again. Is this a bad idea in you opinion. Thanks Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
Dave. Now you've got me a little scared. After all I did send my most precious posessions up the mast, my daughters. Both are under 80lbs. Do you think sending such light weights up could cause an equipment failure? I need to change my VHF antenna and was plannng on sending the eldest up again. Is this a bad idea in you opinion. Thanks Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
entertainment value....
The next dock over form mine is "The J-Boat Dock". I've watch them working on their boats every weekend and have seen may trips up the mast there (J-Boat style?). Their technique is very simple. The youngest crew member clumbs the mast by rapping his legs around the mast and hand-over-hands up the halyard. When they get to the spreaders, they hop off and stand on the spreaders to rest before the second leg to the mast head by the same method. You couldn't get me to do this with a gun to my head espicially sense we have a mast tower available to all. Life is cheep on the J-Boat dock!!
The next dock over form mine is "The J-Boat Dock". I've watch them working on their boats every weekend and have seen may trips up the mast there (J-Boat style?). Their technique is very simple. The youngest crew member clumbs the mast by rapping his legs around the mast and hand-over-hands up the halyard. When they get to the spreaders, they hop off and stand on the spreaders to rest before the second leg to the mast head by the same method. You couldn't get me to do this with a gun to my head espicially sense we have a mast tower available to all. Life is cheep on the J-Boat dock!!
Ron...
It's your kid. One question, why do some folks insist on pretending that they have large boats with keel stepped masts that CANNOT be lowered? Good gosh man, it is a deck stepped mast with a raising/lowering system (assuming a 260 like you mention), and you paid for it, use it! Pardon my outburst...... Be safe.
It's your kid. One question, why do some folks insist on pretending that they have large boats with keel stepped masts that CANNOT be lowered? Good gosh man, it is a deck stepped mast with a raising/lowering system (assuming a 260 like you mention), and you paid for it, use it! Pardon my outburst...... Be safe.
response
Larry; This boat comes with a simple mast raising which would be easier for me. I weigh 220 and with my buzzle butt in the air, the cneter of gravity is now higher which is another factor here. Granted yhour child weighs less but for safety, lower the bloomin mast. Once, I saw an idiot let his son go up a bosons chair and that kid was purposley swaying out with the boat laying over. The kid hit the water and the boat came up again. He was having a blast until he cracked his head against the mast and away with him in the ambulance unconscious. Father was cited by the police. although this would not happen with your child, still safety is a factor when going up any mast and when you have a mast rainsing system, why take the chance. Crazy Dave
Larry; This boat comes with a simple mast raising which would be easier for me. I weigh 220 and with my buzzle butt in the air, the cneter of gravity is now higher which is another factor here. Granted yhour child weighs less but for safety, lower the bloomin mast. Once, I saw an idiot let his son go up a bosons chair and that kid was purposley swaying out with the boat laying over. The kid hit the water and the boat came up again. He was having a blast until he cracked his head against the mast and away with him in the ambulance unconscious. Father was cited by the police. although this would not happen with your child, still safety is a factor when going up any mast and when you have a mast rainsing system, why take the chance. Crazy Dave
Sounds crazy, but I've done it
We launched "Loon" on a sunny day in 1997. In the Quad Cities, one of the best ramps is in Iowa, but we kept the boat in a marina in Illinois. Figure the odds, we got the boat rigged and realized the sails were at home. We launched the boat and motored accross the river to the marina. Meanwhile, the wife ran home to get the sails. She meets us at the marina, and I start to hoist the jib onto the CDI roller furler. After it was up about two feet, it became painfully apparent that a square knot was a poor choice for the messenger line on the opposite side of the foil. 20 feet over my head, the end of the downhaul was dangling. Not thinking well at this point, we tried to intentionally heel the boat over with the main halyard. Four big guys couldn't heel it more than 35 degrees. I don't worry too much about a knockdown anymore. So at this point, I slap on a seat harness and tie the main halyard off to the D-ring. My wife and friend winch me up to the spreaders, where I use the boat hook to slide the messenger down far enough on the foil to grab the downhaul. I then tie proper bowlines to tie the lines together. Then I shimmy back down. Directly across from my slip is a resteraunt full of amused patrons. Needless to say, I didn't get hurt, and the mast on my 26 is still in one piece. But I would not recommend doing this to anybody. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
We launched "Loon" on a sunny day in 1997. In the Quad Cities, one of the best ramps is in Iowa, but we kept the boat in a marina in Illinois. Figure the odds, we got the boat rigged and realized the sails were at home. We launched the boat and motored accross the river to the marina. Meanwhile, the wife ran home to get the sails. She meets us at the marina, and I start to hoist the jib onto the CDI roller furler. After it was up about two feet, it became painfully apparent that a square knot was a poor choice for the messenger line on the opposite side of the foil. 20 feet over my head, the end of the downhaul was dangling. Not thinking well at this point, we tried to intentionally heel the boat over with the main halyard. Four big guys couldn't heel it more than 35 degrees. I don't worry too much about a knockdown anymore. So at this point, I slap on a seat harness and tie the main halyard off to the D-ring. My wife and friend winch me up to the spreaders, where I use the boat hook to slide the messenger down far enough on the foil to grab the downhaul. I then tie proper bowlines to tie the lines together. Then I shimmy back down. Directly across from my slip is a resteraunt full of amused patrons. Needless to say, I didn't get hurt, and the mast on my 26 is still in one piece. But I would not recommend doing this to anybody. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
You might agree, you might not...
Well, I've sure learned a lot from following this thread of messages. My conclusions are as follows: - An adult can go up the mast in a bosun's chair, but the risks invovled are not worth being lazy about unstepping the mast. So, drop the mast. - I see no problem sending lightweights (aka: kids) up, provided good safety practices are followed. It's not a zero risk activity, but neither is stepping the mast or sailing in general. If you can't trust two halyards and the rigging to support a sub-100 pound kid in the bosun's chair, then you probably can't trust the boat enough to sail it. I realize not everyone will agree, but hey, that's what this forum is about...sharing ideas. Sail safe, Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
Well, I've sure learned a lot from following this thread of messages. My conclusions are as follows: - An adult can go up the mast in a bosun's chair, but the risks invovled are not worth being lazy about unstepping the mast. So, drop the mast. - I see no problem sending lightweights (aka: kids) up, provided good safety practices are followed. It's not a zero risk activity, but neither is stepping the mast or sailing in general. If you can't trust two halyards and the rigging to support a sub-100 pound kid in the bosun's chair, then you probably can't trust the boat enough to sail it. I realize not everyone will agree, but hey, that's what this forum is about...sharing ideas. Sail safe, Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
Idea for Mike and other CDI users
I did something like Mike Pajewski. When Taken down My Jib for the winter I lost hold of the line for the jib before I could tie a messenger line to it. It was windy and it pull the line out of my hand. I had to take the sail down anyway due to the wind. This left the end of my line hanging about 20 ft in the air. I tried to enlist the marina's workers to lift me up on thier big forklift put they wouldn't because of insurance problems. So with a little problem solving I remembered that I had some old alumnium tent posts. So I went home got them and some duct tape( another use for the duct tape guys) I taped 5 poles together and on the top I taped a Bomber lure with a trebble hook and snared the end of the line and pulledit down. I hope this helps anyone with the same problem. sail safe Bill Coughlin s/v Wind Dancer
I did something like Mike Pajewski. When Taken down My Jib for the winter I lost hold of the line for the jib before I could tie a messenger line to it. It was windy and it pull the line out of my hand. I had to take the sail down anyway due to the wind. This left the end of my line hanging about 20 ft in the air. I tried to enlist the marina's workers to lift me up on thier big forklift put they wouldn't because of insurance problems. So with a little problem solving I remembered that I had some old alumnium tent posts. So I went home got them and some duct tape( another use for the duct tape guys) I taped 5 poles together and on the top I taped a Bomber lure with a trebble hook and snared the end of the line and pulledit down. I hope this helps anyone with the same problem. sail safe Bill Coughlin s/v Wind Dancer
- Status