Question about going up the mast on a h31

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IH82BL8

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Feb 6, 2013
437
Hunter 31 Deale, MD
Yesterday, I finally went up the mast and installed my halyard restrainer but I have a question for those of you who have gone aloft on a H31. What winch did you use going up on the jib halyard? I ran the halyard one turn around the port side cabin top winch and then to the port jib winch for best mechanical advantage. The problem was that this was a terrible lead for the jib winch and we kept getting overraps. We finally resorted to one person grinding while the second person stood on the halyard between the cabin top winch and the jib winch to get a fair lead. Has anyone else run into this problem?

Thanks.
 
pateco

pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
Sent my Son up to change the anchor light bulb using a rock climbing harness, and the cabin top main halyard and winch.




Only after We were done, did I find out from the previous owner that we had a Mast Mate hiding in a bag in one of the stern lockers. Next Time
 
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I

IH82BL8

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Feb 6, 2013
437
Hunter 31 Deale, MD
The main halyard (on my boat) is led to the strbd cabin top winch which is a 2-speed. That would have worked for me. The jib halyard is lead to the port side winch which is a single speed. They would not have been able to hoist me with that.
 
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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,179
CC 30 South Florida
Insufficient number of wraps when loading a winch leads to early failure. The load needs to be evenly distributed along the drum. No reason to be hoisting dead weight; the climber needs to provide some assistance with hands and legs to get himself up the mast.
 
HMT2

HMT2

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Mar 20, 2014
900
Hunter 31 828 Shoreacres, TX
I tried several different ways and none were very effective, so I put together a sell climbing rig to haul my own fat but up the mast. I don't like to but I can do it alone if I have to.
 
Sailor_Jeff

Sailor_Jeff

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Sep 3, 2012
195
Hunter 285 Grand Rivers Ky
Any ideas, just how fat is TOO fat to go up the mast? What is the weight limit? Please no jokes or stupid guesses... I really am wondering.
 
I

IH82BL8

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Feb 6, 2013
437
Hunter 31 Deale, MD
I'm 200 on any day and it was no problem for me. I think the limiting factor will be whether your crew can winch you to the top. Mine used a 2-speed jib sheet winch. It was a workout for them, but I realized when I was almost at the top that the jib halyard they were hoisting me on was wrapped around the forestay. If not for that it should have been easy.
 
HMT2

HMT2

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Mar 20, 2014
900
Hunter 31 828 Shoreacres, TX
I'm 250 it's a workout for me and those lifting me. But you can help by trying to climb when you can. You don't have to be dead weight all of the time.
 
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bobmorning

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Jul 7, 2010
31
Hunter 31 Deale
Agree completely. When I go up we use the main halyard using the starboard cabin top winch. We use the jib halyard as a safety line and use the port cabin top winch. I shimming up with my crew taking up the slack as I go up. I stop at the spreaders and put my feet tight against the mast on the spreaders while taking a break. When I get to my destination everyone take to wraps on the winch and ties off on a cleat. I am 170 labs and 53 y.o. I also take a bottle of water along in the pouch on the bosun chair as when you get to the top you will be winded.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,084
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Cabintop winches are the smallest ones on your boat, right?

Why people continue to use them confuses me.

We run our halyard to the jib sheet fairlead car on the track and use the BIG jib sheet winch.
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
i hook a snatch block to the toe rail and load the halyard through it and then back to the jib sheet winch i also hang a 6 part block and tackle on the halyard and hoist it up and then use the six par system to ascend
 
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wufibugs

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Aug 16, 2009
1,000
Hunter 1986 H31 California Yacht Marina, Chula Vista, CA
Mount the power winch my son uses on his ranch to a board secured across the cockpit to the toe rails. I'd get my own Harbor Freight winch but I'm too embarrassed to be yelling for help from the top of the mast when the thing strands me. I'm still trying to figure out how to connect the halyard to the recliner.
 
HMT2

HMT2

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Mar 20, 2014
900
Hunter 31 828 Shoreacres, TX
wufibugs said:
Mount the power winch my son uses on his ranch to a board secured across the cockpit to the toe rails. I'd get my own Harbor Freight winch but I'm too embarrassed to be yelling for help from the top of the mast when the thing strands me. I'm still trying to figure out how to connect the halyard to the recliner.
Click to expand
I am so in for that!
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
I found this nifty little gadget you can make yourself. The grinder basically just takes up the slack.
 
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