riding the bosuns chair up the mast?...

[centerline]

what size does the boat have to be before you can safely go up the mast in a bosuns chair?
in a perfect world where the mast would stay perfectly centered over the CL of gravity, you could climb the mast of a dinghy safely, but due to some side to side rocking of the boat, the climber would never be perfectly centered and the boat would become top heavy and roll over on its side.

I have a mac 25 and even though the mast can be dropped down fairly easy, but when we're at anchor and dont have a dock to get to the masthead as it lays in the crutch, it would be way more convenient to be winched up the mast.

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

Hi,

A number of years ago, when I was still young and foolish, I hiked myself up the mast of my 22' Chrysler sloop in my boatswain's chair. The mast was 33' off the water and the only precaution I took was to tie off midship on both sides. Come to think of it, the boat really didn't move around much and swayed only a few degrees. If I had to ride the chair now.......I would definately hire someone still young and foolish to ride it for me.

Good Luck and Happy Sailing.

what size does the boat have to be before you can safely go up the mast in a bosuns chair?
in a perfect world where the mast would stay perfectly centered over the CL of gravity, you could climb the mast of a dinghy safely, but due to some side to side rocking of the boat, the climber would never be perfectly centered and the boat would become top heavy and roll over on its side.

I have a mac 25 and even though the mast can be dropped down fairly easy, but when we're at anchor and dont have a dock to get to the masthead as it lays in the crutch, it would be way more convenient to be winched up the mast.

 

[justsomeguy]

I hear it takes around 100 lbs. or less at the masthead to keep one of our boats on it's rail. (Upon reflection, could'a been a Mac 26)
You do the math.

Could be fun, though!

 

[RECESS]

I have climbed and a friend climbed the mast of my Catalina 22 using a bosun's chair. The boat was solid under both of us, both times. I have also gone up the mast of my of Pearson 323. I am not afraid of heights, but that was tested on the 323. My legs were shakey when I got down after installing a new anchor light.

I am 6' tall and 205lbs on a good day, 210 lbs on an average day. Getting up that mast is not as easy for me as it is for my 5'8" 135 lb friend.

 

[centerline]

I hear it takes around 100 lbs. or less at the masthead to keep one of our boats on it's rail. (Upon reflection, could'a been a Mac 26)
You do the math.

Could be fun, though!

I dont have the ability or desire to do the math, lol... and you are close to the correct weight for what it takes to hold the masthead down once its there, (holding it 90 degrees to its direction of travel) but on a direct downward pull, and the mast standing verticle, it will take a lot to get it started. as it tips more to the side and the angle of the mast gets farther from verticle, it will take less and less weight to hold it down. i just dont know how to figure out how much it takes to get it out of plumb enough to lay over

 

[justsomeguy]

I dont have the ability or desire to do the math, lol... and you are close to the correct weight for what it takes to hold the masthead down once its there, (holding it 90 degrees to its direction of travel) but on a direct downward pull, and the mast standing verticle, it will take a lot to get it started. as it tips more to the side and the angle of the mast gets farther from verticle, it will take less and less weight to hold it down. i just dont know how to figure out how much it takes to get it out of plumb enough to lay over

A couple of buddies, a good-sized fishing scale, blah blah blah...

 

[Don12364]

You'll be OK on a Mac 25 -- but don't take the family with you!

 

[rgranger]

Do you need a chair? I made one for a Coronado 25 from some plans I had in a book called "The art of the sailor". It is old school but works well. I had a halyard jump the sheve at the top of the mast and got it jammed. When I purchased my MacV22-2 it had one (almost the same design) so now I have two chairs. If you want it, it is yours for postage.

 

[THECUSCUS]

You can do it on a 25, as long as your standing rigging is in good shape, as well as your halyard and you have a real masthead ( I wouldn't go up if my halyard just has a cheek block at the top). As we were installing the spreader boots, we had someone stand on the deck on the opposite side to keep the boat level. Again, make sure your halyard is a good quality line and not old and sunbaked. If you don't know its history, buy a new one.