Have you been to the top of your mast? Why did you go up? A jammed halyard? A burned out anchor light? A little preventive maintenance? How did you go up? Do you have steps on the mast or did you use a bosuns chair? Did you go up yourself or send the mate with you grinding on winch? Was this in a slip or an emergency deal out on the open water? How did you like the view from the top? Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
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Joe Dickson
Up the stick
Had to go up to replace my steaming light and I need to go back up to replace my spreader lights. A friend cranked me up in a bosun's chair while the boat was safely in the slip. There was a great sunset that evening, but darkness caught me before I finished, hence the need to go up again.
Had to go up to replace my steaming light and I need to go back up to replace my spreader lights. A friend cranked me up in a bosun's chair while the boat was safely in the slip. There was a great sunset that evening, but darkness caught me before I finished, hence the need to go up again.
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Been up a number of times
I've gone up my mast at least 5 times and Rob's masts a few more. Poor guy's arms practically fell off! Lessee, stuck halyards, maintenance, lights - that just about covers it! LaDonna
I've gone up my mast at least 5 times and Rob's masts a few more. Poor guy's arms practically fell off! Lessee, stuck halyards, maintenance, lights - that just about covers it! LaDonna
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Art Barnes
went up in a seaway, I don't recommend it!
Went up in a seaway because of a stuck halyard. My travel up was easy since I had mast steps while my daughter was at the wheel. Snaped myself to the steps with my harness evey three steps, just in case I slipped, that way I would not fall that far; probably would hurt alot anyway. The water was not all that rough, about three foot waves. When I got to the top, just at that moment, a local Coast Guard boat came by and watched the whole event. Another boat clapped when I was on the way down! As far as the view from up there, the deck looks a long way down and the closer you get to it the better you feel. Unless you must go as I did, I suggest never going aloft unless you are in harbor or otherwise anchored in calm waters, the show is not worth the risk. Fairwinds, Art
Went up in a seaway because of a stuck halyard. My travel up was easy since I had mast steps while my daughter was at the wheel. Snaped myself to the steps with my harness evey three steps, just in case I slipped, that way I would not fall that far; probably would hurt alot anyway. The water was not all that rough, about three foot waves. When I got to the top, just at that moment, a local Coast Guard boat came by and watched the whole event. Another boat clapped when I was on the way down! As far as the view from up there, the deck looks a long way down and the closer you get to it the better you feel. Unless you must go as I did, I suggest never going aloft unless you are in harbor or otherwise anchored in calm waters, the show is not worth the risk. Fairwinds, Art
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Bil Thomas Feng Shui
Up the Mast
I highly recommend using a climbing harness and ascenders. (I am a former climber.) This is safer and more comfortable than a bosuns chair. One can climb the mast alone with someone belaying by using the topping lift. Or you can be winched up while in the harness. I recommend going up fairly often to inspect your rigging as well as developing the best method to go aloft. An emergancy is no time to have to figure out how to go up and down safely. Bil Feng Shui
I highly recommend using a climbing harness and ascenders. (I am a former climber.) This is safer and more comfortable than a bosuns chair. One can climb the mast alone with someone belaying by using the topping lift. Or you can be winched up while in the harness. I recommend going up fairly often to inspect your rigging as well as developing the best method to go aloft. An emergancy is no time to have to figure out how to go up and down safely. Bil Feng Shui
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Bruce Maynard
All Gummed Up
Yes, Gary, been up the mast twice. Both times to un-jam the mainsail (roller furling) on my newly purchased 380. The decals "H-380" came unglued from the sail as it was being furled. The loosened decals rolled into a very sticky ball (2 of -em) which wedged between the sail and the mast slot. The sail was firmly jammed at the upper spreader. Using needle nose pliers, I was finally successful in removing enough gummy decals to lower the sail down the slot with three husky guys hanging on the luff of the sail. Solution: Don't try to use sticky decals on roller furling mains. If they are already on the sail, suggest consideration to remove them.
Yes, Gary, been up the mast twice. Both times to un-jam the mainsail (roller furling) on my newly purchased 380. The decals "H-380" came unglued from the sail as it was being furled. The loosened decals rolled into a very sticky ball (2 of -em) which wedged between the sail and the mast slot. The sail was firmly jammed at the upper spreader. Using needle nose pliers, I was finally successful in removing enough gummy decals to lower the sail down the slot with three husky guys hanging on the luff of the sail. Solution: Don't try to use sticky decals on roller furling mains. If they are already on the sail, suggest consideration to remove them.
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Frank Walker
2nd Home Up There
Inspect halyards for chafe and sun deterioration, use a good Bosuns chair, two halyards tied to chair (no snap shackles), two people (two winches)winching together. Set up a messenger line for all the things that you will forget. Use self tailers(5 turns) going up, but tie them off while working. If you use some care it really is not a big deal. I have stayed at the top of a 50 ft stick all afternoon. Legs will go to sleep but beats going to yard and un stepping mast. On light displacement boats minimizing crew movement translates into minimum mast movement.
Inspect halyards for chafe and sun deterioration, use a good Bosuns chair, two halyards tied to chair (no snap shackles), two people (two winches)winching together. Set up a messenger line for all the things that you will forget. Use self tailers(5 turns) going up, but tie them off while working. If you use some care it really is not a big deal. I have stayed at the top of a 50 ft stick all afternoon. Legs will go to sleep but beats going to yard and un stepping mast. On light displacement boats minimizing crew movement translates into minimum mast movement.
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Terry Arnold
Ellen MacArthur climbed in 50 kts in southern ocea
The link is to the Dateline site and an account of Ellen MacArthur climbing the mast during the Vendee Globe to remove a broken batten after a knockdown in the southern ocean with 50 kts and 30 ft seas.------alone. I will try to remember her the next time I quake while climbing at the pier.
The link is to the Dateline site and an account of Ellen MacArthur climbing the mast during the Vendee Globe to remove a broken batten after a knockdown in the southern ocean with 50 kts and 30 ft seas.------alone. I will try to remember her the next time I quake while climbing at the pier.
Ellen climbs the stick!
ya, but she is one tough girl. I agree, I don't like it much tied to the dock.
ya, but she is one tough girl. I agree, I don't like it much tied to the dock.
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