Up, up... and away?

[charles jackson]

goin up

I use a piece of 3/4" plywood with 1/2" line forming a web which supports everything,including me. It attaches to the halyard by way of a loop formed at the top. I hook up and wait for one or more individuals to winch me up . The spare halyard is used as a safety line. This homemade apparatus has worked through our 18',our 22' and now on our 250'

 

[Charles Jackson]

Questions

Would like some info on the ladder which was prepared by Ed's wife.(reply # 33) The 5 purchase block sounds interesting. Please provide more info.(reply #23)

 

[Rob]

Going aloft

Going aloft can be done safely, while inherantly dangerous. The bonson chair is the only means that I have used, but my advise is to have the most experienced sailor tend the winch/halyard. Nothing worst than being stuck aloft while a fouled winch is undone by lesser experienced crew. tust me! Now I send up my kids for easy jobs and they enjoy the heights.

 

[Seattle Scott]

Bosons chair came with the boat

Since I don't know the "history" of the chair and since it just lies in the bottom of the deepest locker most of the time, I also use a climbing harness as a back up to the chair, with the harness not anchored to the chair but to the halyard. We recently went to the 5:1 block and tackle hoisted up the halyard first, and I like this system: more winch cranks, but not much effort. Also, the "hoistee" can rig a prussik slip knot on the tackle as a back up should the line come off the winch. We also use a backup halyard made fast to the deck, with a prussik sling or assender on it. I often see people being hoisted up in a chair on a single halyard, with no back up system. This always gives me the willies.

 

[Barry Needalman]

cordless electric drill with a "winch bit."

Pray tell us more. What are you using for the winch bit? What kind of drill is powerful enough for the job? How long will the drill run before needing a charge?

 

[Ed]

Milwaukee Drill

I have used a cordless 18V right-angle Milwaukee Drill and a special drill bit (I found on ebay). Works fine. I have a second battery just in case. ~ Happy trails and sails to you ~ _/) ~

 

[William]

Mast climber for under $75

I made a mast climber while waitng for spring to arrive. It works great and gets me up the mast with ease. It has a nice cushy seat and if you go all the way to the top you tie off at the waist and stand in the foot stirrups and you can easily work on top of the mast. Although I can climb up and down by myself I always have a extra line tied to me for safety

 

[Stevesailor]

Mast climbing

I have a Top-climber, and it works great, unless you're trying to do spreader work. Since you need a taunt line to go up on, it is sometimes hard to bow that line off the centerline of the boat to get out to the spreaders. On the other hand, with my gimpy knees, it's the very best way to get aloft alone, because you get to push up with both legs. Just don't get pinched by the assenders. and don't take such a big bite that you don't have room to release.p.s. It is the best bosun's chair i've been in, period. Comfortable, and totally safe. you can do wheelies in it. And, because of the leg staps, your legs don't fall asleep after 10 minutes.

 

[Stevesailor]

worst yet, not a joke, was it?

That's pretty damn dangerous. You'd have no idea that there was a problem in your pick up, until your son turned upside down or bright red with blood, or if the rig came down. Congratulations on your success and luck the last time you did it, if you're not kidding...

 

[John Zekas]

ratchet block

I hoist a ratchet block to the top of the mast, secure the line to the bosun chair and pull myself up. I use a 2nd halyard on the bosun's chair through a stopper to a deck winch, but the tailer doesn't have to do the lifting.

 

[Jay Flint]

Prime-Climb Mast Ladder

I have used a Prime-Climb mast ladder twice, to replace the main halyard and to replace the windex, on my 1989 Catalina 30 Tall Rig. The two trips up have almost paid for the ladder with what the local yard charges. I can recommend the ladder if you like ladders and climbing the mast. I need to find a less awkward safety harness to make climbing easier. My only complaint is when I'm back on deck, I'm instantly seasick. Something about close quarters work and amplified motion 45 feet above the water.

 

[Steve Fredrick]

Mast Climbing

If I am alone I us a pair of mountain climbing ascenders with a harness to climb the mast. Going up is very fast; coming down somewhat slower, but practice makes perfect, and I am up the mast several times a year for inspection and maintenance

 

[Nick B]

'69 Daysailer and a curious kid

Last year, while docked on Medicine Lake in Plymouth, MN, my main halyard was rasied to the top of my mast. My best guess was a curious kid was playing pirates on my 19' 1969 daysailer. I tried giving the halyard slack to bring it down, but the rigging was stuck at the top. I tried scooting up the 21' mast, but never made it past the side stays. Fear of falling and bare footed, I'd always drop back down. Finally my mind won the battle, one of those deeps thoughts only found in the shower. We sailed the jib to the beach and tipped the boat over to grab the main halyard. All in attendance at the beach enjoyed the show and praised our beautiful launch on a day where the Daysailer was meeting max knots in heavy wind. I made sure the tie the main in messy knots curious kids could not easily play with from then on.

 

[Tim O.]

Scary at first

Before buying my 1989 Hunter 28.5 the surveyor suggested that I needed a new anchor light. To show my ignorance I looked everywhere around the anchor for a light that was burned out. Then I found its mast location in a manual. After a lot of asking around, I used some rock climbing lines and harness for safety and a Captain Al's mast ladder that a friend lent me. Ten round trips up the mast later, I had a new working anchor light. I was a bit nervous the first time up but felt more and more confident each time up. The slides on the mast ladder didn't fit my mast so I used velcro tie down along the mast and the mainsail downhaul to secure the ladder better. This worked but I would rather have had the ladder better attached. My legs became somewhat banged up. My tips: 1. Make sure you have a spotter2. Use a second safety line tied to the halyard3. If you become tired, take a break4. If something can fall, it will. Bring up two of everything in a pouch and tie everything to you that you can5. Spend the money for a good hoisting system. Whether its a ladder, bosun's chair, ascenders or whatever-Safety first.

 

[Tim O.]

Sounds good

Do you have a schematic for your idea? I'm intereste in making one myself.

 

[capt Bill]

Funny you should ask this now

It's kind of ironic that this question should be asked now! I had to go up to install a new mast-head wind instrument. I used a "bosun's" chair from West Marine and it was fine for that purpose provided you hang on! My 50 foot-high mast gets to swaying pretty well with ANY movement down on deck! It was amazing how much more strength is required to winch up a person than a sail! Bill on STARGAZER

 

[The Cranker]

check out The Cranker drillwinch adapter bit

The Cranker is the bit you need to connect your drill to your winch. Check out www.thecranker.com for information and suggested drills to use with it. Made from solid stainless steel and priced at $19.95 it's a great piece to add to you inventory.

 

[tom b]

If I had to go up... I'd go up as far as the

the cockpit to lower the mast down..haha.. If my mast didnt come down.. Oh,,I'd pay someone to go up. I can do ladders and I can do lifts, but hangin on to a mast, over the boat, on water,.ummmmm no.. I'm not goin, forget it. Homey don't do dat...I do however admire those who can go up that thing and come down in one piece.

 

[SeaShantyMan]

MastMate!

MastMate is my way to go on my Oday 28. Quick, secure, and easy. Can't complain about that!