Which boson chair do you use?
- Thread starter CYQK
- Start date
I have one of these: Bosuns Chair – SWI-TEC AMERICA . It is comfortable to sit on for hours of work, strong fabric and excellent workmanship, 4 sewn-on bags for power tools, rigging tools, nuts and bolts, etc., sewn-in stainless steel shackle, fittings to hold a drill, compact storage bag included AND according to Swi-Tec is safe even if unconscious.
I have a Harken bosun’s chair and a Top Climber. That makes it easy to climb, but I still use a harness and someone belaying on a second halyard.
(Now that I am in my mid 70s with a few extra covid pounds, I am looking for trainable candidate, agile and interested to do the climbing)
(Now that I am in my mid 70s with a few extra covid pounds, I am looking for trainable candidate, agile and interested to do the climbing)
With age comes wisdom! (and a bit of caution)
However, there is great pleasure and excitement is seeing the top of your boat's mast and in seeing the marina from 50 feet above the water. Wakes and people stepping onto or off of the boat add to the excitement! +1 for the extra halyard, safety belt, and another person on deck.
Truth.
I have the equipment on the boat to be used if needed. In my youth I enjoyed being hoisted on the mast. For reasons beyond my understanding when I was around the Special Services marina in Coronado, the new to the club Navy 44 Luders (2 from the Academy) always seemed to develop issues aloft. This required a volunteer. I was often volunteered.
When the time is right or needed, I suspect I will go aloft and view my boat from 40ft up. But it is not something I need to do.
In the cockpit full of cold beer, waiting for the job to get done.
My wife is terrified of heights, but for practical reasons she is the designated crewmember that will be hoisted to affect repairs up the mast. The bottom line was we needed a chair that would give her the confidence to be raised up the mast past heights (as in 10') that she would normally be comfortable with or her feet were not going to leave the deck. After much research, including information from a Practical Sailor test article, I knew the one that I would love to have but oh my it was pricey. Patience paid off and I lucked in and came across "The" chair in a new/used/consignment marine store in Poulsbo, WA. I emailed Brion Toss (RIP) to ensure that this very lightly used, but half the price of new was actually one of his. He confirmed that it was the Cruiser's model and invited us to stop into his shop on our return North. We did that and the first question he asked was who is going aloft? For more than an hour he trained my wife, not me but my wife, on the fitting and proper use of the chair. All questions that I had were directed back to my wife to ensure that she understood the answer. My wife came out of that session very happy and now regularly ascends the mast, even to the top of the 51' 11", with confidence and not fear.
Climbing harness. Much easier to move in, particularly when ascending. Easier to brace with feet.
That said, I add extra padding width (5 inches) to the leg loops and waist belt, making it as comfortable as a bosun's chair.
I'm really not intersted in all the pockets. Just clutter IMO. I use a separate tool bag (electrician's bag) that I haul up with a line after I am secured. Crew on deck can easily pass tools and parts up that way.
That said, I add extra padding width (5 inches) to the leg loops and waist belt, making it as comfortable as a bosun's chair.
I'm really not intersted in all the pockets. Just clutter IMO. I use a separate tool bag (electrician's bag) that I haul up with a line after I am secured. Crew on deck can easily pass tools and parts up that way.
i made my own bosn chair of solid 1" thick wood padded with 2" comfy closed cell foam, put a sunbrella bck on it and sides w deep pockets with lanyards and hooks for my tools. 2 locking carabiners to attach , 1 to main halyd, 1 to safty halyd. i could sit up there for hours without my legs falling asleep from those climbing harness seats. once the kids discovered it they used to swing off the ends of the boom.