 Check out the bookstore at IRBS.com |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Rosalie B. (no email)
Date: Sat Dec 03 2005 - 09:19:45 EST
On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 13:07:45 -0000, you wrote:
>--- In , "ds40sloop" <patt31 at e dot dot dot > wrote:
>>
>> Does anyone have experience with these type of mast climbing systems.
>> We sail as a couple and have found the first mate (me) can't handle
>> raising the cap'n in the bosun chair and is too height phobic to
>> consider being lifted myself. Strictly interested for emergency
>> repair. All other top maintenance can wait for landfall.
When we first got our boat, I tried to raise Bob in a bosun chair and
it was a disaster which I'm sure I've written about. I'm not height
phobic, but now I do have some vertigo issues, plus I'm much heavier
and probably wouldn't be able to do the repairs. Bob tried again with
the bosun chair with our SIL AND our daughter doing the raising, and
even the two of them (both young and fit) had trouble, and Bob is not
that big or heavy a person. And when he got up there, he accidentally
partly broke the windex which he had gone up to fix. Plus Bob found
the bosuns chair REALLY uncomfortable.
So.. Bob decided that he would put mast steps on so that he would not
be at the mercy of someone (me) on a winch. After that, he got
climbing harness and 2 ascenders, which he got at Mountain Gear. They
have an 800# and they are less expensive than the marine stuff (as
always). Now whenever he goes up the mast for maintenance or any
other reason he gets into the climbing harness and goes up using the
mast steps and ascenders on the main halyard. (An ascender is a cam
cleat.) (We have a roller furling main so the main halyard is free.)
They (the climbing harnesses) are all padded and with extra loops for
hanging things on. They come anywhere from $59 to about $89. The
climber's harness (from Mountain Gear) is about the same but a whole
lot cheaper than the rigger's harness from West Marine for $240
The ascender costs about $50 and is right handed or left handed. He
got the idea from "Good Old Boat"
Basically the ascender is a cam cleat with a handle and you attach it
to a tether which you attach to the harness.
Get into your harness. Take the main halyard and wrap it around a
winch 3 or 4 times, and then hook it to a fitting so it won't come
loose. (Bob hooks it on his jackline fitting.) Then pull the halyard
tight and cleat off the rope end. Then open up the ascender and put
it on the line that is cleated off. If you lose your balance, or want
to stop and rest, you can rest on the ascender. The triangular steps
give you something for a hand hold and you can also tie something off
on them if you want to. Another guy in the marina has his radar
reflector tied between the mast step and a hoist point on the
spreader.
When you go up the mast, you slide the ascender up the line as you
climb the steps. We use the main halyard - if you use your main
halyard for the sail (we don't because we have a furling main) it is
recommended that you put another line up there to keep wear off the
main halyard. (I really don't think you are going to go up the mast
that often though)
The guy at the shop told Bob that some people use ascenders (one right
handed and one left handed) to climb ropes (two ropes he thinks). Bob
got a left handed ascender because he's right handed and figured he'd
be using his right hand to do work with. He says it doesn't matter
which you get.
>>
>
>For comparing sorts of climbing-aids look at Bill Dietrich's page.
>http://www.geocities.com/bill_dietrich/ClimbingTheMast.html
>The rest of his site is useful too...
>
>We also sail as a couple and think like. We will only use the facility
>for emergencies. These emergencies no doubt will occur at sea.
>Cause of the rolling-movement at sea (multiplied x-times in the top of
>the mast) I decided to mount maststeps. The support and grip the mast
>provide will be necessary in those circumstances. Using a top climber
>or the likes with just a stretched halyard for support will let your
>body be thrown against the mast. When climbing/descending I will use a
>harnass and a bosun chair (for safety not for hoisting) and the
>admiral will use the winch keeping the halyard as close as
>comfortable.
>
>For the maststeps I chose alu-strip which I will mount (it's on the
>todo-list) with monel rivets (4 each) on a standing mast.
>
>Regards, Len.
>
>
grandma Rosalie
S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id1.html
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/A1TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/world-cruising/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|