England Ireland Find Havens
England Ireland Find Routes
Boat
Maintenance
Comfort
Operations
Safety
Other



Next Previous

A help to get up the mast solo or where the assisting crew member is challenged




Be the first
to comment

What is the issue?
Going up the mast single handed, or indeed supported by someone who is not very strong, is not an easy task and very dangerous. With no one to support the single hander, or with someone who is able do little more than tension a safety line, the person going aloft is totally reliant on their own strength to pull themselves up.

Why address this?
As with all these things the more exertion involved the more danger. Taking the pressure off will not only make it easier, it will also make it a lot safer.

How to address this?
Add a counterweight to make it easier for the climber to hoist themselves aloft.

For instance, hoist a daisy chain of water drums up to the top of the mast on a halyard as a counterweight and belay it. Connect this to the boson's chair and slowly release it until the load sits on the chair then begin to climb with the aid of the counterbalance. This takes the work out of the climb.

This arrangement is particularly good for work that requires many visits up the rigging or work that needs to be carried out at multiple levels.
Please note

A bosun's chair is preferable for any mast work and a safety line should always be used.



With thanks to:
Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession.
A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that illustrate this experience. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.



Add your review or comment:

Please log in to leave a review of this tip.

eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, you must read our legal page. However, we ask you to help us increase accuracy. If you spot an inaccuracy or an omission on this page please contact us and we will be delighted to rectify it. Don't forget to help us by sharing your own experience.