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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Mast Climbing Apparatus in NY/CT

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bmelchionda
1st Mate

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63 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/16/2006 : 06:02:04

Hello all! My jib halyard is stuck at the top of the mast and I can not take down my jib for the winter months. The true type mast climbing apparatus's are fairly expensive and I wouldn't attempt climbing up myself.

The boat is in Bridgeport, CT....does anyone have a mast climbing apparatus they would be willing to lend me? I can pick-up if you are local or pay for shipping if you are willing to send via mail. If you are local, heck - you are welcome to spot me when it is convenient for you.

Thanks!

'86 Catalina 25 Tall Rig

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 08:40:37

Any idea how it is stuck (jumped off sheave etc.)
Do you have a 2nd halyard up front?

paul

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 09:11:13

Isn't it a lot easier to take the mast down?

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bmelchionda
1st Mate

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63 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 11:04:12

I do not know how it is stuck, but it feels like it came off the pully as it will not budge...at all.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 12:16:21

It is easy to hoist someone under 150 lbs up the mast using the remaining halyard and a bosuns chair. I hoist two blocks up the mast, one block on the chair and 100 feet of 1/2 nylon rope in a 3 part block and tackle. I can hoist my wife with arm power only. Without the blocks, you can use a winch.

BUT

There is no way you should do this if your boat is on the hard.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 12:37:55

Brian, Happened to me a few years ago and it turned out to be the crumbling of the sheaves. Over time the retaining walls of the sheave wear out and or fail subject to the effects of solar rays deteriorateing the plastic that the sheaves are made of. In any event an eighty something Catalina's sheaves are suspect and should be checked and if the mast is coming down to inspect them just bite the bullet and replace them. If your season has ended I'd recommend dropping the mast and have the CD sheave replacement kit handy. To use the other haylard to hoist someone up the mast on a sheave whose counterpart has crumbled is asking to possibly strand a person up the mast.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 13:46:49

I made a center separator of aluminum for a replacement of the masthead small separator of the sheaves. Friends 86 TRFK was having the cable halyard get stuck on a regular basis so after lowing the mast discovered the cable was able to get by the separator. I made one that was longer and also for my 79. Used the original for pattern of the pin holes and reinstalled with the mast down. Mast down is only way to assess problem and make changes. Too cold to climb mast anyway.

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 18:35:36

This is how they check there mast down under.

paulj

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2006 : 19:32:27

You might want to drop the mast. If there is a problem, you need to look over all the shives to make sure you don't have future problems. Also if the halyard you use to go has problem, how would you fix it. Cheers.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2006 : 08:05:03

AND...then they do the other side of the mast

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2006 : 09:10:58

My big concern with this picture above is the position (COE) of the beer cooler. That is too risky to do and take the chance of loosing even one beer.

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HeelinPatrick
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 13:49:25

Jim,

Why do you say not to ascend the mast if the boat is on the hard. I take it because it could slip on the trailer or stands? Have boats been tipped over by doing that or something??

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 14:28:16

I don't know of any, but why be the first. If you fall 50' to a hard surface, you have a 50% chance of survival (lots of variables, but that is the statistical value. You would only fall 40' - 45', so your chances would be slightly better. Boats can move and things can fail, that is why we wouldn't do it. Lowering the mast is a simple solution that is safer, allows a more thorough inspection, and an easier repair. On the water, I have gone up the mast for a quick repair, but you are better off on the ground if you aren't sure of the problem. Replacing the sheaves is easy if one halyard (preferably using the other as a safety) isn't supporting you.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 16:14:22

Other than the issues of falling, suspending a 150 lb.++ person at the top of the mast while the boat is on the hard, and can't heel, puts unusual amounts of stress on the compression post and the hull if the weight gets off center. Think of the mast as a very long leaver, a small amount of pressure to the side at the top results in extreemly strong force at the botom.

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millermg
Navigator

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159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 22:51:22

Ok, here's the trick the old salts in my marina taught me. I actually have to do this tomorrow night to replace the anchor light, so hopefully I'll be a bit saltier the next day. They hoist the top of an aluminum extension ladder up the mast w/ the spin halyard, and tie the feet of the ladder secure to the bow cleats or pulpit. If you're brave and have really calm water, you can simply climb the ladder. It's very secure. If you're not, use the jib (or in your case, maybe the main) halyard and have someone 'belay' you up w/ a bosun's chair. If you do fall somehow, the chair will catch you. And you can work pretty easy w/ two hands. At least that's the theory. I'll let you know how it works out soon!

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2009 : 05:43:01

Good idea Miller, but with his boat on the hard he may be even better off to rent a bucket truck. Park beside the boat, go up in the bucket. If you know an electrician or tree trimmer you may even be able to get a one-time only free use.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2009 : 06:25:33

In the spring the boat next to me on the hard was a Capri25. They had run a thin messinger line up the mast in order to remove the halyards for the winter. The line was thin enough that it had jumped the sheaves at the top and had jamed. They used the ladder technique as Miller describes above. They used a wood ladder so as not to Mar the mast surface. It worked very well.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2009 : 09:25:54

I know several people who have had older relatives (fathers) suffer falls from distances far less than our masts. In every case it caused significant ongoing life changes for them. I can see having to climb the mast if you are out to sea and that is the only option. With a 25' boat and a stepped mast I do not see any cause to climb the mast when I can use a simple gin-pole and lower the mast in 10 minutes. Why even take the risk? My two cents.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2009 : 10:10:18

You're probably right Nauti, but with the right equipment, and a little common sense, climbing th emast can be pretty darned safe. In my trip up it I had an ascender, a full harness, and a safety man on the ground.

Now climbing to the treehouses we built as kids - that probably qualified as dangerous. I also remember long jump competitions off neighbourhood roofs. Not sure if I would survive that unscathed anymore. Then there were the hay lofts we used to run and jump out of, the train trestles, the underflow dams we dove off of...

Yup, life is full of dangers. Wish I was 12 again.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2009 : 11:15:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 You're probably right Nauti, but with the right equipment, and a little common sense, climbing th emast can be pretty darned safe. In my trip up it I had an ascender, a full harness, and a safety man on the ground.

Now climbing to the treehouses we built as kids - that probably qualified as dangerous. I also remember long jump competitions off neighbourhood roofs. Not sure if I would survive that unscathed anymore. Then there were the hay lofts we used to run and jump out of, the train trestles, the underflow dams we dove off of...

Yup, life is full of dangers. Wish I was 12 again.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yup, people bounce pretty good at 12 years old. And at 20 yrs old they bounce back fast. Older than that they tend to fall flat and have lasting repercussions. And when you are over 40 and take a big fall you tend to just lie there.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4311 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2009 : 13:45:48

I agree with Randy. Beside,it will take as long to properly secure the ladder as it would to simply drop the mast.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1788 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 13:19:50

I'm reasonably close to you and understand the local yard/marina costs. However, I would eror on the side of safety and take the mast off and inspect. I had to replace all sheaves a couple of years ago and while the mast was off checked the standing rigging and all cotter pins and re-taped. At a minimum have your local yard send someone up to inspect, but my guess is that you will need to take the mast down regardless, so you should take advantage of the terrible weather we are having (In tne NY/CT area) and unstep the mast now. Needless to say, when checking make sure that the running rigging is also in good shape.

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