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Bosun's chair

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gerdo
Navigator

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107 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/09/2003 : 10:06:15

Have never gone to top of mast. Main halyard came off sheaves and need to get up there. Do not want to drop mast. Is it as simple as it looks? Attach chair to jib halyard, three raps on winch and up we go?

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2003 : 10:28:26

Yep that's it....growing up I was the lightweight, literally, and was always volunteered for the job. Getting older I have added the following:

*Lead the halyard aft to a jib winch, it makes it easier for the cranker to crank and look, and if you drop something the cranker doesn't freak and let go, with obvious negative results for the crankee.....
*Put on a harness, a real one, borrow one if you have to. Attach the spin halyard to it.....have a second person pick up the slack in it, with a turn on a cleat, a mast winch or whatever. If you dont have a spin halyard, use the topping lift. Swing it around the spreaders.
*Tie the tools to your body with little lanyards, or put a pouch on...(the type tourists carry on their gut with camera's etc. in it) pockets are a pain to get in and out of when you're folded up....
*Speaking of camera's, bring one up, it's a cool shot up there, the sunbathing bikini clad beauty in the cockpit is optional. When you're up there, be glad you're tied up at the dock, I have done it underway.......<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>
*If all of this souds scary, go to your local rental joint and get one of those tow behind your car cherry pickers for a couple of hours......

Oscar
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/LKforumshot.jpg" border=0>
Lady Kay 250 WB #618
In the driveway in Behtlehem, PA ready to go anytime.

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gerdo
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107 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2003 : 10:36:25

sounds good to me, wonder how the first mate is going to like it? Question on the topping lift, (I don't have a spinaker halyard) the topping lift on my rig is simply a cable from back of mast truck to end of boom, how would I use it as a safety line? By the way I grew up in Coaldale, PA and had many relatives in Bethlehem, worked in Allentown for a while, now live in Vienna VA and sail on the bay.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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3321 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2003 : 11:26:00

gerdo - the halyard usually comes off the sheave because the sheave has broken. You probably will need to replace all of them, which can be done from the bosun's chair as long as you are tied off to the masthead with another line. (I had to replace mine a few months ago.)
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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2030 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2003 : 22:22:49

Sounds like you're going up without a safetyline.......

Oscar
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/LKforumshot.jpg" border=0>
Lady Kay 250 WB #618
In the driveway in Behtlehem, PA ready to go anytime.

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Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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769 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2003 : 09:49:58

Hi Gerdo,

Just a couple of thoughts:
1) Going aloft without a second line is risky. If the only line you have left is the jib halyard, I'd vote pretty hard for lowering the mast.
2) As Derek said, the main halyard probably came off the sheeves because one of the sheeves has broken. There's a good chance the jib halyard sheeves are in similar shape....old, brittle, and cracked. If one of the jib halyard sheeves breaks while you (or the first mate) is aloft, you will have a very tough job getting back to the deck safely. Again, a good argument for lowering the mast.
3) If you lower the mast, it will be much easier to replace all four halyard sheeves. And, you can install a proper topping lift at the same time. The little "snotter" cable that dangles off of the backstay cannot be used if you are tucking in a reef; and should not be used when hoisting or lowering the mainsail anyway. A proper topping lift keeps the boom out of the cockpit and away from skipper and/or crew when hoisting, lowering or reefing the mainsail.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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gerdo
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107 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2003 : 09:55:06

I may have misrepresented the topping lift. I do have a "snotter" from the back stay and do have a topping lift. The topping lift is a cable from the mast head almost to the boom, about 3 feet up from the boom attached to the cable is a shackle and line that runs to a block on the boom. It bewilders me how a cable that is fixed at the top of the mast and basically dangling free could be used as a safety line. Any thoughts are appreciated.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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1893 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2003 : 13:55:32

gerdo,<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>The topping lift is a cable from the mast head almost to the boom, about 3 feet up from the boom attached to the cable is a shackle and line that runs to a block on the boom. It bewilders me how a cable that is fixed at the top of the mast and basically dangling free could be used as a safety line. Any thoughts are appreciated.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>There are several different ways to rig a boom topping lift. I had and have the same styles you describe. (I call the short one that came with the stock backstay a "pigtail topping lift".) Another style resembles a mini version of the mainsail halyard. That's the type people are suggesting could be used as a safety.

I also vote for taking the mast down to do any masthead work on a trailerable boat.

-- Leon Sisson

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2003 : 18:08:58

Gerdo,

Given the conditions that you describe and all the very sound advice offered, the prudent thing to do is lower the mast.

My days of shimming up the mast are long gone and thankful I am that I survived the foolishness.

I was having the problems that you've mentioned and once the mast was down found the outer edges of the sheaves to be worn beyond their ability to track a line.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

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