Am I too fat to go up the mast?

[marty9876]

Ok, no other way so phrase that... So maybe I lack modesty at times...

Boat I'm looking at buying has a broke mast head light (don't know if it's the bulb or something else) and I'd also like to explore the possibilities of installing wind instruments and antennas for Wi-Fi/Cell modems etc up there. I'd rather not pay the yard if this is something I can break...err...fix myself.

Boat: 28' mono Hunter 280 1996. Reason for mentioning this is it's "small" so to speak, not as big of a mast etc. as others.

Assuming there are 2x haylards to secure to a chair or what not, are the pullys and such up there strong enough to support me? Me= 6'0 250lbs

[Maren]

Originally Posted by marty9876

Ok, no other way so phrase that... So maybe I lack modesty at times...

Assuming there are 2x haylards to secure to a chair or what not, are the pullys and such up there strong enough to support me? Me= 6'0 250lbs

The first question is who is going to be the unfortunate soul cranking your carcass up the mast?

Seriously though, you're fine; the loads on the mast from the sail are a lot higher than 250#. On the other hand, if you have UV damaged nylon or plastic gear up there, all bets are off.

[MarkJ]

Yeah Porky! I saw a mast last week bent right over with some toady bloke still strapped into the bosuns chair gettin his feet wet.

How much in kilograms is 250 lbs's (whats an "lbs"?)

You'll be fine

A few months sailing and you'll get rid of those excess pounds. Look around at all those 'boat people', they might look a bit dumb, but they look pretty fit!!!!!!!!!!

Mark

[marty9876]

~ 113 kg I think if my math is right.

Yea, I've seen all the fit "boat people" around. One of the many reasons to talk this hobby up, an active hobby is always a good thing!

Now... Do you *really* need a bosuns chair? I'm thinking 2x8 piece of wood about 2-3 feet long, notched out ends with a harness made out of some think rope or webbing of some sort. Yea, this has doom written all over it!

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by marty9876

~


Now... Do you *really* need a bosuns chair? I'm thinking 2x8 piece of wood about 2-3 feet long, notched out ends with a harness made out of some think rope or webbing of some sort. Yea, this has doom written all over it!

In the "olden days" when people did not live as long the "swing set seat" was all we had. I have many hours in one.
I pulled myself up most of the time - Dang that takes a long time, and then you start work tired.........

[scotte]

I know a few people that just use regular climbing harnesses.

Or you could just tie a bosun's chair the classic way - line around the butt, around the waist, and a bowline - but frankly I'll leave that for my Sea Scout son to do

[Delezynski]

Marty,

1. Do NOT just use a board! If you MUST use one, make sure that the line does a criss-cross under the bottom of the board. That way, if the board does crack, you are not dumped out!! I saw a guy drop half way down a mast doing just that.

1. We use a snatch block near the base of the mast, then take the line from one (lifting) halyard through the snatch block to the electric windless. Presto, no BIG guy needed.

I also use the same bosen chair with 2 jammers (climbing clamps) to get up there without help. But as was said before, that way is a LOT of work!!!


Greg

[hellosailor]

You can use a bosun's chair, or Jumar ascenders from a climbing store, or multiple pulleys (like ironworkers used) but no matter which one you use, safety requires climbing on one rope (of known good quality and condition) and using a second one as a safety line. While many riggers will go aloft using ascenders and no help, it is safer to have one person hoisting you, a second person tailing the safety line, and yourself just going up--if you can hire all that help.[g]

Other options include careening the boat, or taking the halyard over to the next dock and cranking it down, so the boat is heeled way over and you can reach the masthead from a short ladder. Or, tying up under a bridge or other obstruction and reaching down or out to it.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by scotte

but frankly I'll leave that for my Sea Scout son to do

That brings back a few memories as a kid........of the old man winching me up the mast - of course back then I did "what I was bl##dy well told"

Marty, I would suggest 2 helpers, one on the winch and one on the video

[Alan Wheeler]

As to the main question, I think that can only be answered by the person that has to do the grinding. :-)

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

... How much in kilograms is 250 lbs's (whats an "lbs"?)

1 pound = about 0.454 kilograms (0.45359237 Kg)
1 kilogram = about 2.2 pounds (2.20462262 Lb)

Hence, 250 pounds (Lb) = about 113.5 Kg (113.48092 Kg)

Lbs is a (mistaken) plural of Lb, which is the abbreviation of Pound(s).

[David_Old_Jersey]

And in UK terms.......

17 Stone 12Lb

(14 pounds in a Stone).