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Old 24-10-2020, 03:05   #1
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best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

aside from losing weight, what assitance and tools are there for bigger guys to climb the mast?
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Old 24-10-2020, 04:21   #2
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

Bosuns chair and a strong friend on a winch.

Mastmate ladder

Either way, use a 2nd halyard as a backup.
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Old 24-10-2020, 04:44   #3
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

Ditto to Sailmonkey. Have your friend tie off the second halyard every few feet on the way up. That's an issue for everyone, and not dependent on your weight. Be sure that you trust the winch and the block at the top. Hang on to the mast.

Alternative: Send your friend up. Agility may be an issue as well.

What size mast/boat? Can we assume lots of ballast at the other end?
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Old 24-10-2020, 04:50   #4
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

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aside from losing weight, what assitance and tools are there for bigger guys to climb the mast?
Are you talking about an emergency situation, or for routine maintenance? For the latter, it's never a good idea to go up solo, and basically - you look at your group of helpers and ask the lightest and most agile to go up, and you man a winch or hold the safety line. No shame in doing that.
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Old 24-10-2020, 05:15   #5
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

Somewhat depends on your boat and sailing.

The above situations work fine, as long as you are not single handing.

I personally prefer to have mast steps installed. Then you are independent of outside help. Have at least a double set at the top of the mast. I have a second double set a bit above that so I can get high enough to look down on the very top. But you need to be careful with that to not get too high or, God forbid, let your belt get over the top.

Always more than one “best” solution.
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Old 24-10-2020, 05:38   #6
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

When you find an affordable bosun chair for 300# let me know
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Old 24-10-2020, 06:09   #7
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

I'll assume this may be a new to you boat or no one has gone up the mast in awhile. May want to think about pulling the stick and do a thorough inspection.
Could always hire a rigger to go up and take a look. Usually they are very nimble to climbing masts and well equipped to do so. They also possibly have more experience to notice deficiencies.
Downside to both of these it will cost you some money for either, but on the other hand getting a good climbing rig for yourself will also be an out of pocket expense.
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Old 24-10-2020, 06:11   #8
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

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aside from losing weight, what assitance and tools are there for bigger guys to climb the mast?
Be sure to check the weight limits on any gear you use. As I recall the OSHA gear we used had a 250 limit.

Also the vessel needs to be large enough to handle a 300 lb person at 50-60 feet or more above the water line.
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Old 24-10-2020, 06:12   #9
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

100-pound crew don't lift heavy things. Big guys shouldn't climb.


OSHA gear mostly goes to 310 pounds (some is 250 pounds), including clothes and tools, but most climbing gear standards are based on 176 pounds (including gear and clothes). Sailing boson's chairs are mostly 220 pounds.



And then there is strength to weight ratio. If you can't do a few pull-ups or easily step up onto a chair no-hands you will lack the strength to move safely.
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Old 24-10-2020, 07:11   #10
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

Sent the misses up while I crank.
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Old 24-10-2020, 07:28   #11
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

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Sent the misses up while I crank.

That works. Heck, wouldn't send anyone up that wasn't good w/tools and didn't have good hands to not drop things. Don't like seeing things bounce off the deck and into the water.
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Old 24-10-2020, 07:28   #12
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

Wrt the weight limit of bosun chair, what about those leather harnesses that zip liners use? I have seen pretty heavy guys in those and they seem very secure.
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Old 24-10-2020, 07:35   #13
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

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That works. Heck, wouldn't send anyone up that wasn't good w/tools and didn't have good hands to not drop things. Don't like seeing things bounce off the deck and into the water.
Even professional riggers drop things from time to time.

This was just to run new halyard and snap some photos of the connections (tied off the phone to her belt).

If it was anything major, easier to just pull the mast and work from the ground.
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Old 24-10-2020, 07:35   #14
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

Also, someone commented on riggers being very nimble - I can attest to that. When we unstepped our mast last winter, the rigger climbed up to the bottom spreaders (~15-16 ft) just with his hands and feet while waiting for the crane to come ��.
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Old 24-10-2020, 12:14   #15
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Re: best way for a 300lb guy to climb the mast?

BOat would be a Hunter 37 Legend. Not sure about weight I wondered about a 300lb dangling from the top of the mast if the mast could even support me. I don't mind hiring a nimble guy to do the work at bay but my concern is if I'm out on the ocean and a halyard breaks or something.
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