My first time in a bosun's chair...

[jaschrumpf]

...might be this spring. The 28' Capitol Yachts Newport I bought last spring didn't come with a Windex, and while I can find the wind by feel and looking at the sails, I'd still like to get one up there since they're a pretty common feature. Also, there's a gauge in my cockpit called a Wind Seeker or something like that, and if could find the parts to repair it I might put it back into commission rather than just putting up a Windex.

The winches for my main and jib halyard are on the mast, with regular deck cleats, not cam cleats for securing them. I've got two questions.

First, do I need to worry about the boat heeling when I'm up at the masthead? I weigh a little under 200 lbs., and I figure my mass up there isn't going to put much more torque on it than having both sails up in a light wind -- but how much heel should I expect?

Second, since I don't have cam cleats for ease of securing the halyard, what would be the best technique for getting me up there? I was thinking of using the main halyard for doing the lifting, and using the jib halyard as the safety line. I'd rig them both to the harness and tie off the jib line to the cleat. Then have my help (likely only to be one person) crank me up with the main halyard with a couple of turns around the winch for friction, another turn or two around the cleat for breaking if necessary. He'd wind me up a couple of feet with the winch handle, keeping the tension on the line, then secure the main halyard on the cleat; take the slack up on the jib halyard and secure it, then crank me up a couple of feet with the main. Repeat until I'm at the masthead or chicken out and demand to be let down. I can carry up a light line to use to haul up any extra tools in a bucket or something similar.

Does that sound like a plan? Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

[CharlieCobra]

I went up the mast for the first time recently. I weigh 225 and it was real hard for the winch person to get me up there on the single speed mast winch. Coming down was a bit jerky as well. If you can run through a block on the genoa track and back to the main winch, it'd be easier and more controlled. Use the jib halyard for a backup while up there. However, this backup becomes useless without a second person keeping a bind around a winch when ascending or descending.

[Faster]

Your concerns over heeling will not be an issue - with your 200 lbs mostly pulling straight down you will not heel the boat. However the person on board helping you out will move the boat enough to make you notice even the slightest heeling angle at the masthead. So ask them to move about gently.

Typically you will use a halyard to hoist yourself - preferably an all-rope one for two reasons: you won't need to trust the wire/rope splice and also so you can tie the halyard to the chair rather than use the shackle. If you must use a shackled halyard be sure to tape the shackle closed and cover the release pin. Using a second as a safety line is a good idea, but requires more handling esp on the way down.

To have someone "winch" you up is very difficult and very slow. If you secure another halyard along the mast you can help a lot by pulling yourself up at the same time. This is most helpful if you are able to pull on the same one that you are going up on. Alternatively you can help yourself along on the shrouds.

If you can, temporarily lead your halyard to a primary jib winch for the hoist - you will have a tougher winch, perhaps better gearing, and an easier position for the wincher.

Be sure the halyard is properly tied off to a cleat and/or stopped with a clutch while you're working. To drop you back down, a couple of wraps on the winch and the right pressure applied by the helper should make for a smooth descent.

And if any wavemakers go by while you're up there, hang on tight. The boat rolling side to side is one thing, but the abrupt action of a boat pitching is something else. You'll need a firm grip!

Send a bucket up on another halyard or a small line that you take with you for tools etc. but a chair with good pockets is better. Tie strings on any parts/tools you don't want to drop.

Talk everything over with your helper in advance.. it can be surprisingly difficult to communicate once you're up there.

[T34C]

I would highly advise against the method you are suggesting. If you are going to use the halyard winches on the mast, you REALLY need a third person to tail the lines as the #2 person is winching you up the mast. Even with 3 people you will need to do some climbing to help make life a little easier on the grinder. I have found that going up the forestay or backstay makes it much easier on the grinder than trying to lift you straight vertically. By climbing the forestay in a hand over hand fashion you can assend/desend easier and much more smoothly.

If you can fairlead the halyard aft to a selftailing 2+ speed winch (as Charlie- suggested), or with the halyard through a clutch, I might consider going up with only 1 helper otherwises its just not safe. Another option to consider would be buying/borrowing some gear designed for this task. Then you could do it with just 2 of you present.

BTW- Boat really won't "heel" from you going up the mast, but you will be swinging side to side some and the boat rolls. (depending on conditions)

[bestfriend]

Might I suggest the ATN topclimber or something similar that you put together yourself for much cheaper? There is a thread somewhere on here with all the info you need. You need access to the top of the mast to put on the windex and the topclimber allows you to get higher. It also requires only one additional person to manage your safety line, and yes you should have a safety line.

[jaschrumpf]

I'm afraid all the excellent suggestions about genoa tracks and 2+ speed or self-tailing winches aren't going to help me. The boat is 1975 vintage with all single speed winches, nothing self-tailing and only a main and job halyard; no genny track. No rope halyards, either -- everything is wire cable.

At least I don't have to worry about waves -- I'm deep into the marina and waves from the main channel -- which is a 6 mph limit anyway -- can't reach me.

Maybe I'll call around for a few pros that might have their own winching equipment that could be used.

[camaraderie]

Jas...given what you've said...I'm with T34...this is a 3 person job...you, someone on the winch and the third to tail the line around a cleat and be ready to cleat off as you go up.

[billangiep]

I agree with T34 and Cam but you may want a forth person to handle the safety halyard. I put together a climber similar to the ATN as bestfreind suggested.

[bestfriend]

In that case, i would definitely make a top climber. Get a piece of line and attach it to the main halyard, hoist up the halyard and use the line you bought as your climbing line. Use your jib halyard, and both winches, as your safety line. Two person job.

[jaschrumpf]

Originally Posted by bestfriend

In that case, i would definitely make a top climber. Get a piece of line and attach it to the main halyard, hoist up the halyard and use the line you bought as your climbing line. Use your jib halyard, and both winches, as your safety line. Two person job.

"Climbing line"? As in climb a rope up to my maintop? Do you mean with the jib halyard hoisting me up in the bosun's chair at the same time?