Easy way up the mast

[EO32]

Since we are talking about going up the mast, this is the way I do it.

I didn't want my wife to try to hoist me and it's hard to line up friends, so I went with a winch.




The winch is a $70 harbor freight remote control 3000lb 12 volt wench. I built the supports with wood and stainless steel threaded rod and backing straps.

I used it yesterday for the first time and it works great. I changed out the wire rope with 3/8 5000# dyneema line.

I use a climbing harness and jib halyard with a belay for my safety line.

[sailingdog]

You might be a redneck if you use a Harbor Freight Truck bumper winch on your sailboat.

[EO32]

The Camo paint is a bit much

[ebs001]

I was just wondering do you use the wench to operate the winch?

[EO32]

Originally Posted by ebs001

I was just wondering do you use the wench to operate the winch?

Not sure what you're asking, but is has a two button (up/down) remote with about a 100 foot range.

[sailingdog]

Just don't piss off your crew... they're likely to unplug the winch when your up top...

I hope you use a safety line with the winch.

[brak]

cool deal. I wouldn't laugh - this could be a good commercial product.

[brak]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Just don't piss off your crew... they're likely to unplug the winch when your up top...

I hope you use a safety line with the winch.

These things usually have a locking clutch or some such, so even if they are not powered - they will hold you in the same position. Of course losing power wouldn't be as much fun - you'd have to hang all the way up the mast for a while, but thats'a small risk

[sailingdog]

Yes, I know that... but crew might get even by stranding him up there... If he has a safety line with an ascender, he at least has a chance of getting back down.

Originally Posted by brak

These things usually have a locking clutch or some such, so even if they are not powered - they will hold you in the same position. Of course losing power wouldn't be as much fun - you'd have to hang all the way up the mast for a while, but thats'a small risk

[EO32]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I hope you use a safety line with the winch.

Falling from 40 feet or getting stuck from due to winch failure is a concern.

I use the main halyard, pull it to the top, put in an alpine loop and attach the winch line, then pull it back down and hook that to my bosan chair.

For safety I wear a climbing harness with a belay and run the jib halyard through that, constantly taking it up and adding blocking knots.

If the main fails or the winch fails, I can disconnect and drop down with the jib halyard through the belay.