Up the mast

[kwaltersmi]

We'll be launching on Monday and the plan is to go up the mast to re-tape the spreader caps and do a general rig inspection. This will be our first time going aloft and we're looking for advice. We've read all that we can find in books, mags and online, but thought it might be prudent to post a few questions and get some advice here as well.

Here's the plan: We'll be using our climbing harness (Black Diamond Alpline BOD) instead of a bosun's chair. The main halyard will be used as the primary uplift and one of the two wire-to-rope headsail halyards as a back-up.

Here's what we think we know:
1) A bowline should be used to secure the main halyard to the harness, instead of using the shackle. We'll have to use the shackle on the back-up (jib halyard) because it's wire-to-rope.

2) Winches away from the mast should be used in case something is dropped from above.

3) A tether will be used around the mast to keep the climber stable.

4) Slack on the back-up halyard should be taken in every 5 feet or so.


Any other tips you can provide? Is the bowline the best knot for the halyard-to-harness connection? Is it irrational to worry about something on the mast (sheaves?) breaking during accent?

[Bene505]

It sounds like you are thinking it through, which is the important first step, IMHO. I've only gone up twice, so my experience is extremely limited compared to the pros on this site. Also I used a Top Climber.

I like to know that if anything fails, I'm still going to be ok. I use a good one-way knot on the back up halyard, attached with a short length of line, to a loop of large diameter line that goes around my torso under the shoulders. It would hurt, but I could decend back to the deck with it. And I've tested it over small decents. So even if the chair fails, I'd still be ok. On the way up, after every foot of ascent I slide the one-way knot up the backup halyard. The back up halyard has to be tight to make this easy, otherwise you need 2 hands to do it.

Bring a long line with you to haul up anything that you've missed. I bring a bag with most anything I need. Bring a camera to take pictures of the top of the mast, in case your eye level won't be high enough to see over the top. If you are scared, go up a few feet at a time to get used to it. It looks 10x higher when you are the one up there.

Also make sure your weight won't tip the boat over. (Not sure what boat you are doing this with.) Make sure the halyard are in good condition, etc.

Anway, hope that helps.

For the actual rig inspection, note that I'm getting a rig inspection by a professional - who I've met and friends have recommended to me -- it's VERY clear to me that a pro can spot things that I would miss. There's another thread on that around here somewhere.

Regards,
Brad

Again, I am a real novice. You may not want to follow what I've done, and wait until your hear from a pro.

[genieskip]

If the shackle end of the halyard is wire I normally use the shackle, tape it if it is s snap shackle and then back it up with a short length of small diameter line wrapped a number of time around the eye splice and the ring of the harness/chair.

[paul323]

Apologies in advance as I don't know the jargon...if you climb you'll probably know what I am talking about...when I was up the mast yesterday a friend, climbing expert, got me to wear what he called "a bra" - basically a harness which fitted just under the armpits and was clipped to the halyard (this was in addition to the climbing harness around the waist). He explained this would prevent me from hanging upside-down in my harness if I had a problem - which seemed like a really good idea to me (staying upright, that is!).

[DropTop]

For starters, I'm tower and rescue climing certified, I used to own a company that had lots of equipment up on cell towers, and occosionally I had to climb the towers myself so I had to get the certification or the insurance companies wouldn't let me touch the tower.

That said, I use primarly the same procedure you just outlined above when I go up the mast. I normally go up with just a black diamond climbing harness, however the chest harness that Paul mentioned is a nice addition. You can make a simple chest strap out of webbing that goes around you and under your arms, ties to the main halyard. use a small line crossed from the front right to the back left over your shoulders and vice versa to stop the webbing from falling down.

I always keep the rope clutches closed and locked on the main and jib halyard when ascending the mast, having someine crank me up using the halyard winch on the main halyard, and pulling the slack out of the jib halyard.

If your shackles are not spring closed, or screwed together (and tightened with pliers), ALWAYS tape them shut to prevent accidental opening and release.

as for the halyard size, OSHA requirements require the line you are suspended from be rated at 5,000 pounds or higher. If you use Sta-Set X for your halyards, anything smaller than the 3/8" line is not safe enough for OSHA standards (important to keep in mind if you are sending a paid crew member up the mast).

Additionally OSHA requires a fully body harness (aka chest and shoulder straps) for those heights, so anyone racing with paid crew, you may want to cover yourself legally and buy a full fall arrest harness such as this
Vest Style Harness - Back D-Ring Vest Harness

[Gene T]

Good advice here. One thing I would add is whoever is on the boat helping should not move around much. I would not have 5ft slack in the safety line as a 5 foot drop would be nasty. You can help whoever is pulling you up the mast by hoisting yourself on an available line. Also have them practice letting you down after you go up a few feet. They need to get the proper number of turns around the winch so it doesn't "jump". You want to come down smoothly.

BTW: This whole process is more scary than dangerous (and a good workout). The dangers mostly come from being in a hurry and not thinking it though or from dropping something to the deck/crew below.

Gene

[DropTop]

Originally Posted by Gene T

Good advice here. One thing I would add is whoever is on the boat helping should not move around much. I would not have 5ft slack in the safety line as a 5 foot drop would be nasty.

very very good points, forgot to mention that myself. a 6ft fall is the maximum distance that someone call reasonably fall, before the safety lanyard stops them, without sustaining injuries, 9 feet is the maximum they can fall without a reasonable danger of life threatening injuries.

[scottyt]

actually 5 foot of slack is 10 feet of fall

bring grease/oil and a camera, plus what they all said

[captbillc]

i go up on a bosun's chair after i put the mast in with the marina's boom. it is the same height as my mast (44') the steel cable on the drum & big handwheels makes it easy to lift the mast. i go up to put on my wind instruments & i take them down in the fall to keep them from getting damaged. if i have to go up when i am not by the boom i use my main halyard & 2 speed winch. i will be 88 on july 4th & enjoy going up.

[kwaltersmi]

I'm pleased to report that we made the mast ascent without incident and all tasks were accomplished. Thanks to those who participated in this thread!