winching up the mast,

[AirborneSF]

"Hi all"! I have a question, which would use to winch someone up the mast, 'mast' winch, or one of the 'sheet' winches, all of which are 'single' speed. The Dam# thing is somekinda hard to turn with a #140 guy on board. I'm ready to back the boat to the bulkhead and use the jeep winch. Thanks, Dave

[Capt. Gary Randall]

hello there, I always use my mast halyard winches. On smaller vessels that have a one-to-one ratio it would be very difficult to lift the occupied boatswain's chair. what I have done in that case is spoool out the halyard through a snatch block then back up to the top of the mast using the other halyard. Making a two to one ratio on your lift.
be very careful of what you are doing and use a safety harness......CaptG

[MarkofSeaLife]

Jeep winch.

That way you can go downtown while the person is up the mast

But, yeah, if you can use the jeep winch and its safe, then go for it.

[knuterikt]

Originally Posted by AirborneSF

"Hi all"! I have a question, which would use to winch someone up the mast, 'mast' winch, or one of the 'sheet' winches, all of which are 'single' speed. The Dam# thing is somekinda hard to turn with a #140 guy on board. I'm ready to back the boat to the bulkhead and use the jeep winch. Thanks, Dave

I don't think that using the jeep winch is a good idea..

Use the largest winch you have on the boat - use some extra blocks to get a good lead to the winch.

Always use a second halyard as safety rope.

If the person you are hoisting help by "climbing" at the same time i gets easier.

I have made this to make it easier, you put it on a halyard and the climber use it as foot step. You lift it with your foot and the cleat grips the rope.

[sailak]

I use the main halyard to pull a 4:1 block and tackle to the masthead. The bottom block is attached to the bosun chair, the running end goes back to a primary winch. The wife is able to hoist my butt to the mast head using that system.

[jrd22]

There are numerous threads on climbing the mast here on SN that cover the topic extensively. Personally, I use a climbing harness and ascenders on a dedicated climbing rope, no winch necessary.

[AirborneSF]

OK, I think the bigger 'main' winch is it, cause the mast winch is kinda small. I WAS kidding about using the jeep winch, much to powerful if something WERE to go wrong. The use of a couple of 'blocks', will/should make it easy. Thanks, all!

[Faster]

We've always re-led a halyard to the primary sheet winches, but have friends that do the same to the anchor windlass....

[Lake Superior Sailor]

It is always better to not be under the load!,So pick a winch away from the mast...Dale

[Minnewaska]

Get a 110v right angle power drill and a winch drill adapter. I've not done it myself, but seems like a cleaver idea.

The Cranker - a S.S. Sailboat Winch Drill Adapter Bit

Be absolutely sure to have a redundant halyard that the climber themselves can arrest an accidental descent. I like the prussic knot tied around a backup fixed halyard.