going up the mast

[dcar...@gmail.com]

I'm a relatively new owner of a Nonsuch 26. I bought the boat about a year ago. And my wife and I absolutely love it. 

Anyway, I want to get up the mast so I can clean years of accumulated dirt on the wishbone. Should I have any concerns about using a bosuns chair on an unstayed mast?

[John F. Iscaro]

About two months ago I used an A TN top climber to change streaming light and to say I did it.  Went very smoothly.   Next stop the top.   Btw in 6'  205#

On Nov 1, 2013 5:26 PM, <dcar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm a relatively new owner of a Nonsuch 26. I bought the boat about a year ago. And my wife and I absolutely love it. 

Anyway, I want to get up the mast so I can clean years of accumulated dirt on the wishbone. Should I have any concerns about using a bosuns chair on an unstayed mast?

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[don...@aol.com]

Hi Dan,

 

I know that a few have done it w/o incident on a 26, but wimp that I am, I wouldn't trust my 200 lbs to the single halyard, old blocks and sheaves. A 2nd halyard as a safety line would be my requirement. That being said, I have reluctantly hauled a 165 lb crew up to the mast joint in a bosun's chair.

 

I have used an extension ladder, (12 or 14 ft?) I've braced the feet against the cabin top aft of the mast and went up high enough to open the hanger shackles to lower the wishbone. That might also be high enough to clean the wishbone in place, or lower it to the deck get at all sides easily.

 

The ladder is a little risky too as it stands too close to vertical. One has to somewhat hug the mast while ascending, and then securely lash it at the top rung to prevent it from sliding to one side or the other. The top rung is the only part of the ladder in contact w the mast, and only with the sail track.

 

I'm sure you'll be getting other opinions/suggestions. Good Luck

 

Al Donaghy

N26 19  EllenM 

 

[Richard Darrow]

To Whom it May Concern,

 

I’m sorry you didn’t sign your post or I would have addresses you by name… please note my signature below as an example of what you might consider using in future postings.

 

First, welcome to the Nonsuch community and congratulations on your “relatively” new Nonsuch 26… every Nonsuch is a great boat and you should have years of enjoyment with yours.

 

There is no problem using a bosons chair with the un-stayed mast on a Nonsuch as long as your halyard will handle the load, not to exceed a few hundred pounds of course… don’t know what you weigh but the average person below roughly 250lbs should be OK. If your halyard is as old as the crud on your wishbone you may want to consider replacing it or rigging a back-up halyard as a safety precaution.

 

If all you want to do is clean the wishbone that can be accomplished using a telescoping ladder placed on the cabin top and propped against the inside of the wishbone… secure the wishbone with a tightened mainsheet and another line fastened to one rear corner of the boat, your choice.  This same ladder can also be used to assist in taking the wishbone down, by raising the wishbone with your halyard and the telescoping ladder placed against the aft side of the mast between the insides of the wishbone you can unfasten the hangers and chocker pennant in preparation for lowering the wishbone.

 

I’m sure you’ll get many more replies that may have different and perhaps better solutions to your question… good luck and happy boating.

 

Regards,

Dick (& Shirley) Darrow

"Cativa", NS30U #496

Sodus Bay, NY USA

 

 

 

From: INA-Nonsuch-Di...@googlegroups.com [mailto:INA-Nonsuch-Di...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of dcar...@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 5:26 PM
To: INA-Nonsuch-Di...@googlegroups.com
Subject: going up the mast

 

I'm a relatively new owner of a Nonsuch 26. I bought the boat about a year ago. And my wife and I absolutely love it. 

 

Anyway, I want to get up the mast so I can clean years of accumulated dirt on the wishbone. Should I have any concerns about using a bosuns chair on an unstayed mast?

 

--

[John F. Iscaro]

One thing I forgot to mention is that ATN now has a newer model that clips onto halyard with out having to rig a new line.

Captain J
SV Phunsuch / Nonsuch 26 Ultra #200

On Nov 1, 2013 5:26 PM, <dcar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm a relatively new owner of a Nonsuch 26. I bought the boat about a year ago. And my wife and I absolutely love it. 

Anyway, I want to get up the mast so I can clean years of accumulated dirt on the wishbone. Should I have any concerns about using a bosuns chair on an unstayed mast?

[Allen Perrins]

Hi

No problem going up except work for the wincher !

Suggest buying a climber's harness. Much more secire feeling,allows one to have the masthead

instruments at nose level or better.

Because there are no shrouds to use,  maneuvering is more difficult.

Always take a camera (smart phone).

Al   

Barbcat NS 30C # 170l

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: dcar...@gmail.com
Sent: Nov 1, 2013 5:26 PM
To: INA-Nonsuch-Di...@googlegroups.com
Subject: going up the mast

[dcar...@gmail.com]

Hi Al,

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my post. You've been very helpful.

Kind regards,

Dan (& Penny) Carnrite

Cold Water Morning NS26 #30

Langley, BC, Canada

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[dcar...@gmail.com]

Hi Dick,

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my post. You've been very helpful.

Kind regards,

Dan (& Penny) Carnrite

Cold Water Morning NS26 #30

Langley, BC, Canada

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to INA-Nonsuch-Discussion-Group+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[dcar...@gmail.com]

Hi Al,

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my post. You've been very helpful.

Kind regards,

Dan (& Penny) Carnrite

Cold Water Morning NS26 #30

Langley, BC, Canada

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to INA-Nonsuch-Discussion-Group+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[dcar...@gmail.com]

Hi John,

Thanks. The ATN is an impressive piece of equipment, I think I'm going to have to get one of them.

Kind regards,

Dan

Cold Water Morning NS28, #30

On Friday, November 1, 2013 4:34:38 PM UTC-7, John F. Iscaro wrote:

One thing I forgot to mention is that ATN now has a newer model that clips onto halyard with out having to rig a new line.

Captain J
SV Phunsuch / Nonsuch 26 Ultra #200

On Nov 1, 2013 5:26 PM, <dcar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm a relatively new owner of a Nonsuch 26. I bought the boat about a year ago. And my wife and I absolutely love it. 

Anyway, I want to get up the mast so I can clean years of accumulated dirt on the wishbone. Should I have any concerns about using a bosuns chair on an unstayed mast?

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[Greg Silver]

going up the mast

Nonsuch is great for single handing, so i believe you should be able to get up the mast single handed if you have to. I have seen the TN Topclimber in action and like it very much. I have a home-made version comprised of a climber's harness and two climber's rope clutches. One clutch is fastened to an arm's-reach length of rope to the harness belt, so I can sit in it. The other clutch is on a pair of lines with sliding-knot loops around my feet that I can stand in. I can get up and down the mast myself on one halyard made fast and taught - by standing and sliding up the un-tensioned seat clutch, then sitting and sliding up the un-tensioned foot clutch. This outfit was a gift to me from Trevor Robertson - a friend and occasional visitor in Cape Breton who sails the globe mostly single-handed on SV Iron Bark.

After some practice you can get up and down very quickly, and you have the ability to stand or sit while you are working aloft. As you use mainly your leg muscles, in my case my aging arm muscles  are in better shape to handle the wrenches, pliers... and whatever I need to do up there.

Using this climbing method, and a second halyard for the wishbone, I can raise/connect and disconnect/lower the wishbone from its hangers by myself.

You can buy the gear you need for this mast climbing outfit at MEC or any good outdoor adventure store. Match the rope clutches to your halyard.

You can also use the harness instead of a bosun's chair if there is someone to hoist you on the halyard - and to me it feels much safer than chairs or slings. Also, the climber's harness comes with several attachment rings  for hanging rope or a tool bag.

Regards,

Greg Silver

Misty Cat / 26C #121

St. Peter's, Cape Breton

• dcar...@gmail.com Nov 01 02:26PM -0700  

• 
  
  I'm a relatively new owner of a Nonsuch 26. I bought the boat about a year
  ago. And my wife and I absolutely love it.
   
  Anyway, I want to get up the mast so I can clean years of accumulated dirt
  on the wishbone. Should I have any concerns about using a bosuns chair on
  an unstayed mast?

 

• "John F. Iscaro" <jo...@iscaro.com> Nov 01 05:59PM -0400  

• 
  
  About two months ago I used an A TN top climber to change streaming light
  and to say I did it. Went very smoothly. Next stop the top. Btw in 6'
• 205#

 

-- 

Greg Silver Graphic Design

Gregory Silver, B Des, CGD, FGDC 

PO Box 178

St. Peter's, Nova Scotia

Canada B0E  3B0

Office 902 535 3990

Cel 902 631 5050

gr...@gregsilver.ca

[Gary Mertl]

Greg, I like your method. Can you suggest a harness brand/tpye and same for clutches? I really know nothing about them. Thanks.

Gary
Catspaw
N30U #362
Blaine, WA

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[ted...@aol.com]

I’ve had experience very much like yours sounds Greg. My harness with two ascenders are permanent equipment on my boat.

Last June I was in Annapolis as the “Race Across America” transcontinental, non-stop bike race just happened to be finishing there at the City Dock, and was able to use the rig to hoist a media commentator to the top of the mast to do “aerial” commentary of the finish line. That was fun, but I should have asked her for a picture from up there! As Alan Perrins said, you should always remember to take a camera aloft.

Ed Cook

“Chat-eau” N26c #173

Sent from Windows Mail

[Zan Strausz]

I highly endorse a climbing harness with 2 ascenders. Harness clipped to top ascender, 2 climbing runners (webbing) for feet to bottom ascender.
Ref. - book - Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills
Check REI for gear. You will probably want a couple locking carabineers, too.

You can inchworm up halyard by yourself (tie halyard off at mast base) or use your crew to hoist you up.

2 advantages with 2 ascenders -
1 - xfr weight to feet when bum gets tired, & vice versa.
2 - this is big plus - when you are chock a block at halyard block, as far as you can go, typically what you want to work on is at eyebrow level. With lower ascender, and appropriate runner lengths, you just stand up in runners to get another 18" or so higher.

If you have a second halyard, that is great for safety belay. I don't currently have 2nd halyard, so I rig a line that I loop around mast a couple times and slide up as I go. Tedious, especially as you have to move around fittings & boom slings as you go up, but I am nervous about trusting my life to just the halyard!

This is great fun, especially if you like a little adrenaline in your system. Take a camera up. I do recommend doing this in very calm water or tied to a dock, every little roll can feel like you are on the end of a buggy whip. Just crew walking from one side to another can be a real thrill.

Zan Strausz
NS26 110 Artemis
Anacortes, WA

[Greg Silver]

For those interested in using climber's gear, I've included a link to a good article on how to do it and equip for it.

The gear includes 2 ascenders (what I called 'clutches' in my first post, and sometimes are called 'Jumars'), a harness, and some rope (I used 1/2" yacht braid to make foot straps on one ascender, and to hook my harness to the other ascender.

The link below also shows how to  use a Prusik knot instead of the ascender hardware - cheaper and you might already have what you need in your small stuff bag.

A comfortable harness with a few belt rings to hang some tools and line is recommended. And I concur, try to remember to take a camera when you go aloft!

http://www.oceannavigator.com/September-2012/Mast-climbing-techniques/

Greg Silver

Misty Cat 26C #121

St. Peter's, Cape Breton

• Gary Mertl <catsp...@gmail.com> Nov 02 03:44PM -0700  

• 
  
  Greg, I like your method. Can you suggest a harness brand/tpye and same for
  clutches? I really know nothing about them. Thanks.
   
  Gary
  Catspaw
  N30U #362
  Blaine, WA

 

• <ted...@aol.com> Nov 03 01:21AM  

• 
  
  I've had experience very much like yours sounds Greg. My harness with two ascenders are permanent equipment on my boat.
   
   

[Mark Powers]

Here is a link to the nonsuch photo gallery with a picture of me at the top of the mast on La Reina, 26c. http://www.pbase.com/nonsuch/image/120483402

 The dodger prevents a full swing on the winch handle so it was hard work for those taking me up. I have used a 4:1 block and tackle arrangement with a ratchet block to go up as well. This was very tiring for me. I have not used ascenders. Many riggers recommend a separate line that you hoist on the halyard and then use the ascenders on the separate line. Some ascenders are hard on the halyard. 

If you are using ascenders you should use a harness and make sure you have rigged it properly so that you don't invert. Inversion is when things go wrong and your feet end up on top and your head at the bottom.  This is more likely to occur if the top ascender is attached too low in relation to your body, i.e., near your waist instead of closure to your chest. La Reina does not have a second halyard but her current halyard is new and low stretch. The safe working load is much greater than my 180 pounds.  Most riggers recommend tying a bowline rather than relying on the shackle.  I use a short line around the mast similar to that described by Zan. When you go up the mast you should find a cheek block on the side of the mast. Run a small line through this and back to the deck. There after you will be able to run a second halyard up the mast when you need to go up. That is the safer way to go.

When you get to the top you will find that the mast taper has reduced the diameter to about a 5 inches. This makes it ihard to steady yourself, especially if you are trying to reach the masthead instruments.  When big people get off and on the boat you get quite a ride. If you look down at those times you will see water, deck, dock, deck, water until she settles down.

The most important thing about going up the mast is coming down safely. 

Mark Powers & Nesta Davies

La Reina 26C

Burrard Civic Marina

Vancouver, B.C.

[Gary Mertl]

Thanks very much Greg, super info for someone like me. I'm definitely going to try this method.

Gary
Catspaw
N30U #362
Blaine, WA

[Austin, Timothy]

An over exposed picture of the view down from the top of my 33 mast last week!  The rake of the mast can be a little off putting in the mid-section as the halyard and you take the shortest distance to the top!  I should have released the tension from the topping lift and mainsheet which I had tightened in an effort to reduce the movement at the top – it didn’t stop the movement!

 

Tim Austin

Mistoffelees

N33 #32

Cayman Islands