bosun's chair

[George Dubose]

Hello Sailors,

Does anyone care to recommend a COMFORTABLE bosun's chair? My old chair
has a covered wooden plank with nylon sides and back, but it is hard to
stay in the back of that seat.

Ears open...

George/Skylark

--
George DuBose
www.george-dubose.com

Wiedstrasse 16
D-50859 Cologne
Germany

[Bob Maxwell]

It's kind of spendy, but I had one of these that was better than the vinyl covered plank type.

https://defender.com/en_us/harken-ballistic-nylon-deluxe-bosun-chair-2234

Bob

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[Jeff Deuel]

Hi All. 

The winch replacement ordeal on my ‘74 10m is well underway. Coaming teak is almost free of decades of varnish. When I’m done, the last thing I want to do is replace that flexible trim around the slots in the coamings. I believe it’s the same stuff that’s in the V berth, which could use a refresh, as well.

Second question: The rubber gasket on the fuel fill seems to be at the end of its life. No evidence of water intrusion, but it seats without any resistance. I bought O-rings, and now I get a nice tight seal, but the cap doesn’t go flush anymore. I read somewhere that these caps use a squared-off seal rather than a round one. Can anyone confirm, and if so point me in the right direction?

Thanks so much.

- Jeff

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[Peter Trunfio]

Something like this?

Unique Bargains Edge Trim U Seal Extrusion Beige U Channel Edge Protector PVC Plastic W Iron Sheet

https://share.google/uCgr8ZjwKe0UuyTHg

PMT

Peter M. Trunfio

+1.917.640.6450 (c)

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[Charles Shelby]

I use an arborist harness.  I like the idea of having leg straps.   Feels more safe then sitting in a chair that I could fall out of.  

Cheers. 

[Dan Pfeiffer]

Built-in steel belt...not stainless.  Will rust.   Anyone make this with SS?

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[Bob Maxwell]

This is made with aluminum inside the vinyl. I used it on my P30 decades ago. It works well for a while but needs to be replaced periodically (years).

https://www.westmarine.com/taco-marine-flexible-trim-P024_724_001_008.html?dwvar_P024__724__001__008_child_relation=338072

Bob

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pearson-boats/2f295136447ad533c58b25caf7cd14da%40pfeiffer.net.

[Jeff Griglack]

I have the ATN Top Climber and have been up in that for over an hour without any real problem.  It is basically a plastic board, so I don't know why it's not uncomfortable.  I also have a WM bosun's chair with padded bottom and cloth sides that I can't stand to be in for too long.  I think the WM chair pushes my back out of shape and the ATN doesn't.

Jeff

------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack             "Jabberwocky" P-365 #269

------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pearson-boats/CAG8ee-9X4Nd_QB9tsmbd8Mkje69Ka1owk0Lsa_cq3ULfgT-uRg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Tim Smith]

Harken. Best we have used. 

Tim Smith

tbsm...@gmail.com

617-536-1222 D

720-530-2971 C/T

617-933-7606 F

www.linkedin.com/in/tbsmith/

 

 

[Tim Smith]

This

Tim Smith

tbsm...@gmail.com

617-536-1222 D

720-530-2971 C/T

617-933-7606 F

www.linkedin.com/in/tbsmith/

 

 

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[Vincent Venezia]

I 2nd the WM chair. I have one, stable and safe. You can find em on ebay

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[Guy Johnson]

I use a climbing harness that is similar to the Petzl Hirundos Harness. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=petzl+hirundos+harness&oq=Petzl+Hirundos+Harness&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEAgAEAAYkQIY4wIYgAQYigUyEAgAEAAYkQIY4wIYgAQYigUyEAgBEC4YkQIYgAQY5QQYigUyDQgCEAAYkQIYgAQYigUyCAgDEAAYFhgeMggIBBAAGBYYHjIICAUQABgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMgYIBxBFGDyoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

Guy

Sent from Outlook

---

From: 'George Dubose' via pearson-boats <pearso...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2026 11:19 AM
To: pearso...@googlegroups.com <pearso...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [pearson] bosun's chair

 

Hello Sailors,

Does anyone care to recommend a COMFORTABLE bosun's chair? My old chair
has a covered wooden plank with nylon sides and back, but it is hard to
stay in the back of that seat.

Ears open...

George/Skylark

--
George DuBose

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.george-dubose.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cc096642f115546a0de2108df12739fa1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639249959948849107%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xY9vFMCC%2FQbAB8m%2FoL75PY3fpPnl%2BlnmVvLAd%2Fup7wk%3D&reserved=0

Wiedstrasse 16
D-50859 Cologne
Germany

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[Al Taylor, P10 #174]

I use a tree harness too. A little uncomfortable because the gravity of holding my fat ass up in seat strap (leather wrapped, 6" wide, flexible strap) is unrelenting. In the end that's a good thing. Very secure. I usually hoist on a 4:1 harken ratcheting block system connected to the main halyard with a backup using my spin halyard attached to the back of the harness.

I still haven't figured out a way to get over the top of the mast to replace my anchor light or work on the wind instrument. 

Al

Moment of Truth, '77 10 M, #174

[Dave Cole]

Has anyone looked into or used electric or drill powered ascenders?  They are out there and the Chinese have copied some designs.  

Dave

10M #26

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pearson-boats/690973fb-dd23-4853-8b81-2d3f99801e54n%40googlegroups.com.

[Guy Johnson]

Attach webbing loops to the top of the mast to make temporary steps that allow you to work on the masthead. 

Sent from Outlook

---

From: pearso...@googlegroups.com <pearso...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dave Cole <dave...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:20 PM
To: pearso...@googlegroups.com <pearso...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [pearson] bosun's chair

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pearson-boats/CAD5jJo2aQbcG2L_pX3TNsgk9JBT6qq3dEUCiHGw-430WXqKZag%40mail.gmail.com.

[Dan Pfeiffer]

I have tried a few right angle drills over the past couple seasons for going up mast and general grinding duty. 

First I tried a low cost Harbor Freight unit.  It was geared for too much speed for this application, about 1500 RPM.  Didn't have enough torque and was just too fast.  Could not lift a person up the rig.   Form factor was good though.  The Harbor Freight tool is not really an option for this.  Decent tool but no low gear.

2nd was a beastly Milwaukee M18 FUEL SUPER HAWG 1/2 in. Right Angle Drill with a 2-speed drive.  The low gear is about 350 RPM.  More than enough torque and still a bit fast but manageable with the variable speed trigger.  Way lot of power.  Need to be careful or it could break your arm.  But it can easily haul a person up the mast.  A bit large and heavy at 15lbs w/battery. 

3rd is a Bosch GRD18V-127 18V.  Similar in spec to the Milwaukee, a bit less torque but more than enough, a bit more speed at 500RPM but manageable with variable speed trigger, more compact and much lighter at under 9lbs.  Much more manageable than the Milwaukee.   I have used it to haul someone up the mast.   Plenty of power and more than enough speed.  Too much actually at full speed in low gear.  Forget about high gear.   I am using the Bosch now and it has been a big help when single-handing at the leeward mark especially when there is a lot of sheet to reel in on the main and headsail.   And the Bosch has anti-kickback which could be a very handy feature if your grip was not what it should be.

I used a WinchBit in both of these.  About $30?

You need a big battery (like 8AH) to deliver the needed current for full power.  A 4AH will run the tool but not at full power and not enough to lift a person up the mast.    I have other Bosch 18V tools and I used an adapter to run the Milwaukee with a Bosch battery.  No problem there.  The battery lasts a long time.  Many sessions of normal use.

All the drills run a bit fast for this purpose even in low gear.  The variable speed triggers make it manageable but I think 200RPM max would be about right.   Someone suggested re-gearing the Harbor Freight unit.  Like that is even an option?  I checked at justgearsforharborfreightdrills.com but came up short. 

I only ever use these units in the slow speed direction on the winch. 

Both the Milwaukee and Bosh can be found for about $300 to $400 for the bare tool.  I got the Milwaukee because at the time Bosch did not have an equivalent with low gear.  They came out with one a week later?  And it is way easier to handle. 

And there are purpose built electric winch handles like Winchrite.  It's a nice unit but almost $1,000.  I liked the idea of also have a useful tool to drill a massive hole if I wanted to. 


Dan Pfeiffer

[Stephen Craft]

I use a Black Diamond climbing harness that is pretty comfortable.  I connect it to a chest harness that I got from a previous owner.  The chest harness is connected to an ascender.  I have foot straps connected to another ascender.  A climbing rope attached to the harness goes up and around a block and through the ascenders, making it a 2 to 1 hoist.  

The same line goes to a deck block and to the harness, so I don't swing (unless I want to).  This rig allows me to go up by myself.  When choosing to go down, the top ascender is replaced with a gri gri and the bottom ascender removed.  The gri gri allows me to repel back down.

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--

--
                    |._
                    |._(     Stephen Craft
         <|.__..-'|.     
          ,|      .|)\        (617) 645-3650
          /|      .|) \
         /.|)     .|)  \
        / .|)     .|)   \     Pearson 10M  "Cool Change"
       /  .|)     .|)    \
      /   .|)     .|)     \
     /  ,--+---_ |       \ ,
  '\==-,,;,,;,,;,,,,,,,-==;7
 _ \__...____...__ __/
   ~              ~~~~  ~~

[Dave Cole]

This guy has a lot of good ideas. 

https://youtu.be/89w4pLANLvo?si=8jf7FlDPdMvKCHmO

He has more details on his website.  I have a setup similar to his old more complicated setup including the grigri.  

Dave

10M #26

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[Dave Cole]

Hi Dan

This, and similar, is what I was referring to.

https://ebay.io/m/aw3Pp5

I think the rope you are climbing gets wrapped around the drum, the unit is closed, you put an electric drill equiped with an adapter into the socket and up you go. 

There is a gear reduction and brake, built into the unit.  These are all over Ebay and Temu, etc.   I "think" a common 1/2" battery drill might power this. 

I think this is a copy of some other brand that was originally for tree climbers.. 

I didn't know Bosch has a battery power right angle drill.  Im a Bosch fan.  😃

Dave

10M #26

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[Charles Shelby]

I use a mast lift.   Basically a chain fall designed for a sailboat mast.  The reason why I went this route is because I don’t always have help.   This allows me to climb the mast independently.  

https://swi-tec.com/product/alone-on-the-mast-mastlift-25m-swi-tec

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[Dave Cole]

....don’t always have help

Likewise.

I can see the attraction.   That's why I was asking about the electric drill powered ascender.

I had a problem, I thought, with my furler and asked the marina this spring if I could get someone to take their main lift up and checkout the upper bearing on my furler.  (It's an old solid extrusion Hyde furler)  And possibly pull the entire stay off the front of the mast.

The marina has about 1/3 sailboats due to the deep draft harbor.  Still, they said they couldn't do it due to a shortage of skilled people.  :-/    Crazy.   They have a big man lift.   Just no one who could do that.

I'm not a spring chicken any longer and I was thinking I would need more than me to pull the stay.   I offered to simply rent the manlift.  Nope.  Liability.

As it turned out, the bearing is ok for now.   

Looks like I need to keep eating my wheaties since local rigging help isn't readily available.

Dave

10M #26

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[Tim Smith]

Just to get back to the original thread.  

HARKEN DELUXE BOSUN'S CHAIR $269.15 MSRP

Tim Smith

tbsm...@gmail.com

617-536-1222 D

720-530-2971 C/T

617-933-7606 F

www.linkedin.com/in/tbsmith/

 

 

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[Jeff Griglack]

I almost never have anybody to help out, and that is why I bought the ATN Top Climber. It is basically a set of ascenders with a seat instead of a harness, and it lets me go up alone on the halyard.  I find the unpadded, plastic board seat comfortable and the whole system cost about the listed price for the harken deluxe bosun's chair mentioned. 

Going up with the top climber takes some work, but I just take my time (and wear gloves) and it's fine. Maybe someday I'll need the mast lift (and be willing to pay that much) but not yet. 

Jeff

------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack             "Jabberwocky" P-365 #269

------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pearson-boats/CAD5jJo0kNnA51Ywjd%2Bu8OQ-NtC59vQ%2Bg6oy4DFGFfRWg-dyzXQ%40mail.gmail.com.