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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Climbing the Mast

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Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/13/2006 : 08:02:01

OK, so I bought a bosum's chair. How the hell do I get up the mast???

Thanks in advance!

S/V Prima Donna
1986, 15 HP Universal Inboard Diesel, Fixed keel, Hull # 5362

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2006 : 09:00:24

Hi Daren, clip it to the main halyard and have one or two mates hoist you up like you were the main. For safety, you should actually use both the main and jib halyard, and put as many wraps on the winches as possible, then crank at the same time not to keep the same tention so much as keeping the slack out on both lines. Also remember to take a camera and get pics of your boat from the heavens. Cheers.

Edited by - djn on 11/13/2006 09:02:46

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2006 : 09:42:45

Also make sure that you tape the halyard shackles and the buckle on the butt bucket (very embarassing and painful if they come undone while aloft!). Remember to tie a small line to the chair (long enough to reach the deck!) to act as a messenger line in case you need a tool that you forgot to take with you.

Edited by - Derek Crawford on 11/13/2006 09:44:27

Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2006 : 10:40:39

Thanks guys! Sort of what I thought. I need to replace my radio cable and maybe antenna. Gonna try to do it without un-stepping the mast. Hence the notion of going aloft! Next Question: should this operation be done while the boat is in the water or on the hard?

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2006 : 11:12:41

I made my first visit to the top of the mast a couple of weeks ago to attach a block for my spinnaker halyard. I went up when the boat was in the water--we strapped the lines in tight, so the boat didn't rock much.

I'd be very surprised if you can replace your radio cable without bringing the mast down. Good luck!

Edited by - on

bear_tm4
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2006 : 11:20:33

Yeah, its scary as hell, when your mates start rocking the boat...lol...I knew I want going any where, but was still unnerving....lol. But did get my wind indicator up, and learned that its a good idea to replace my wire to rope halyards with all rope and replace the sheaves...which I did the next time I pulled the mast down...rope is way better in my book, heck I even got the pricey stuff from Catalina direct. cheers every one.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2006 : 12:07:18

I hoist two spinnaker blocks to the top of the mast and connect one genoa block to the bosuns chair. I have 1/2 inch 150 foot double braid line running through the blocks. One end of the rope is tied off to the chair with a bowline. The other is in my hand. This is a 3 to one block and tackle. I can easily hoist my wift to the top of the mast without using the winches. Once she is up there I tie off the line to the boom. We do this on the water, in the slip. We have the spinnaker halyard to use as a messenger.

If there was some mishap, she could just slide down the pole. She partly climbs it to help me with the hoisting.

This is easy and painless. You could actually hoist yourself up using this rig. Cost no money, made with stuff I have on board anyhow. (I carry the nylon line to use as a tow rope for an emergency).

Edited by - on

Daren
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2006 : 12:53:53

Jim,

If I don't rig the blocks like you indicated, I guess I will need at least one strong guy to crank me up and another to cleat the line and then run and get me some beer whilst I am up there working?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2006 : 14:45:07

Remember to clip on two halyards. Have someone hoist you up on one, and have someone take up the slack on the other. The second is your backup. If you have three halyards like we do, the third makes a great line to hook to a bucket to cary up all the parts you forget.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2006 : 14:48:20

winching up is hard. There is a lot of load on the line. You will get numerous overruns. The simple block and tackle works much better. But it can be done. If you use the winch, I would use the other halyard as a backup.

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2006 : 17:26:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Remember to tie a small line to the chair (long enough to reach the deck!) to act as a messenger line in case you need a tool that you forgot to take with you.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I can guarantee you will forget to take something up with you.

Edited by - on

pegasus
1st Mate

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USA
65 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2006 : 07:12:24

if someone can tell me how to post pictures, I'll send a view from the top of the mast...

Edited by - on

Joe Mama
1st Mate

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USA
25 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2006 : 16:07:59

I rigged up a system consisting of two triple-sheave blocks running half-inch climber's rope. Haul one block aloft with both halyards, and tie-off lines securely. Attach boatswain's chair with climber's carabiner to other block. This gives me a 6:1 purchase system with which I can hoist myself aloft. The 'free' block has a cam-cleat to tie-off the bitter end of line, and I use a spring-loaded climber's brake below the free block for additional safety.
I have gone aloft several times 'in water' without any major issues. A word to the wise, though, Plan your trip aloft well in advance, as your arms will get tired from hoisting yourself.

Ever Northward,
Joe Mama

Edited by - on

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2006 : 16:29:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Mama
 I rigged up a system consisting of two triple-sheave blocks running half-inch climber's rope. Haul one block aloft with both halyards, and tie-off lines securely. Attach boatswain's chair with climber's carabiner to other block. This gives me a 6:1 purchase system with which I can hoist myself aloft. The 'free' block has a cam-cleat to tie-off the bitter end of line, and I use a spring-loaded climber's brake below the free block for additional safety.
I have gone aloft several times 'in water' without any major issues. A word to the wise, though, Plan your trip aloft well in advance, as your arms will get tired from hoisting yourself.

Ever Northward,
Joe Mama
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's almost easier on a smaller boat like the Catalina-25 to just take the mast down. Two people can drop the mast in 20 minutes without any "a-frame setups" or whatnot. The mast only weighs about 70-100 lbs. I drop mine and put it up in the water every time I go out, and it's not that big of a deal.

Of course, if you've got alot of running rigging like aft led lines, roller furling, and such it would take longer, but luckily I don't.

Also, for me anyways, I weigh about 240 lbs so I would be afraid of what would happen with me sitting at the end of a 26 foot lever.(IE the mast) I wonder if the boat would fall on over? :) 1900lbs (Keel)sitting 3 feet from the fulcrum and 250 lbs sitting 30 feet from it. I think I'm going to try to figure that one out.... I'll let you know.

-DaveC25

Edited by - DaveC25 on 11/20/2006 16:31:07

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 09:20:32

Okay guys, here it is...keep this in mind when going up your mast.

This is worst case, however....so there may be more leeway (pardon the pun).

The formula for calculating mechnical advantage of a lever is basically Fb = (A/B)*Fa
Where:
Fa = the force (or weight) applied at one end of a lever (mast in this case)
A = the distance from the fulcrum (water line in this case) for weight Fa
B = The distance from the fulcrum to force Fb (The Keel in this case)
Fb = the force on the other end of the fulcrum

Using these values for calculation (you can play with them for the situation that most fits your needs), here are the results:

Fa = 240lbs (Me)
A = 28' Top of a standard rig above the water
B = 3' the end of my wing keel below the water

so Fb = (28/3)*240
or
Fb=2240

What this says is that if I am at the top of the mast and weigh 240 lbs, I need GREATER than a 2240lb keel 3' below the water in order for the boat to stay upright in calm air. My keels weighs ~1900lbs I believe. So basically, I'd be in the water.

Of course, you're not going to be at the very top of the mast, but all the weight in the keel is not at the very bottom, either.

So play around with the numbers to match your situation.... also taking into account that as the boat heels over, her CG moves out to maybe 5' for "B" rather than only 3' at the waterline.

I notice everyone who has said they did it was tied in a slip. I guess that's a good thing!

Edited by - DaveC25 on 11/22/2006 09:30:56

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 11:14:32

I think bridge clearance on our boats adds 5 feet to the mast height of 28' due to the head room under the mast step.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 14:30:04

Why would you want to lean out away from the mast (thus increasing the lever)? When I go up there I cling on to the mast for dear life!! I have had a 180 lb guy shimmy up the mast to free a jammed halyard while we were racing in 12k winds - no problem...

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 15:48:59

Actually, I would consider a much simpler formula in deciding to climb the mast or not:

Fa > 200lbs Get a helper and take the mast down

Also, I don't have the time right now to work out the calcs but the formulas given seem to me to apply to the case of the mast/keel acting as levers BUT the formula simplification would only apply if viewing the mast/keel lever arms in the horizontal. That is not the case initially. The mast and keel are lined up in the vertical, possibly 5 degrees off or so from the vertical. Then one would have to figure out what the weight component (gravity) is in the vertical figuring probably a 10 degree max angle from the vertical since it is unlikely you are going to go up the mast if it is tipping any more than that.

Here is another way to look at it from the pefect scenario in both the horizontal and the vertical to explain what I am talking about. Your calcs apply if we suspend the boat in mid air and the mast and keel are perefectly aligned horizontally....then I agree with your calcs. But let's look at the other perfect example...in the vertical which is closer to reality as the mast points up and the keel points down. If perfectly in the vertical, then it don't matter how long your lever arms are, that mast is not going over no matter what your weight. BUT...the controllingfactor then is the hull displacement...if you were to weigh an humoungous amount and mast and keel in perfect vertical with you at the top...well then it's going to be like the Titanic scene when the two of them were hanging onto the rail and the boat went straight down. Glub, glub , glub.

You know what, heck with the calcs...I think I would rather have someone else do it and I'll catch the football game on tv.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2006 : 10:58:40

I can't imagine that the risk/reward ratio would be enough to get me 25 ft above the deck when I could take the mast down without the use of a crane. Remember it's not the fall, it's the landing that gets ya.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2006 : 14:14:25

Remember that photo of the guy hanging out on his hammock slung from the boom out over the side of the boat? And, if I recall correctly, Jims wife aloft too.

Tell me that I shouldn't do it and I'll listen, show me it can be done and I'll wonder why not!

Paul.

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