wrote in message
...
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:08:04 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

wrote in message
. ..
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:29:36 -0700, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

Most sailors take their equipment maintenance very seriously. I know I
do.
One place that's infrequently visited is the masthead, and I'm wondering
if
you have any pictures of this vital area of your standing rigging. The
last
time I had someone go aloft (sorry, I'm not interested), I forgot to
give
her a camera, so all I have are these pics from the ground:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SailNOW....49224613496610.
(Everything was fine or was when she left, and no, I'm not the guy in
the
picture.)

Do you have pictures of your masthead hardware (not scenery, but the
actual
masthead)? How do you know your sheaves are still in good shape? Do you
regularly lubricate them?

I always pull the mast in the fall, and go over it every spring as
part of commissioning. On my mast, it's a very simple matter to remove
the sheaves so you can really get a good look at them, clean them and
re-lubricate. I wouldn't be able to do that while suspended by two of
the halyards which are on those sheaves.

With the mast down, I can also slide the shroud/stay heads out of
their cups to inspect both. I add some lanacote to the cups. Same with
inspecting the spreaders and the tangs. I feel I can do a better job
on the ground, and if something needs fixing, I don't have to make
several trips up and down in the bosun's seat.

If I was in the water year round, I would probably consider pulling
the mast periodically anyway for a more complete going over, cleaning
and lubricating than can be done in the air.



Pulling the mast isn't an option for me. The only realistic way to service
the masthead is to get up there (aka hire someone to do it).

I forgot to mention: I actually like going up the mast, and do it as
often as I can find an excuse and someone to crank me up there. I
don't like ladders much, but the bosun's chair doesn't bother me at
all.

I still think I can do a much better job of maintenance on the ground
for the reasons mentioned. Isn't there a yard anywhere near you with a
crane? If you got everything ready, and took care of disconnecting and
reconnecting everything, this can be a one day adventure.



Actually, there's an interesting possibility in the marina where I keep my
boat. Of course, I'd have to do it off-hours, but it might be worth a shot.
They have a crane that they use for hoisting the racing fleet boats into the
water from dry storage. The deck where the crane sits is above the level of
my mast. While I can't get right under the platform for a direct look down
onto the masthead, I can get within 10 feet of directly below it.

So, an idea... take the business end of the halyard and bring it with me to
the platform, with the other end cleated. I only have to move the mast 10
feet off center to get the masthead within reach. Tie off the halyard, then
do the maintenance. The issue would be not to damage the spreaders during
the operation. I don't think I would be putting a lot of strain on the
sheave with that little amount of heel. I think I just need to fender up, so
I don't damage the side of the boat.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com