On Thursday, November 15, 2012 9:39:03 AM UTC-5, wayne.b wrote:



Be careful up there, law of gravity still prevails. :-)

With main halyard on the seat, and the spin halyard around my chest, tied off wherever I get to (2 strands), under my arms, I think I'm safe.

The chair is actually quite comfortable and I'm not the least bit put off by heights, so I have a good time, usually, when I go up.

Today was frustrating, though, for a variety of reasons, all of which combine to require me to go back up tomorrow for about the same thing, absent the drilling and tapping of the mounting holes...

L8R, y'all

Skip

"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...
On Thursday, November 15, 2012 9:39:03 AM UTC-5, wayne.b wrote:



Be careful up there, law of gravity still prevails. :-)

With main halyard on the seat, and the spin halyard around my chest, tied
off wherever I get to (2 strands), under my arms, I think I'm safe.

The chair is actually quite comfortable and I'm not the least bit put off by
heights, so I have a good time, usually, when I go up.

Today was frustrating, though, for a variety of reasons, all of which
combine to require me to go back up tomorrow for about the same thing,
absent the drilling and tapping of the mounting holes...



Whatever happened to the mast steps you talked about about a decade or so ago
when you first hauled out?

--
Sir Wilbur

On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:08:34 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

Whatever happened to the mast steps you talked about about a decade or so ago
when you first hauled out?

===

Mast steps are a dangerous way to go aloft in my opinion unless you
use a safety halyard tailed by someone on deck. Steps also have a way
of fouling halyards and ripping sails.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:08:34 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

Whatever happened to the mast steps you talked about about a decade or so
ago
when you first hauled out?

===

Mast steps are a dangerous way to go aloft in my opinion unless you
use a safety halyard tailed by someone on deck. Steps also have a way
of fouling halyards and ripping sails.




Some of what you said is true but it depends upon the style of the mast steps.
My mast steps which I installed myself, one step at a time, fold up out of the
way and they have no sharp edges, don't foul the halyards nor do they rip
sails. But, I've seen some that very well could do all of the above because of
their poor design.

http://www.twinsrecreation.com/Boat-...p_p_81533.html

Mine look just like the above but mine are ABI brand which seems to have been
sold out to somebody else.

As for being dangerous to go aloft on, I disagree. One needs no safety line
tailed by somebody on deck. Why, that's ludicrous from a single-hander's
standpoint. We strive to be independent of some lubberly committee action. It
sure is ludicrous that sailors are willing to accept the lie that it takes a
committee to make one's way safely to the masthead.

--
Sir Wilbur

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote
As for being dangerous to go aloft on, I disagree. One needs no safety
line tailed by somebody on deck. Why, that's ludicrous from a
single-hander's standpoint. We strive to be independent of some lubberly
committee action. It sure is ludicrous that sailors are willing to accept
the lie that it takes a committee to make one's way safely to the
masthead.



If it makes him feel more comfortable having someone there, then so be it.
Who are you to tell him that he can't have someone there? It may not be any
more or less safe, but it's his boat, and his mast.

Maybe if for no other reason than for someone to dial 911 when the body hits
the deck.

"paulthomascpa" wrote in message
...
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote:

As for being dangerous to go aloft on, I disagree. One needs no safety line
tailed by somebody on deck. Why, that's ludicrous from a single-hander's
standpoint. We strive to be independent of some lubberly committee action.
It sure is ludicrous that sailors are willing to accept the lie that it
takes a committee to make one's way safely to the masthead.

If it makes him feel more comfortable having someone there, then so be it.
Who are you to tell him that he can't have someone there? It may not be any
more or less safe, but it's his boat, and his mast.

Maybe if for no other reason than for someone to dial 911 when the body hits
the deck.


Did I tell him he can't have someone there? I suggest you read with
comprehension next time around.

Um, and his *trawler* has no mast (or, if it has a riding sail, the mast is
so short a fall from the top would likely only result in bruised pride).
What makes him comfortable is a non sequitur. He proffered advice
as if he were some sort of safety expert. I set him straight as his advice
was public. I did not hesitate to point out that his concern for safety was
not my concern.

--
Sir Wilbur

On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:18:37 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

Um, and his *trawler* has no mast (or, if it has a riding sail, the mast is
so short a fall from the top would likely only result in bruised pride).
What makes him comfortable is a non sequitur. He proffered advice
as if he were some sort of safety expert.


===

I sailed 3 to 4,000 miles a year for over 30 years, on many different
boats, and have gone aloft just about every way that it is possible to
do so, including free climbing. Based on that experience I feel
somewhat qualified to offer an opinion or two, and I stand by my
original assertion.

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote
He proffered advice as if he were some sort of safety expert.
I set him straight as

As if you were some sort of safety expert?

On Friday, November 16, 2012 12:08:35 PM UTC-5, Wilbur Hubbard wrote:







Whatever happened to the mast steps you talked about about a decade or so ago

when you first hauled out?



--

Sir Wilbur

I found a mate nearly exactly a year ago, in the Vero Beach Cruisers Potluck Thanksgiving dinner flea market, to go with one a Seven Seas member had given me right after our wreck in '07.

My trips up the mast in the last few days have taken me right to the top, so I can't tell where they'd fit under the shrouds, as I can't quite reach far enough to stick them there without fear of dropping them. If they can be high enough to let me stand higher than I'd sit, I'll install them right under the shroud.

Being as large as they are means that the step portion will be fairly low, as the width makes the top of the step start well under the top of the shroud.

Ironically, timing wise, I've just had a note from someone who stumbled on one of my old posts somewhere (not here) looking for this type of step; he has 11, with the guard wire clips. 11's not enough for me, unfortunately, so I'll have to pass. They're NIB, including the advertising of the time, so he's had them for a very long while. If I trip over some others which can make up to a full set, I might install them. However, my trips up and down are a piece of cake with our windlass. Couldn't do that single-handing, of course, but that looks very unlikely.

I've also had a chance to climb a friend's mast equipped similarly to yours, I think. Cast aluminum, raise and turn 90°, and they mount, lift, raise and drop, and they're essentially flush, presenting ~1" or so. I wasn't uncomfortable with them, but the boat wasn't moving, either :{)) The guards outside the Pace Edwards (made in a triangle) minimize the potential for a side-slide, and are big enough for my 14's...

One or two more trips up the mast and I'll be finished up there; I'll see if I can use them on one of the trips now that I'm no longer carrying 25 pounds of tools, too!

L8R

Skip

On Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:30:37 -0800 (PST), Flying Pig
wrote:

On Friday, November 16, 2012 12:08:35 PM UTC-5, Wilbur Hubbard wrote:







Whatever happened to the mast steps you talked about about a decade or so ago

when you first hauled out?



--

Sir Wilbur

I found a mate nearly exactly a year ago, in the Vero Beach Cruisers Potluck Thanksgiving dinner flea market, to go with one a Seven Seas member had given me right after our wreck in '07.

My trips up the mast in the last few days have taken me right to the top, so I can't tell where they'd fit under the shrouds, as I can't quite reach far enough to stick them there without fear of dropping them. If they can be high enough to let me stand higher than I'd sit, I'll install them right under the shroud.

Being as large as they are means that the step portion will be fairly low, as the width makes the top of the step start well under the top of the shroud.

Ironically, timing wise, I've just had a note from someone who stumbled on one of my old posts somewhere (not here) looking for this type of step; he has 11, with the guard wire clips. 11's not enough for me, unfortunately, so I'll have to pass. They're NIB, including the advertising of the time, so he's had them for a very long while. If I trip over some others which can make up to a full set, I might install them. However, my trips up and down are a piece of cake with our windlass. Couldn't do that single-handing, of course, but that looks very unlikely.

I've also had a chance to climb a friend's mast equipped similarly to yours, I think. Cast aluminum, raise and turn 90°, and they mount, lift, raise and drop, and they're essentially flush, presenting ~1" or so. I wasn't uncomfortable with them, but the boat wasn't moving, either :{)) The guards outside the Pace Edwards (made in a triangle) minimize the potential for a side-slide, and are big enough for my 14's...

One or two more trips up the mast and I'll be finished up there; I'll see if I can use them on one of the trips now that I'm no longer carrying 25 pounds of tools, too!

L8R

Skip

The proper technique is to have a canvas tool bucket on one halyard.
Your "safety man" can fill the bucket and haul it up to you. Gets away
from the problem of arriving at the top of the mast only to discover
that you forgot the light bulb :-(

I also use an electrician lineman's safety belt and snap on when I'm
at the work site. It gives you something to oppose the pressure on the
drill bit or the screw driver (and it makes you feel safe :-)

The canvas bucket, by the way, is not only "salty" but doesn't ding
dents in the mast when it swings around.
--
Cheers,
Bruce