Hello from up there on Canada’s west coast.

Posted by From_Gaming_w_Love@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 12 comments

Sometimes boat issues are easy and other times they are hard.

My wife has taken me up the mast a few times. She’s a real trooper- and strong as an ox.

But it’s a real grind to do alone balancing the main and safety line…

Here’s a shout out to “good Neighbours.” We’re new in this marina so we don’t know anyone but my now new friend Bruce wandered over from across the dock and asked if we wanted some help.

We sure did.

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ComplexQuiet6790@reddit

I think I can see that 10mm socket you need sitting right there next to the winch handle...

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From_Gaming_w_Love@reddit (OP)

Now he tells me!

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From_Gaming_w_Love@reddit (OP)

Yeah I was definitely just along for the ride here.

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Amazing-Border-6168@reddit

Get a hole hawg and a winch adapter. Great investment for going up the stick

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overthehillhat@reddit

Had to go up at a mark rounding

to pry the spinnaker halyard out of the mast-truck

My right angle Milwaukee has a short 110v cord

Good thing we had a couple of Grinder/quahawgers on board

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FreefallGeek@reddit

I dont own a sailboat. Reading, trying to learn, saving for a <25 trailerable boat with a small cabin for overnighting lakes.

Ive seen many "climb the mast" posts and conflicting advice ranging from "go on, just have the right gear" to "its too dangerous, mast cant handle it, etc". Can someone elucidate this subject for me? Does it depend on the size of the boat and therefore the size of the mast? Wouldn't any boat that can move in the wind have a mast be subject to more lateral force than my 220lbs moving straight up the pole?

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From_Gaming_w_Love@reddit (OP)

There's a lot to unpack here but I'll tell you the WORST thing that can happen (unless someone wants to level up):

A few years ago now I was minding my own business doing the thing at the dock and somebody came running down the dock yelling for a person to call 911- someone fell. I'm a fire / EMT guy so I ran in that direction and people pointed the way. I knew it was urgent since I don't think I'd seen anyone run down that dock in 30 years.

I won't get into the whole thing but what I will say is a guy came out of the mast from about 50 feet up... His halyard snapped while he was up there and his wife was minding the winch. Unfortunately the way he landed was with his body on one side of the lifelines and his head on the other. He wasn't decapitated, but darn close. Not much I could do but try to cover him up and wait for EMS.

Anyway- turns out what happened was the halyard he was using had a worn out spot inside the mast that he hadn't seen. I didn't see if he was using a safety line or not... I always do. I also use knots instead of the shackles for no other reason than because I have a super high confidence in the halyard strength- our halyard strength anyway.

So my lesson there was basically if there's a mast tower in your area, abuse it. If there isn't I always run 2 halyards that I have visually inspected with a proper harness (I do rope rescue too so I just use one of those).

Or just spend the money and have a pro go up once so you can see what he does and maybe get some pointers from him. Each setup is going to be a little different... But the SAFEST way is going to be a mast tower.

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DaMangIemert@reddit

Hello from Olhão, Portugal

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From_Gaming_w_Love@reddit (OP)

Ola!

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SkiBigLines@reddit

Bonjour from the Atlantic

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From_Gaming_w_Love@reddit (OP)

lol you win.