Over the years, I have climbed many different rigs in varying conditions and would like to give you some ideas as to how to operate safely aloft. How you get up a mast will vary depending on how big the mast is, how many crew are available to help, what winches are available and who will be operating them. Your own safety and comfort should be your main concern.
If you are not comfortable / confident, the job will only be made more difficult.
Prior to climbing or being hoisted up a mast, there are some essentials to consider.
Nº1. will always be your safety, followed by the safety of others on board.
Check that the line you will be using to go aloft is clean, free of chafe and has a fair lead. (Not fouled around stays, radar brackets, light fittings etc).
A line going through the mast is always more secure than a fully external halyard which should be avoided unless no alternative is available
Make secure to your bosun’s chair / Harness, using a secure knot.
I mostly use a short bowline with the long tail which is then passed back through the neck of the knot. The tail of any knot should be in turn secured (taped up if necessary)
I often use a locking carbine between the line and my chair, primarily when a halyard with thimbles, splices and snap-shackles will not necessarily pass through the rings on my chair. Any snap-shackle will then be secured to the ring or used aloft as a secondary securing line.
A harness is good for a quick inspection but a bosun’s chair is a lot more comfortable if staying aloft for any length of time. A straight forward chair is often more user friendly and less restrictive than the “Bucket type” often sold in chandleries… But that will be your choice.
Whatever the scenario, you must feel comfortable and be able to move about freely, many bosun’s chairs sold are far too restrictive, they have many pockets which are not in an adequate position, the side straps are too high and you end up with a bowline / shackle right in front of your face, seats are tough nylon for wear resistance which makes them slippery, back straps may restrict manoeuvring round the rig.
Carry a secondary line, which can either serve as a security strap (Clip / Make fast to any fitting available so that if for some reason your halyard is let loose, you stay aloft) or so you can clip to a stay to help stabilize yourself if working on spreader ends etc.
Beware of shackles, unless seized they can be dangerous…
Avoid using snap-shackles, both fixed and with swivel eyes
(most are designed so as to be releasable under load)
Avoid talurit eyes on wire cables, (although strong there is no way
of checking their integrity)
When you use a carabiner, use only ones with a barrel lock and make sure it is locked.
Check you have all necessary tools to carry out the job you are going to undertake and also that they are all readily accessible and secured (there is no point in throwing everything in a bucket if you can’t reach things easily and we also want to make sure they do not fall out whilst aloft.)
A second Halyard has often been recommended, but this involves having a second person tailing it, and also means they will have multiple lines to contend with.
Running a Cam lock on a short line up a Static halyard can resolve this if you feel it necessary…
Remember to always capture the line inside the joining carabiner.
Mast steps are good if working along the centreline of the rig. You still need somebody in attendance and should use either a harness or bosun’s chair. Your assistant should tend your halyard even if you actually do the climbing. They are your backup and your safety.
Never go aloft on a halyard operated by captive winch system.
If going aloft on a powered winch never use a self tailer, instruct whoever is assisting you to haul you manually even if using the powered winch to actually do the pulling. They must remain in control manually in case the winch does not stop. They should operate the winch controls with their foot whilst keeping both hands on your line. Any crew helping get you aloft should be more than familiar with the winch being used and know how to operate it without looking at it. Their eyes should be on you at all times.
Make sure your assistant understands whatever hand signals you intend giving them. Shouting STOP from the top of a mast will probably be heard in the bar across the jetty but not necessarily 25m below you on deck.
On tall rigs, consider the weight of the halyard, whilst in the rig both sides are equally weighted but as you go up, is the downward leg heavier than you??? If so your climb will gradually accelerate until you slam into the masthead sheave…. It will also be very difficult to pull yourself back down the rig.
If in doubt, attach a downhaul / brake line.
Have confidence in the person hauling you up, make sure they know how to secure the halyard once you are aloft, (recommend a tugboat hitch on winch followed by making off on a cleat, do not rely on mast jammers or self-tailer jaws.
Make sure they know how to let you down smoothly, keep well clear of any winch and ease you down hand over hand without dropping any turns off the winch. A jerky ride may snap your chair, or crush parts you do not want crushed if using a harness.
To enable this, once you are secured aloft, your assistant should flake out the halyard so it will run smoothly and without them having to look at it… Their eyes should be on you at all times.
When Aloft, make yourself comfortable and prepare your work. Clip a secondary backup line to somewhere convenient such as the spinnaker crane, genoa halyard swivel unit if at masthead, or to a stay if working away from the mast. This helps keep you in place without the need to hang on with your toes.
Handle tools with care, preferably have them lashed or loop a line around your wrist so they stay where you want them to be.
Before descending, recover all your tools, check they are secure in either a bucket or clipped to you. Remove all extra securing lines after your assistant has prepared your descent. Call to be lowered smoothly until you reach the deck. Don’t swing about the rig like a monkey, guide yourself down…
The bottom line is:
You should be in full control of your safety.
- It is up to you to decide whether to go up the rig.
- You decide who will assist you, if you are not confident don’t do it.
- It is up to you to ensure those assisting are up to spec.
- Make sure they know that your life is in their hands.
CJD
All nice and clear Chuck
I will try to remember it all.
steve