I have a 33 and regularly go to the top of the mast. I have some pictures if it helps the discussion. There are two sheaves and rollers but only one is used on Mistofellees, with no second output at the base of the mast. I don’t see a way to use that roller externally. I have a blooper line attached on a hanger from the front of the mast and I have installed a flag halyard on the smaller external block. I don’t use either as the main method to ascend the mast but do use the blooper line as a safety. My halyard running resistance is quite high and the attachment shackle quite heavy so the ability to run free to the top of the mast seems limited, but not impossible with some of my overzealous crews from the past. Obviously a parted halyard or torn off headboard would be a whole different scenario at sea! Hope this helps.
I have a 33 and regularly go to the top of the mast. I have some pictures if it helps the discussion. There are two sheaves and rollers but only one is used on Mistofellees, with no second output at the base of the mast. I don’t see a way to use that roller externally. I have a blooper line attached on a hanger from the front of the mast and I have installed a flag halyard on the smaller external block. I don’t use either as the main method to ascend the mast but do use the blooper line as a safety. My halyard running resistance is quite high and the attachment shackle quite heavy so the ability to run free to the top of the mast seems limited, but not impossible with some of my overzealous crews from the past. Obviously a parted halyard or torn off headboard would be a whole different scenario at sea! Hope this helps.
I’m 6’3” and a weight of 185 lbs. Yes movement at the top of the mast is decidedly unnerving and I would only do this at the dock. Even if someone steps on or off the boat down below the movement is significant at the top. I have a safety line that is on a sort of loop that I tighten around the mast as I go up, its attached close to the bosun’s chair and keeps me close to the mast. I use that, combined with my legs wrapped around the mast to stabilise the whole situation. The mast is narrow at the top so a leg wrap helps but pulls you in close if you are working close to the top, but sometimes I need to push back to get access or room to move a tool. My idea with the loop is that if anything fails and I am still attached to the loop it will slow my decent as the mast gets wider on the way down and certainly I would come to an abrupt halt at the boom hangers rather than the deck! The mast bends a lot under my weight as I pass the centre point of the outer curve and there is tendency to swing out from the mast. I’ve thought about using the topping lift and main sheet tightened in to take up some of the movement but figured that was just adding to the stress points so let the whole thing go slack while I ascend. It’s all quite exciting, but something I’ve got used to. Hope this helps, Tim.
I’m 6’3” and a weight of 185 lbs. Yes movement at the top of the mast is decidedly unnerving and I would only do this at the dock. Even if someone steps on or off the boat down below the movement is significant at the top. I have a safety line that is on a sort of loop that I tighten around the mast as I go up, its attached close to the bosun’s chair and keeps me close to the mast. I use that, combined with my legs wrapped around the mast to stabilise the whole situation. The mast is narrow at the top so a leg wrap helps but pulls you in close if you are working close to the top, but sometimes I need to push back to get access or room to move a tool. My idea with the loop is that if anything fails and I am still attached to the loop it will slow my decent as the mast gets wider on the way down and certainly I would come to an abrupt halt at the boom hangers rather than the deck! The mast bends a lot under my weight as I pass the centre point of the outer curve and there is tendency to swing out from the mast. I’ve thought about using the topping lift and main sheet tightened in to take up some of the movement but figured that was just adding to the stress points so let the whole thing go slack while I ascend. It’s all quite exciting, but something I’ve got used to. Hope this helps, Tim.
My 30U had a 2nd sheave at the top of the mast when built. Many years ago I had the yard at which I was wintering add the 2nd halyard. The exit hole for the 2nd halyard is positioned on the starboard side of the mast, at the identical height of the original which is on the port side. For all intents and purposes the exit hole appears to be exactly the same size as the original.
We added a turning block to the starboard side of the mast-block-collar as there is an identical ‘platform’ for it that matched the original on the port side.
Added a new line-organizer to the forward end of the coach top and another fairlead (midway back) to keep it all in place.
Added another rope clutch to the starboard side coach top. Having the rope clutch gives the ability to lock down the 2nd halyard, remove from the winch, and then be able to work the toping lift, the choker, and/or the reefing lines which are all on the starboard side on my boat. The original halyard is on the port side.
I have used the 2nd halyard a number of times when going up the mast. We use it as a back-up to the main halyard. When being hoisted on the main, port side halyard, the person hoisting me takes up slack on the starboard side 2nd halyard so if one fails, the other will stop me from falling - at least that is the thought process!
I use a rock climber’s harness to go up the mast. For some reason bosun’s chairs make me very uncomfortable… I have no issue with the climbing harness.
Yes, since a Nonsuch has no stays to grab on to when doing mast work, I, like Tim mentioned, use a short length of rope around the mast, along with my legs, to maintain position. There was a time or two when I didn’t do this, the boat rocked from side to side (my old marina had a terrible wake problem from passing ferries) and out I went, swing in the breeze like Peter Pan - my son thought it quite funny… honestly, it was a lot of fun (back then)!
The 2nd halyard has also come into play on occasion when lowering the boom… I can be hoisted up to the proper height on the main halyard, loop the 2nd halyard around the forward end of the boom and close the shackle around the 2nd halyard, lift the 2nd halyard slightly to take the weigh off of the hangers, detach the hangers and then lower the boom easily to the deck.
I have not yet had to use the 2nd halyard to raise the sail or chase the main halyard.
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30 Ultra 430
Jersey City, NJ
I wonder if it is possible to keep a light messenger line on the second sheave tightly secured inside the mast and on deck and have it available to run a new halyard should one lose the original. The one concern would be that if it would interfere inside the mast with the original halyard preventing dropping or raising the sail.
This is real information that all makes sense. For me to add a extra halyard even if I never had to use it I would know I could kinda like a life raft had a few Thru the years never had to use them , just in case. Thanks
For the photos. One last question how much do you weigh I am 241lb and I watch the top dancing about in the winds I just wondered.thanks
James P. Moores
I have a 33 and regularly go to the top of the mast. I have some pictures if it helps the discussion. There are two sheaves and rollers but only one is used on Mistofellees, with no second output at the base of the mast. I don’t see a way to use that roller externally. I have a blooper line attached on a hanger from the front of the mast and I have installed a flag halyard on the smaller external block. I don’t use either as the main method to ascend the mast but do use the blooper line as a safety. My halyard running resistance is quite high and the attachment shackle quite heavy so the ability to run free to the top of the mast seems limited, but not impossible with some of my overzealous crews from the past. Obviously a parted halyard or torn off headboard would be a whole different scenario at sea! Hope this helps.
That’s how I have mine rigged. I have never had an issue with the two internal halyards fouling each other but I do keep the small messenger line under tension with a shock cord.
