Raising and lowering the wishbone boom with the halyard and the topping lift? Is it better to keep the haliard between the ladder and the mast. If the ladder is higher than the boom hangers?
I have lowered and raised the wishboom for winter storage with the mast up one time.
I setup an extension ladder on the cabin top aft of the mast.
By climbing the ladder a bridle was secured to both sides of the wishboom aft of the mast. The bridle was then connected to the halyard.
The halyard lifted the front end of the wishboom slightly. The hangar wires were then disconnected from the boom. The lower ends of the hangar wires were lashed to the mast for winter storage. The choker block was then removed from its attachment point at the front of the boom.
The halyard then lowered the forward end of the boom to the deck.
Two people at the aft end of the cabin top can then take the weight of the boom while a third person disconnects the topping lift.
The forward end of the boom can be supported by a board placed in the bow pulpit.
The aft end of the boom can be supported by blocks on each side of the companionway. The blocks support a board that supports the boom.
To raise the boom in the spring, reverse the process.
Ward, or anyone,
Is the halyard kept between the ladder and the mast or is it better to keep it aft the ladder?
Mast-Halyard-ladder
Or
Mast- ladder- halyard
I think you need to raise the boom then setup the ladder.
I raise and lower the wishbome single handedly, annually. The halyard stays against the mast (just as it does when hoisting the sail). When raising the wishbone the ladder is put in place after the boom is at the correct height. The overlap of the halyard and the wishbone is not a lot.. perhaps 2 ft, and the ladder is aft of the halyard.
With the halyard/ topping lift method I use, I cant see how the halyard could ever be aft of the ladder.
A friend captured my installation efforts last week.
Regards
Martin
That approach makes perfect sense. The last two times we did it. We set up the ladder first, and then raised the boom with the Halyard. It was difficult .Thanks for the info Ward and Zeno
Brian Cayer
I’m curious: anyone out there who’s done this with a N26?
I’ve never tried it, and I’m wondering if there’s enough room behind the mast to set up a ladder safely.
-- Bob
Bob,
Are you looking at ‘behind the mast’ as in front of the mast towards the bow pulpit? That is what I thought was said it must be a bout of 6/7
Never mind after thinking thru my 6/7 mind I see you ment distance from the front of the cabin to the mast, duh
Brian Cayer
I can see that you’ve tied the top of the ladder to the mast, but I’m curious how you keep the ladder from rolling off to one side and dumping you into the water?
I don’t think so. Feet on the ground at the base of the ladder and arms outstretched to just grip the ladder is a standard practice I’ve used for years. Makes for a safe angle. There is at least half that distance on the 26.
RonB.