Boom Lift Question

[Geoffreykwright]

Hi.  Normally when I or a member of my crew need to go up the mast, i use the spare jib halyard.  As a former rock-climber, I don't really like a single point of failure in a system where lives are at stake.  My question - if I were to briefly disconnect the boom-lift (as a backup line for the person going up) would the boom be okay?  would the vang be able to support the weight of the boom for a short period of time?

thanks in advance.

[Lance Jones]

What about using the main halyard too? That's what I do. So the one going up has a jib and main halyard attached.

[Geoffreykwright]

Only problem is I have a self-furling main - using the main halyard would mean dropping the main first...

[Jim Hardesty]

Two concerns I see.  The topping lift is a bit on the small side. May be just for me.  And, if you use a spare jib halyard and the topping lift you need to stop at the spreaders and remove and reattach the topping lift.   My vang will hold up my boom...barely.  I go to the spreaders then use a short line with an eye, run around the mast, through the eye, then attach with your favorite knot to the d-rings on the bosuns chair.  Idea is loose it will slide on the mast, a tug will tighten the lope and hold.
Enjoy the trip up.
Jim

[Geoffreykwright]

Makes sense....thanks.

[Ron Hill]

Goe : If you have a ridged vang - it should hold the boom in place. 
If you have a MK I C34? your topping lift is strong enough because it's 7/19 stainless cable to about 2ft above the mast.  Not too sure how you'd take up slack in that cable as the person goes up?

I had a spinnaker halyard which we always used as a safety line. 

How many halyards do you have /and what model C34 ??   That's why we always ask for your production year and hull #   

A few thoughts   

[patrice]

Hi,

My topping lift is fixed at the mast top.
The line goes from boom end to a pulley at the end of the topping lift back to the boom end....

It would not work to secure someone going up the mast.

[Geoffreykwright]

Sorry - my model/year/hull used to show in my signature on my posts...

I have a 2000 34 MK II Hull #1494.  My topping lift is 7/16" low stretch line running through a block on top of the mast with a cleat on the side of the mast - it COULD work I'd think in a pinch.  I have a solid (spring loaded) vang.  I have only one spare halyard when my self furling jib and main are up.  I had planned on running another halyard since I have an unused course on the mast for a spinnaker halyard.  In hind-sight, what I think I will do is drop my jib and use both jib halyards (genoa 1 and 2) to go up and feed a spare spinnaker halyard down the mast - then I will always have 2 spares to go aloft in the future.  then no need to test if my vang will hold the boom.

Thanks for all of your advice.

[britinusa]

I'm grateful that our boat came to us with Jib Halyard (furler), Main Halyard, Spinnaker Halyard and a Spare!
So when I go up the mast (really no big deal anymore) I secure two lines at the mast base and use the spare that I attach to my bosuns Seat (it's webbing) and runs back to the cabin top winch where my safety mans the winch.

I use a 3 Prusik knots on lines attached to the seat harness. 2 of them are for climbing the fixed haylard, the 3rd is a safety (just in case my safety crew fell overboard).

If you don't have a spare halyard available, consider adding one when you go up the mast.

Paul