I have a good friend who is seriously contemplating buying a Mariholme Folkboat26. In doing their due diligence, questions arose concerning the standing rigging and how to check it on a smaller boat like this. How can they check upper mast fittings, shrouds, sheaves and the like? Binoculars, or zoom-in on a camera? Nothing beats checking up-close and personal, so will the mast bear say 75-80 kilos in a bosun's chair for a close-up check?
Glad for any input, particularly concerning using a chair. Thanks

Gday Azure - sure the mast will have no issues with the weight BUT you should not go up an old mast in a bosun's chair - it is because you have no idea of the state of the halyards. I go up on my own boat's halyards with no issues, because they are over specced for humans and because I maintain the boat. If it was me I would check to see if I could run my own rope through the main halyard system, by whipping my own good spectra 8mm or so line onto the tail of the main halyard and pulling it through. Then I would be happy to go up on my own rope. At the end I could put it all back.
Get some one who can pull themselves up the mast too. IT is a real pain to have to winch someone up the mast - but then again I am always the guy going up the mast.

cheers

Phil

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Kankama said..
Gday Azure - sure the mast will have no issues with the weight BUT you should not go up an old mast in a bosun's chair - it is because you have no idea of the state of the halyards. I go up on my own boat's halyards with no issues, because they are over specced for humans and because I maintain the boat. If it was me I would check to see if I could run my own rope through the main halyard system, by whipping my own good spectra 8mm or so line onto the tail of the main halyard and pulling it through. Then I would be happy to go up on my own rope. At the end I could put it all back.
Get some one who can pull themselves up the mast too. IT is a real pain to have to winch someone up the mast - but then again I am always the guy going up the mast.

cheers

Phil

Just to ad to that excellent advice, use the main halyard as long as it's internal. Then if the sheave fails it does not matter quite so much!

And use a safety line. ie. A second line on the bosuns chair.

Agree with all above, if possible if it's not in a sheltered location perhaps move it to one, moving the centre of gravity upwards on a wee little boat like that could be an interesting experience

Tie to a wharf and use a long ladder,
Save time in the long run.
Cherry picker would be better but pricey.


gary

Why not use a drone?? You can take still shots and save video for later perusal.
The only advantage to being physically up the mast is being able to jiggle a few things.

Hello Mike

To go back to the start - how old is the mast manufacture and hence original sheaves/sheave boxes and through bolts and rivets of their securing to the mast? Is there any galvanic corrosion between these and the mast evidenced? Should be clear from the deck with binoculars.

What is the sailing history of the yacht?

Is the buyer wanting to comprehensively insure the yacht? If so the norm for most insurance companies is that the standing rigging needs to be less than 10 years old (suggest leave aside whether this is needed or not for the purpose of this discussion).

The seller should know what age the standing rigging is - so get this factual answer. CorrosionX spray on all standing rigging and fittings is highly recommended.

For fittings and sheaves I cannot imagine any accurate inspection being possible without the mast being removed from the yacht and placed horizontally on the dock and being thoroughly visually inspected including one of those rectangular 3x magnifying glasses if they are still able to be purchased. Thorough cleaning of debris and coating deterioration and any corrosion (eg on 304 stainless fittings) needs to be removed before such inspection. NDT examinations would be recommended depending on your funds.

NDT surface crack detection kits are readily available but they must be in their use by date. Not for standing rigging but for fittings and bolts.

Thanks to Phil, Rob, and everyone for the good advice. The boat has been used mainly for racing - running gear is only months old, standing rig has been kept in good order & is insurable, sails are excellent, boat history is known, and its moored in a protected bay. I also have the gear to mast climb safely.
Looks like its totaly reasonable, so up we go!

Ps, Hey Cisco- thought about a drone, but ive crashed too many!!

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cisco said..
Why not use a drone?? You can take still shots and save video for later perusal.
The only advantage to being physically up the mast is being able to jiggle a few things.

I tried to drop a fishing sinker with line on down my mast a while back with a drone. To pull a lost halyard through. It nearly nearly nearly worked. The drone I used wouldn't stay steady enough and I had to swing it a bit. But I bet a good one could.