Safety Aloft- Tang Removal

[pacej001]

Dear Riggers,

I need to replace the upper tangs on my mast. They are held in place by a 3/4" bolt running through the mast, so both upper shrouds have to come off to unbolt and remove/replace the tangs.

What is the safest way to secure the mast head laterally well enough for me to do the work up there? I've thought of rigging a loop around the mast head box, tying it to the disconnected shroud eye with a bowline, and tensioning with the turnbuckle. (note: my boat is an old Tartan 37 and the mast is keel stepped.)

Sure would appreciate thoughts on how to do this job safely.

J. Pace
Honolulu

[Brian Duff]

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS JOB YOURSELF. THIS IS A JOB FOR AN EXPERT RIGGER.


An expert rigger choose a calm harboar and calm day. Then that rigger will go below, make sure the mast step is sound, then check the partners, make sure the mast itself is okay, the chainplates sound. keep the lowers and intermediate shourds tensioned and tuned. these control points will stablize the rig. Then that rigger would loosen off the backstay to just hand tight to remove the compression from the upper section. Now a rigger can remoove the upper shourds and have a stable rig to replace the tangs.


Why are you replacing the tangs? What about the tang bolt and compression tube? how are you going to secure the tang nut? Etc?

[matt the rigger]

Mr. Duff is absolutely correct in his info on this one

[Robbie.g]

Sounds like a mast out to me, if your to do the work your self.
This kind of mast head work insitu is the place for a pro, although i'm sure that if you have a tang issue then it will probably be not isolated to just the uppers, and probably not the only issue to be addressed on the mast par-se ; mast out is the way, why put yourself in danger?
I add my vote to the previous chaps.