Climbing up the mast of a sailboat is always an adventure. It is often necessary to be accompanied by a crew member, preferably a (very) strong one, who will winch on the halyard at the end of which you are moored. But what should you do when you are alone (or poorly accompanied)?
There are several solutions to assist you during this manoeuvre. Swi-Tec's remains the most accessible to everyone. With the Mast Lift, there is no need for big arms, no need for special techniques, no risk of falling, the ascent takes place like... in an elevator.
The principle is based on the use of a mechanical winch. These are used in garages to lift heavy loads. It is a winch that multiplies the efforts.
The lift (winch) is sent to the masthead with a halyard. A caulking chair is secured to the end of the winch and an endless rope allows you to climb up or down quietly.
Turning this endless string has only one disadvantage. The gear ratio makes it a little long to get to the masthead, but this slow rise and fall offers the advantage of not requiring any effort.
The Elevator is available in 2 models depending on the height of the mast (less than 13 m and less than 25 m). The endless rope must then be adjusted to the length of the mast. An opening pulley can be installed at the bottom of the mast to facilitate use.
This winch can also be used to lift the tender motor or even to pull a man overboard out of the water. In this case, it must be installed at the end of the boom. As an option, you can even order a short endless rope (4m) which is then installed on the winch.
Sea Tech and Fun, distributor for Swi-Tec products in France, has many accessories to "dress" the winch. Note the neoprene protective cover that prevents the winch from damaging the mast while it is being hoisted or the storage bag.
Tariff 2019 :
- Mast elevator (for masts less than 13 m): 1 270 ?
- Mast elevator (for masts less than 25 m): 1 450 ?
CHARACTERISTICS :
Gear ratio: 1 : 1 : 10
Weight: 6.7 kg
Dimensions: ø = 165 mm; L = 215 mm
Payload: 150 kg
Breaking point: 1,600 kg
Materials: Stainless steel, aluminium, plastic
