Climbing the mast

[pcatterall]

I need to go up the mast soon and thought I would test my mast climbing gear (bosuns chair and two 'ascenders').
I dont propose to do this for real on my own but thought I would just practice. Method was to use one ascender on the chair and one on foot loops, moving up the unloaded ascenders in progression.
First mistake was to put the foot loop ascender on one halyard and the seat on the other which meant that each upward movement was very small due to having to take up the rope stretch ( about 12" of stretch and only 6" of real climb!)
Second mistake was not testing the coming down bit before getting all of 10' from the deck, because of the stretch in the ropes I couldnt push the ascenders far enough up to free them so there I was well stuck.
Third mistake was to try this in full view of the sunday afternoon crowd who were all admiring my skills, I think there was a bit of cheering as I uncliped all and slid down the mast, the cabin roof never felt so good!!
Anyway I think that with assistance things will go better. I plan to climb with both ascenders on one rope which will thus always be in tension and use the crew to man a safety rope onto the chair. I guess that the crew could also lower me to avoid climbing down. The other thing I will do is to use a short line between the two foot loops to keep them on one side of the mast.
Any other ideas ( do it at night when no one can see you??)
Cheers Peter

 

[philip_stevens]

[ QUOTE ]
Any other ideas

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, send this post to Jake Kavanagh for inclusion inside the back page of PBO.

But, we all make mistakes and usually in plain view of others. This is our practical boat owner learning curve.


Glad all was OK in the end.

 

[windlipper]

There's a company that make webbing ladders attached to sliders that can be pulled up the mast via the track with the main halyard. What I did was use these but also used a bosuns chair as a backup which was controlled by swmbo during both ascent and descent. Perhaps a bit of "overkill" but it didn't half reduce the pulse rate and blood pressure (for both of us)

 

[Ruffles]

Attach the chosen halyard to the kicker mast attachment point with a bowline. Then apply some pre-tension to it on the winch. Don't forget to cleat it off!

I tend to run a prussik up a second halyard as a backup.

 

[Appleyard]

[ QUOTE ]
There's a company that make webbing ladders attached to sliders that can be pulled up the mast via the track with the main halyard. What I did was use these but also used a bosuns chair as a backup which was controlled by swmbo during both ascent and descent. Perhaps a bit of "overkill" but it didn't half reduce the pulse rate and blood pressure (for both of us)

[/ QUOTE ] I have one of these it's called the "get up mast ladder" and is advertised in PBO ..We use it as described above and makes climbng and descending the mast a doddle. An excellent piece of kit and stows away in a small pack.

 

[FAITIRA]

Good Idea!!! and don,t be ambitious with each lift, short lifts each time and it, effortless.

 

[wooslehunter]

Instead of two ascenders, I have 1 ascender & something called a Prezel Stop. This is like an ascender but it also allows you to absiel down.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Deefee Ladder

Buy a Deefee ladder, best thing Ive ever used.

No connection just a happy customer

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Ditto.

I have a mast ladder, and on the one occaison that I had to go up the mast in the Scillies, I used my bosun's chair as safety, along with the wife who kept the spinni halyard tight.

Having completed the task, I suddenly wondered whether she was able to undo the clutch to ket me down.

Fortunatley she was able too, and I got down safely.

 

[Amulet]

I have a Topclimber

http://www.topclimberinternational.nl/

I think its a yachtie customisation of what you are trying to DIY. It works OKish, but it's not as easy as their demo video.

The problem is always the last half metre of height which would enable you to really sort out windex etc. above the top of the mast.

Probably better than ladders when you have a tiny boat with limited stowage - like mine.

I seem to have to go up the mast 4 times a season.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Hints from practical experience using ascenders and a figure of eight ring for descending/abseiling:

1. You will be much more stable if you use a dedicated climbing rope, suited to the ascenders -usually 10mm or slightly less. Your life hangs on this so a professional rope is not too much to pay for. Haul it up on the main and secure real fast.

2. Use a short piece of wood - 2 x 2 in by 18 ins will do as your foot piece - Secure it via a short piece of stout rope to the lower ascender. You will be so much more stable on this, when working at the masthead. Take a lifevest tether - with stout carbine clips - on the job and you can stand on the bar, and secure yourself to the mast, and work safely with both hands free.

3. The upper ascender is attached to the bosum's chair of course.

4. I use a figure of eight abseiler on a separate piece of 10mm rope to descend. Transfer your load to this when up the mast, cast off from the foot bar and run the rope round your leg to maximise braking on the descent. You need to practice this a little - then you are totally free of assistance, and are really much safer when descending under your own power. I wince when I see "helpful folks" lowering climbers by slipping round the winch - it's really dodgy.

If you want more, PM me.

PWG

 

[PeterGibbs]

The problem is always the last half metre of height which would enable you to really sort out windex etc. above the top of the mast.
___quote___________________________________

I know what you mean. Adding to my post above: using a tether, taking it round the mast so as to lash yourself in comfortable working proximity, and standing on the wooden bar I describe, you will be able to get your head and shoulders comfortably above the masthead, with hands free.

The problem with the proprietary web-based mast climbing gear is its inherent instability. I have worked hard to reduce this - at 14m above deck in my case, I just have to!

PWG

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks guys, lots of useful tips there. I am not especially keen on 'rope' ladders. I could borrow an electron ladder from my caving club (wire sides and steel rungs) but I find even this a bit difficult when up against the mast.
I would like to get a couple of rungs near the top of the mast to give a stable 'platform' for working on the top.
Thanks all
peter

 

[jimi]

Don't bother with a bosun's chair get a cheap climbing harness and attach one ascendeur to the belay loop. use a footloop to stand up, the ascendeur on the belay loop will run up the rope, raise footloop and repeat process. You can use this method in reverse to come back down, beats faffing about with a fig 8, or even better use a grigri (or petzl shunt) and ascendeur (but grigri's expensive and its use learnt proerly, I've only got one cos I do a lot of sport climbing).

 

[ColinR]

I tried the system you are describing. Nightmare. My climber friend who had advised me apologised when he tried it. Have a look at this link http://www.hurst-marine.co.uk Its a webbing ladder with slides that fit in the mast track. It makes climbing the mast easy and you can do it single handed.

Colin

 

[Appleyard]

That's the one I was describing. Paid for itself first time out.