single
Well-Known Member
What do others use to go up the mast when single handed?
Climbing the mast.
- Thread starter single
- Start date
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
Webbing ladder hoisted in mast track, and climbing harness with prusik knot on different halyard as safety line.
CaptainBob
Well-Known Member
Lost a lazyjack line halfway up my mizzen the other day. Improvised using two prusiks to bosun's chair, and a third below as a standing loop for a foot. Worked surprisingly well but amazing how high it felt. No spare halyard for backup but it felt very safe.
Need to go to the top of the main to install an led anchor light next. Petrified.
Need to go to the top of the main to install an led anchor light next. Petrified.
William_H
Well-Known Member
I certainly would not go up a mast just to install an anchor light. Surely a portable or temporary light will do well. Hoist it up to a suitable height on a halyard or flag halyard. In fact many believe a lower level anchor light is more easily seen than a high one.
good luck olewill
TradewindSailor
Well-Known Member
I use a Top Climber. The Top Climber allows me to get high enough to work on the equipment at the top of the mast and my hands are free for using the tools. Using at sea can be a problem though as one hand is usually necessary to keep the motions down and stop minor collisions with the rigging. If I ever feel the need to complain I think of Ellen McArthur when she climbed the mast of Kingfisher? alone and at sea.
I really have no qualms whatsoever in climbing a mast. On a cruising boat it is necessary, especially for checking over the rig and renewing chafing.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I think ascending the mast ( on a boat where it cannot be lowered easily of course)is something a skipper should do so that if they have to do it in anger at some stage they at least can get over the height issue
First time up the mast is always daunting & the method used really ought to be practiced in a relatively safe environment
( if 15 metres up in the air hanging on a piece of string can be termed a safe environment)
Years ago i was at the top of my mast & the wooden bosuns chair snapped. Fortunately the ropes holding it passed under the seat so i just dropped 9 inches. However, the 2 bits of wood nipped my a..se & i was screaming in agony until i was lowered.. when playing cricket .2 weeks later,the local round table granted me a " runner" . It caused some mirth but not from me. The visit to hospital was also embarrassing
First time up the mast is always daunting & the method used really ought to be practiced in a relatively safe environment
( if 15 metres up in the air hanging on a piece of string can be termed a safe environment)
Years ago i was at the top of my mast & the wooden bosuns chair snapped. Fortunately the ropes holding it passed under the seat so i just dropped 9 inches. However, the 2 bits of wood nipped my a..se & i was screaming in agony until i was lowered.. when playing cricket .2 weeks later,the local round table granted me a " runner" . It caused some mirth but not from me. The visit to hospital was also embarrassing
KAL
Well-Known Member
A mastaclimba with petzl ascendeur on the ascent rope to go up, with another ascendeur on a belay/descent rope alongside. To come back down, a Petzl 'stop' descendeur on the belay/descent rope, with the ascendeur as a belay on the main rope. Not as confusing as it sounds....
Skylark
Well-Known Member
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
A mastaclimba with petzl ascendeur on the ascent rope to go up, with another ascendeur on a belay/descent rope alongside. To come back down, a Petzl 'stop' descendeur on the belay/descent rope, with the ascendeur as a belay on the main rope. Not as confusing as it sounds....
Thanks Kerry;- your trial was obviously a success!
I make the same offer to "single". Send me your details, I'll send you a MastaClimba to play with and see what you think. (They never come back!).
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NormanS
Well-Known Member
Fit mast steps, either fixed or folding. Simples.
A
angelsson
Guest
Heights petrify me also, usually get someone else to go up for me, have tried but get halfway and freeze.
single
Well-Known Member
Does no one use ascenders?
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
"Does no one use ascenders?"
I have probably more experience of techniques for mast climbing than most others.
Ascenders, Petzl and the like, are OK, they do the job but they are uncomfortable especially on the feet if they rest in straps. Climbing harnesses are better than bosun's chairs because you tend to fall out of the latter when your body stretches straight when stepping up. Conversely, in my experience, harnesses are not as comfortable as chairs after arriving and working. I confess to worry over rope wear with the Petzl but others have said it is not a concern.
Descending is ponderous. A better way to descend is by abseiling (on a second line).
The best method I found was with the ubiquitous board and cam cleats. There can still be a problem coming down but that can be overcome. This was the inspiration for our own Rolls Royce version!
There's a couple of MastaClimbas in Cardiff, one with a professional rigger. It would not be appropriate for me to disclose the owners details but asking around would probably source opinions.
I repeat my offer to send you one on a trial.
I have probably more experience of techniques for mast climbing than most others.
Ascenders, Petzl and the like, are OK, they do the job but they are uncomfortable especially on the feet if they rest in straps. Climbing harnesses are better than bosun's chairs because you tend to fall out of the latter when your body stretches straight when stepping up. Conversely, in my experience, harnesses are not as comfortable as chairs after arriving and working. I confess to worry over rope wear with the Petzl but others have said it is not a concern.
Descending is ponderous. A better way to descend is by abseiling (on a second line).
The best method I found was with the ubiquitous board and cam cleats. There can still be a problem coming down but that can be overcome. This was the inspiration for our own Rolls Royce version!
There's a couple of MastaClimbas in Cardiff, one with a professional rigger. It would not be appropriate for me to disclose the owners details but asking around would probably source opinions.
I repeat my offer to send you one on a trial.
dolphin
Well-Known Member
"Does no one use ascenders?" - i am using two ascenders, one for the foot and one for the harness on 12 mm rope and one safety line 10 mm. both lines are dedicated only for this service - going up the mast! for descend - using figure of 8, a very useful device for quickly descend. have used figure of 8 on both lines, either on main, either on safety line, work well on both. for more comfort during climbing, i am using heavy working shoes.
first time was a scary one but after, was a routine one !
re:anchor light - i am using a led light hoisted up to spreader and can say that the position do not obscure the visibility and is more practical for approaching boats than the one on the top of the mast. the only problem is that need to hoist up/down !
first time was a scary one but after, was a routine one !
re:anchor light - i am using a led light hoisted up to spreader and can say that the position do not obscure the visibility and is more practical for approaching boats than the one on the top of the mast. the only problem is that need to hoist up/down !
KAL
Well-Known Member
Please read my post!
CaptainBob
Well-Known Member
Take your point about light being better lower down but does that not at some angles become invisible due to the mast.
Anyway the main thing for me is that we're at anchor most nights, living aboard, and I hate having wires trailing all over the place - would be lovely to just flick a switch. There's loads of light at night where we anchor routinely anyway so visibility for us is not really an issue - more compliance.
PS. Sorry for thread drift!
Back to ascenders - use prusiks instead. Preferably kleimheist knots IMO. That way you don't need additional kit - they're easier to descend with than ascenders anyway - and you can knock something up to climb a rope given a couple of bits of decent chord in a locker. I've used both for mountaineering.
I wouldn't want to have to transfer load to a separate device for descent - seems prone to error and overly complex if the situation becomes stressful.
Anyway the main thing for me is that we're at anchor most nights, living aboard, and I hate having wires trailing all over the place - would be lovely to just flick a switch. There's loads of light at night where we anchor routinely anyway so visibility for us is not really an issue - more compliance.
PS. Sorry for thread drift!
Back to ascenders - use prusiks instead. Preferably kleimheist knots IMO. That way you don't need additional kit - they're easier to descend with than ascenders anyway - and you can knock something up to climb a rope given a couple of bits of decent chord in a locker. I've used both for mountaineering.
I wouldn't want to have to transfer load to a separate device for descent - seems prone to error and overly complex if the situation becomes stressful.
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antares
Well-Known Member
I just bought a Deffee mast ladder which has turned out to be an excellent investment. You can easily get up and work right over the masthead and have already managed to install a masthead tricolour and it's great having the confidence to be able to tackle anything else which might crop up at the top.
single
Well-Known Member
Sorry, must have missed that.Just what i was thinking.Where is the best place/type to get?
tokoloshe
Well-Known Member
Yes, with a caving seat.
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
What's a caving seat? Sounds promising.
