DIY MastClimber

[greeny]

OK so I finished Mrs G's jobs for the day a bit early yesterday and thought I'd have a go at this. I usually go up the mast with ascenders etc but quite like the look of a mast ladder. Didn't have 50 m of webbing to hand but did have a retired climbing rope in the garage. I used plastic water pipe for the rungs and they seem quite tuff. I made 10 ft of it in 15 mins and hung it in the shed to try.
Ok so the rungs do sometimes lie on the wrong side but they are easily flicked round with the foot when climbing. The pipe tends to ride up the loop so I can fix that in place with tape or maybe hot glue gun.
I tried it without it being anchored at the bottom, just free hanging, but it was easy climb for the first 6 foot. Once I've added sail slides and anchored it at the bottom it looks like being a success.
Am I missing something or is there a reason people use webbing instead of rope.
Any suggestions to improve it will be gratefully received but please don't start telling me about safety lines and winches and all that other stuff these threads usually drift into.

 

[fredrussell]

Looks good Greeny, how will you attach the sail slides to it? I wonder if people use webbing because it’s easier to attach Sail slides with a sewing machine to webbing rather than rope.

 

[LadyInBed]

Looks good Greeny, how will you attach the sail slides to it? I wonder if people use webbing because it’s easier to attach Sail slides with a sewing machine to webbing rather than rope.

I would put a loop of tape around the rope and through the slide, positioned just above the knot.

 

[thinwater]

The real advantage of sewing and webbing is the the steps open on alternate sides of the mast, in an orderly way, so that you don't have to reach down and open them to get your foot in. Very stiff webbing is used, not clmbing tape. My prediction is that climbing these knotted ladders is going to be a major PITA, with the steps facing random directions and not holding still for you to insert your toes. The result will be slow and strenuous.

Additionally, sewn ladders are stowed wrapped an a specific way, to keep the steps orderly. I skipped that step one time and hated myself for it.

 

[goeasy123]

Here's the cutest howto on YouTube and no sewing machine required.

 

[greeny]

Not sure that pink webbing would suit my image.
I was planning to "sew "the sail slides on to the rope with several turns of whipping twine. Not through the rope but round it like a lashing. It could be done through a turn at the knot so the slide was held in position
I agree that getting the rope to form loops on opposite sides is a challenge, but the rope works well otherwise. I'm not sure a webbing would be any better if tied in these overhand knots. Its easy to arrange them to look good in a photo but as soon as you put tension on the ladder, they spin into their natural position even if you tie the knots opposite ways on each rung. Sewn rungs with stiff webbing would probably be much better.
OK so now i need to find a knot that throws the two tails out in different directions, then tie it opposite handed on each step.
Any one know one? Keep it simple please, there's 38 of these to tie.

 

[thinwater]

Obviously tied can work (I would sew).

The width of the webbing is another factor; rope and narrow webbing are hard on the feet. At the very least, consider padding the top pair of steps (there should be a pair level as a working stance--these should place the masthead just above waist level).

Perhaps I have old, tender feet. In fact, I reserve an old worn-slick pair of deck shoes for this, because they slide into the steps better.

 

[gregcope]

I used webbing for many reasons;

1. Less stretch
2. The assumption that the steps will fall correctly either side
3. Not too expensive
4. Easy to sew through
5. Its what they used on youtube!

 

[gregcope]

Re the steps failing each side; the “central” webbing is straight so should help. Also the sail track lugs are each meter on mine so limited opportunity to spin out of place.

 

[gregcope]

@greeny your idea of fixing the pipe To stop it riding up is a good improvement. I did that on mine.

I attached the sail slides with large plastic shackles. See my instructions for which ones.

 

[greeny]

@greeny your idea of fixing the pipe To stop it riding up is a good improvement. I did that on mine.

I attached the sail slides with large plastic shackles. See my instructions for which ones.

Thanks, good idea!
Agree that tape would make the steps lie better, but I'm going to keep experimenting with the rope as that was I was trying to do something different, and I've got the rope already. Just need to find the right knot now.