Force 4 Mast Steps any good?

DangerousPirate

DangerousPirate

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They are cheap, but even though I try to not spend a lot of money, I don't want to buy rubbish either.

Catalogue Code: 850112


Anyone bought them? Did you keep them or send them back? What was wrong with them? Do lines snag a lot on them when they're folded?
 
DangerousPirate said:
They are cheap, but even though I try to not spend a lot of money, I don't want to buy rubbish either.

Catalogue Code: 850112


Anyone bought them? Did you keep them or send them back? What was wrong with them? Do lines snag a lot on them when they're folded?
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that these are the ones that I fitted to my main mainmast quite a few years ago. They are good, well made and fit for purpose. I drilled the holes for the fastening rivets out to 6mm, and used 6mm monel rivets, but realistically, the 5mm as supplied is fine.
My halliards are all internal, so nothing to catch, but with care they would be OK. You might want to wear gloves for going up and down, as the teeth are quite aggressive.
I was a bit younger and probably fitter when I fitted them, and arranged them at 500mm centres. I now wish that I'd made that maybe 450mm. Your datum has to be the spreaders, and fit two at an appropriate height for working on items at the mast head. You won't regret fitting mast steps.
 
Make sure you consider getting onto the mast steps. If room allows fit low down as well. On my mast they start above the halyard winches, jamers and I need to use the pendent winch (on back of mast below gooseneck), and granny bars to step up to the first step, which is a pain.
 
NormanS said:
I'm pretty sure that these are the ones that I fitted to my main mainmast quite a few years ago. They are good, well made and fit for purpose. I drilled the holes for the fastening rivets out to 6mm, and used 6mm monel rivets, but realistically, the 5mm as supplied is fine.
My halliards are all internal, so nothing to catch, but with care they would be OK. You might want to wear gloves for going up and down, as the teeth are quite aggressive.
I was a bit younger and probably fitter when I fitted them, and arranged them at 500mm centres. I now wish that I'd made that maybe 450mm. Your datum has to be the spreaders, and fit two at an appropriate height for working on items at the mast head. You won't regret fitting mast steps.
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Oh, I know I won't regret doing that. I have a mast ladder but it just isn't that comfy, and you always stuggle at the top to fit around the wires.

My friend has steps on his boat and they were fantastic, I lost touch and moved countries so it's not possible to find out which ones he has. But undoubtedly expensive ones.

I plan to fit them at 50cm as well. I measured a comfortable step height for me. Guess my legs are just longer.

Thanks for your inout. Much appreciated :)
 
RunAgroundHard said:
Make sure you consider getting onto the mast steps. If room allows fit low down as well. On my mast they start above the halyard winches, jamers and I need to use the pendent winch (on back of mast below gooseneck), and granny bars to step up to the first step, which is a pain.
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True. I actually thought to start at the bottom all the way to the top (or, well as high as nessecary to get the mast tip at chest height to work comfortably)

But steps are an eye watering investment.. Hence why I am considering the cheapest ones I could find. 20 quid each cut the cost down by a few hundred pounds once you have 30-35 steps.
 
My current bot has a plastic / resin / composite set of folding mast steps. They are brilliant. Folded out the way cause no issue; this morning my main halyard was “fouled” on one at the mast head - being so slim profile one shake of the halyard and it was free.

I don’t think I’d own a boat without mast steps these days. Makes popping up the mast a trivial task. Stick on the climbing harness, Get my wife to belay me up on the clutch as I scamper up to do whatever.
 
Minerva said:
My current bot has a plastic / resin / composite set of folding mast steps. They are brilliant. Folded out the way cause no issue; this morning my main halyard was “fouled” on one at the mast head - being so slim profile one shake of the halyard and it was free.

I don’t think I’d own a boat without mast steps these days. Makes popping up the mast a trivial task. Stick on the climbing harness, Get my wife to belay me up on the clutch as I scamper up to do whatever.
Click to expand...
Which ones are that? Sounds good
 
DangerousPirate said:
They are cheap, but even though I try to not spend a lot of money, I don't want to buy rubbish either.

Catalogue Code: 850112


Anyone bought them? Did you keep them or send them back? What was wrong with them? Do lines snag a lot on them when they're folded?
Click to expand...
I fitted them to our mast and they’re fine. They’re sometimes a bit stiff to fold and unfold but never so bad I can’t do it by hand. All mast steps catch lines if you’re not careful. The main halyard as you’re about to hoist is the usual culprit. Especially if you’re manoeuvring and it’s flapping around in a stiff breeze. I’ve always managed to flick it clear off the step(s) it’s caught on when we’re head to wind and ready to hoist.

As already mentioned, put two either side at the top to stand on while working at the masthead.

I use them regularly to go up and check the rig. I’ve even replaced rigging using them.
 
john_morris_uk said:
I fitted them to our mast and they’re fine. They’re sometimes a bit stiff to fold and unfold but never so bad I can’t do it by hand. All mast steps catch lines if you’re not careful. The main halyard as you’re about to hoist is the usual culprit. Especially if you’re manoeuvring and it’s flapping around in a stiff breeze. I’ve always managed to flick it clear off the step(s) it’s caught on when we’re head to wind and ready to hoist.

As already mentioned, put two either side at the top to stand on while working at the masthead.

I use them regularly to go up and check the rig. I’ve even replaced rigging using them.
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So I am looking at the topic again and I think I will go with these. I just wish someone had done a review on them on youtube but can't find anything....

Do they still catch lines when they are folded?
 
DangerousPirate said:
So I am looking at the topic again and I think I will go with these. I just wish someone had done a review on them on youtube but can't find anything....

Do they still catch lines when they are folded?
Click to expand...
As cost is a significant issue for you, perhaps you should look at these: UV-stabilisierte Nylon-Maststufe, zusammenklappbare Stufe aus Verbundwerkstoff - AliExpress 34

In your shoes, I'd order one or two of these and test them myself. Fit them to a post at home, stand on them, jump on them, fold and see if they are likely to unfold by themselves......
 
Aeolus said:
As cost is a significant issue for you, perhaps you should look at these: UV-stabilisierte Nylon-Maststufe, zusammenklappbare Stufe aus Verbundwerkstoff - AliExpress 34

In your shoes, I'd order one or two of these and test them myself. Fit them to a post at home, stand on them, jump on them, fold and see if they are likely to unfold by themselves......
Click to expand...
I mean, I can buy slightly more expensive models, I am just not sure if it's really necessary? Plastic for example, I wouldn't trust. Or "nylon". Some steps are 200 quid EACH wow.
 
DangerousPirate said:
So I am looking at the topic again and I think I will go with these. I just wish someone had done a review on them on youtube but can't find anything....

Do they still catch lines when they are folded?
Click to expand...
Yes they still occasionally catch lines when folded, but I’ve always managed to flick them off and regain full control of the line.
 
The only downside with plastic steps might be degradation of the plastic by the sun. I would personally look for metal ones if they exist if starting afresh with fitting. Clearly others on this post have not encountered any breaking steps but it’s slightly alarming when it happens -they fail at the lugs attaching to the part fixing to mast .
 
ashtead said:
The only downside with plastic steps might be degradation of the plastic by the sun. I would personally look for metal ones if they exist if starting afresh with fitting. Clearly others on this post have not encountered any breaking steps but it’s slightly alarming when it happens -they fail at the lugs attaching to the part fixing to mast .
Click to expand...
They're cheap china, so I don't really trust those at all.
john_morris_uk said:
Yes they still occasionally catch lines when folded, but I’ve always managed to flick them off and regain full control of the line.
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Okay, I think I know what you mean. I am getting ready to order one soon to get a feel for it. Any other models considerable, let me know.
 
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