Going up the mast

doris

doris

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Any advice out there about how to go up the mast of a 36 footer when alone and ofshore. Ellen has mountainering kit but for my humble stick there must be easier and cheaper methods. There will be no shortage of halyards. Any input welcome.
 
I believe that the mountaineering kit is the best way - unless you're really fit and can scamper up the weather luff of the main (but you still have to get down).

Even with mountaineering kit I still need to take a deep breath before climbing my mast in the marina - fortunately I have never needed to go much above the second spreaders at sea.
 
Have you thought of steps rivetted to the side of thr mast? To my mind is the best way - but must be done properly and is probably more expensive than mast ladders etc. There was an article on mast ladders recently in either PBO or ST - can't remember which.
 
If you are preparing to go aloft at sea I suggest you do not try to do it the economy way - as your questions suggest. Climbing gear - two ascenders and a figure of eight abseiller are the minimum in my view and will cost £60 plus whatever length of 9-10mm climbing rope. Get advice from a climbing shop.

This is the way I have done it for some years; it is hard enough at rest - almost impossible in a seaway! It is not just a question of attaching yourself in such a way that the motion of the boat does not bash your brains out, you have to be sufficiently stable when at the required height to actually have a hand free / or even two to perform work. Plastic ladders and all other such devices that may have their place when at rest, are not even to be contemplated when at sea.

Just think of it this way, a fall from even two meters into the boom will probably render you unable to walk again - ever!

Please excuse the heavy warnings - they are meant for your benefit only.

Peter Gibbs
 
There has been a few threads on mast climbing, ladders etc.

If you want to do it on the cheap at high personal risk, learn to tie a

Prusik Loop:

pruss.gif


or better a Kleimheist:

kleima.gif
kleimb.gif
 
I must admit this is a very interesting topic for me as I sail single handed and the climbing kit seems to be the best if less than ideal solution. I will give this a go just to see how well it works. I had already resigned myself to buying a good climbing harness that you can't fall out of if you go upside down and three jumars (or climbing cams). I had thought one strop for for each foot strapped so that your feet can't fall out and attached to a single jumar, one for the climbing harness and one for emergency on another halyard also attached to the climbing harness with a stop around the mast to minimise swing. I am sure it is very slow and difficult but I can't think of anything else!
 
climbing dangers

there have been instances of singlehanders dying through climbing and getting stuck with harnesses or bowlines. if you must i think steps or ratlines are the safest. i have sailed solo offshore and the only way i would consider is steps with perhaps a harness to secure once in position.
 
Climbing lessons = Sensible suggestion!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by aod on 16/12/2002 23:41 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Don\'t!

I'm quite happy going aloft in harbour and regularly do masthead jobs.

The one time I had to do it in open sea though was a different story. Mid Atlantic, regular ocean swell, my partner doing the winching. The action of simply hanging on was absolutely exhausting and though I did manage to change the masthead light I came down feeling like a jelly, and crashed out for the rest of the day. The mountaineers in this thread should imagine climbing their mountain in an earthquake! You would have to be far, far fitter than me to get yourself up solo in those conditions. Too dangerous.
 
Re: climbing dangers

Very interesting subject!
re. the steps riveted to the mast, does anyone have any idea what
sort of weight these are capable of handling? I should imagine the
steps themselves to be capable of handling most mens weight.
But was thinking more of the rivets!
The reason I ask is that have thought about fixing them to my own
mast, but being ever so slightly overweight, I,m big boned o.k,
About 18 stone, 6ft2", I worry about them not beingstrong enough to
do the job!
mike
 
Re: Don\'t!

Couldn't agree more, i had to go up the mast when the spinnaker block exploded, halfway between the cape verde's and barbados, and as you said, you get pretty knocked about, because i needed both hands to do up the shackle on the block i had my legs clamped round the mast, but i was still swinging through an arc of about90 degrees, when i got down i had bruises all over the place, not a pleasant experience and one i could live without.........keith
 
Re: Don\'t!

A lot depends on the person going aloft.... I’m 5’6” only just 10 stone very active tree climbing, roof scaling building type person at nearly 51. I couldn’t imagine my friend who is 16 stone similar height and an office worker doing the same oh! He suffers from vertigo! And sea sickness.

Wishbone
 
Re: Don\'t!

My thoughts as well, although Wishbone also makes a good point. A friend the same age as me, lifelong outdoor pursuits instructor, thinks nothing of climbing a mast without any harness or climbing aid. I regularly climb my mast but it is something I plan and would not consider unless conditions were good. My preference would be to have spare halyards, alternative lighting methods, checked sheaves and blocks, and whatever else is necessary to avoid climbing in adverse conditions. Save it for times in port or at the least in calm conditions.
 
The mountaineering kit the Ellen uses is not particularly expensive compared to the value of your life. I would say go to a climbing shop and get 3 jumars, 3 slings, a sit harness, a chest harness, 3 screw gate karabiners, and a helmet. You could do it with Prussig or Klemheist knots, but it's not worth the risk.

Going up the mast at sea is a deeply unpleasant experience. I have been chosen in the past because I am so thin and stick light and a climber so I'm supposed to like that sort of thing. The worst aspects of it are - sickness (if you get at all sick on deck you have no hope up the mast), cold (if you are being pulled up), lack of communication (you can't hear a thing if there's any wind), painful (getting bashed into the mast), and it's a bit unnerving looking down and seeing sea if the boat is leaning over.
 
Another point not often remembered concerns those with long hair: tie it up out the way!! I once had to rescue a girl abseiling in Scotland who got her hair caught in the descendeur. Luckily she had the presence of mind to hang on to the end of the rope controlling her descent so no harm came of the incident and I earned lots of brownie points!
I would also consider gloves to be important if not essential, at least when you're coming down, to avoid the risk of rope burn.
 
Re: Thanks for the input

Thanks for the input everybody. My mast is currently out and in the rigger's workshop. The cost of fitting folding steps is by no means prohibitive and would seem to be the most sensible solution. All that I would then need is a block taken to the masthead on a spare halyard to provide a safty line, from me, up the top and back down to a jammer. Downside chaps?? You have all frightened the pants off me with the climbing kit!!
 
My climbing chums advise me that the harness's worn by overhead riggers may be more comfortable when you are strapped in and working for some time. They are a bit cumbersome for actual climbing. He is going to contact another chum who does this work to see if we can obtain these rigs and what they cost.
 
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