Ladders

[CreakyDecks]

Is it safe to lean a ladder against my mast? I forgot to wire the shrouds to the spreaders and I don't really want to lower it if it is safe to just nip up on a ladder. They are only about 12 or 13 feet up from the cabin roof. The boat is on its trailer.

 

[Boathook]

I can't see a problem as long as it is well secured to the mast and the foot is also tied down. My main worry would be the top only balanced in the centre and if you lean to far out. You could always use a safety harness connected to a haliard to give some support to you if the ladder moves.

 

[Habebty]

Yep, tie the bottom to stop it sliding away and secure the top when you get there, and use a safety harness in case the ladder still slips. as mentioned previously really. A fall from 12 feet could still get messy if you land on something pointy.
I've used a ladder and a lot easier to work from. (Try also wrapping a damp chamois around the the top rung to protect the mast and stop the ladder slipping sideways)

 

[Sailfree]

Ties a rope on each side of the ladder going round the side and top rung for security. Raise ladder tie off ropes going to the top on either side of the mast as tight as possible to toerail/winch/bow fitting so that the ladder is prevented from sideways movement by these ropes acting like mast shrouds. Tie bottom to bottom of mast to prevent it sliding away.

If you want to be extra secure use main halyard around yourself/bosuns chair/harness as a fall preventer.

While I think a lot of H & S is bull sh it - falls from ladders and heights is probably one of the most common accidents and with fore-though avoidable

 

[CreakyDecks]

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't really thinking of having the ladder vertical against the mast, but thinking about it that might be a safer way than leaning it on from the side deck - a bit less lateral force. I'll use the main halyard as a safety rope. (Or if there's no wind I'll just drop the mast!)

 

[Twister_Ken]

falls from ladders and heights is probably one of the most common accidents and with fore-though avoidable

Yes, and no. Somewhere there's YouTube clip of an H&S guy demonstrating how to use a ladder safely. Unfortunately the ladder falls over.

 

[Billjratt]

I'd spend a bit of time jacking the trailer off it's springs/wheels and possibly take a masthead halliard to a strongpoint on each side of the boat before going aloft. (if you've not got enough halliards, hoist the centre of a long rope to the masthead).
As for the ladder, standard precautions apply - but the mast will be floppy if you've got some of the standing rigging in your pocket...

 

[CreakyDecks]

Using a halyard as extra support on the side I climb up on is a good idea, I hadn't thought of that.
Incidentally those who fancy the idea of trailer sailing might like to consider that I'm going to be messing about with a ladder mainly to avoid towing the boat ten feet forwards to clear the tree that is behind it, which I have to do to lower the mast. That's how much of a pain it is manipulating a 21ft boat onto a tow hitch!

 

[vyv_cox]

It is now 14 months since I fell no more than four feet from a ladder that was not supported. I leaned too far to one side, one leg of the ladder collapsed and I fell to the ground, breaking both of my heels. I can walk with difficulty a maximum of a few hundred yards, in pain throughout. The fall has completely changed my life.

I still climb ladders but I ensure that they are fully supported. I advise you to do the same.

 

[MudShipper]

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't really thinking of having the ladder vertical against the mast, but thinking about it that might be a safer way than leaning it on from the side deck - a bit less lateral force. I'll use the main halyard as a safety rope. (Or if there's no wind I'll just drop the mast!)

Bear in mind that it is more comfortable working from a ladder at the correct (1 in 3 or 4) angle. Vertical ladders can be very tiring to work from.

 

[WilliamUK]

Yes, and no. Somewhere there's YouTube clip of an H&S guy demonstrating how to use a ladder safely. Unfortunately the ladder falls over.

...which reminds me of the video of a cop giving a "don't mess with guns" talk to a class in a school.
He made a mistake and shot himself in the leg.

All credit to the guy though, before limping out of the room for a fast ride to the nearest hospital he turned it into a "See how accidents can happen? Don't mess with guns!" lesson for the shocked, terrified kids in the room.

Less likely to cause you to bleed out, but still - "experts".