Mast Climbing again

[cpedw]

This topic has been discussed several times recently, and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=pbo&Number=448621&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post448621> here as well as <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=pbo&Number=341270&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post341270> here </A>.
I'm early 50's, 14 stone, not that unfit but recently found it difficult to ascend 13m using our 6:1 MOB recovery tackle and best beloved operating the safety line.
Among the choices discussed in the previous threads, 3 likely routes appeared (I don't think I could handle the rock climbers' jammer things) - the , the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.lyon.co.uk/showitem.asp?Id=151> Fibrelight rope ladder and the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hurst-marine.fsnet.co.uk/> Getup ladder</A>. They each cost about £150 for our 13m mast.

I'd be interested if anyone has comparative experience between these products or knows of something else that would make mast climbing similar to climbing the stairs.

Thanks for your interest,

Derek

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[SlowlyButSurely]

I have seen it done with a very long ladder. the bottom was placed on the foredeck and the top rested against the mast just below the headbox. The top was secured by a halyard and a plank was lashed across the bottom of the ladder and tied to the stanchions either side to stop it twisting. It looked very easy compared with a bosun's chair!

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[CLP]

Don't be put off using climbing ascenders and descenders. I'm in my 50's too and use them to go up my 13m mast with very little effort. It's also great fun abseiling back down again.

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[mirabriani]

As said ladder is one way.
It is sometimes possible (depends on keel type) to dry out in a suitable position to use a shorter ladder.
Alternatively find a yard with an access crane.
Good luck Briani

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[Talbot]

The system that is least effort, but does need a second person, is the halyard and bosuns chair lead through to your electric windlass (that has a warping drum) If you are starting to find mast climbing that little bit more than you want to do, then heaving the anchor in is also probably getting more than the back wants (that was my excuse)

But be prepared to go up the mast a tad quicker than you are used to /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[Ric]

Have you seen the Swiss-tech mastlift?
Go here then use your nose to navigate to the mastlift page.
http://www.swiss-tech.com/homeus.html
I had a go at the Paris boat show and it is a doddle to use.
Downside is that it is very expensive - quite a few hundred squid IIRC

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[charles_reed]

As I'm certainly older (and possibly heavier) and have to do most thing single handed I bought a Maststep ladder which goes up the mainsail groove. I use this about 3 times a year, but confess the last 1m or so of my 14.49m mast have tended to be a little challenging of late.
Speaking from memory it cost £232 in 1995.


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[AndrewJ]

A bit different and never used it myself, but I've heard of securing a 50 gallon drum to a halyard and hoisting it up the mast with a garden hose affixed. turn on the water and secure yourself to the other end of the halyard, as the water fills the drum, it'll hoist you up the mast. A slight problem occurs when you want to come down in that you should have some method to remove the water from the drum, slowly would probably be best, or another halyard to abseil down. I understand this procedure did raise some eyebrows at the marina it was demonstrated at.
(If you do it, let me know how you got down.)

regards...

<hr width=100% size=1>The only easy day was yesterday

 

[Robin]

Many years ago I remember there was a very funny American comedian, his name escapes me, that had 45rpm records of his act, one of which was describing something very similar but related I believe to using a load of bricks to get to the top of a house? The bit I especially remember went something like '' and halfway up I met the bricks coming down.....'' He did another about smoking in the form of a conversation with Sir Walter Raleigh, ''don't tell me Walt, then you stick it WHERE and set fire to it?''

What WAS his name?

Sorry about making flippant remarks on PBO..

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Tomsk]

The Sick NOte

This has become a very common Irish / folk song - called The Sick Note:

Dear Sir I write this note to you to tell you of my plight
For at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly grey
And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today.


Whilst working on the fourteenth floor,some bricks I had to clear
To throw them down from such a height was not a good idea
The foreman wasn't very pleased, the bloody awkward sod
He said I had to cart them down the ladders in my hod.


Now clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below
But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me.


And so when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.


Well the barrel broke my shoulder, as to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head
I clung on tightly, numb with shock, from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half the bricks, fourteen floors below.


Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more
Still clinging tightly to the rope, my body racked with pain
When half way down, I met the bloody barrel once again.


The force of this collision, half way up the office block
Caused multiple abrasions and a nasty state of shock
Still clinging tightly to the rope I fell towards the ground
And I landed on the broken bricks the barrel scattered round.


I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst
But the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst
A shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope
As I lay there bleeding on the ground, I let go the bloody rope.


The barrel then being heavier then started down once more
And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor
It broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say
That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today.


<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

Can I leave the planet please.. this one is broken!

 

[Robin]

Love it!

That is so very close to what I remember from about 35/40 years back though the American one was not in verse, must have the same origins!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

The original

scene occurs in E E MacDonnell's "England Their England", published in 1935 and was used to gre at effect by Gerard Hoffnung in some of his after-dinner speeches.

Even better than that scene is the village cricket match.

The book is probably out of print now, if you do get hold of a copy, do not read it in a public place - your immoderate hilarity will cause onlookers to doubt your sanity and even call for the men in white coats.

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[Robin]

Well done that man

Yes it was Gerard Hofnung! You have just saved me hours of mental torment. I think I might have heard something based on the cricket one too, at least I am not alone in having a warped sense of humour.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[boatless]

Re: Well done that man

I thought that the bricks one was Stanley Holloway, and the Walter Raleigh was Bob Newhart?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Robin]

Oh shoot...

Now my mind is in turmoil again, Bob Newhart I certainly remember so I wonder which one it really was! Someone, some sad person out there must know, even still have a copy of the EP.....

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Tomsk]

Re: Oh shoot...

I think this will answer your deliberations:

THE BRICKLAYER'S STORY
by
Gerard Hoffnung
(from his Oxford Union speech)



I've got this thing here that I must read to you.
Now, this is a very tragic thing... I shouldn't, really, read it out.
A striking lesson in keeping the upper lip stiff is given in a recent number of the weekly bulletin of 'The Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors' that prints the following letter from a bricklayer in Golders Green to the firm for whom he works.

Respected sir,

when I got to the top of the building, I found that the hurricane had knocked down some bricks off the top. So I rigged up a beam, with a pulley, at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple of barrels of bricks.
When I had fixed the building, there was a lot of bricks left over.
I hoisted the barrel back up again and secured the line at the bottom and then went up and filled the barrel with the extra bricks.
Then, I went to the bottom and cast off the rope.
Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was heavier than I was and before I knew what was happening, the barrel started down, jerking me off the ground.
I decided to hang on!
Halfway up, I met the barrel coming down... and received a severe blow on the shoulder.
I then continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers jammed in the pulley!
When the barrel hit the ground, it burst it's bottom... allowing all the bricks to spill out.
I was now heavier than the barrel and so started down again at high speed!
Halfway down... I met the barrel coming up and received severe injury to my shins!
When I hit the ground... I landed on the bricks, getting several painful cuts from the sharp edges!
At this point... I must have lost my presence of mind... because I let go of the line!
The barrel then came down... giving me a very heavy blow and putting me in hospital!

I respectfully request 'sick leave'.



<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

Can I leave the planet please.. this one is broken!

 

[Robin]

But then...

This is the stuff of legends!

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/bricks.htm>http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/bricks.htm</A>

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[cliff]

Re: The Sick NOte

English plebe. Go away in short jerky motions and commit illegal acts upon thine self
May your path never cross mine cos I ain't giving, way and my crew. Mr Remington, wants a word with you.

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[boatless]

Re: Oh shoot...

I've got a few Bob Newharts as mp3s, happy to send you 'Tobacco' if you pm your email address.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[cliff]

If you have to climb the mast then send the girl - that's what I pay crew for!

Are you that mean you don' t pay your crew for maintenance!

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