Mast climbing harness

When I was in La Trinite a few months ago, the boat behind me was going to send a young girl (presumably because she was small and light, and didn't know any better) up the mast in one of those dreadful Plastimo seats.

I could see that she wasn't comfortable in it (frightened of falling out the back) but carried on as she didn't know any better and trusted the others that it was safe.

I was watching and wincing as they hoisted her up, and at about the first spreaders I felt that I had to interject. I insisted that they got her down, and put her in her my Crewsaver seat, which is about 100 times safer.

She couldn't believe the difference and thanked me afterwards. It was clear that the others on the boat (especially the skipper) knew that that the Plastimo seat was not safe and would not go up in it himself. I thought it was dreadful that he would let a youngster go up in it, knowing that it wasn't safe.

The following day, I had 2 other people come over and ask to borrow my seat, so the word must have got about.

Climbing the mast is bloody dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.
 
When I was in Boulogne a large Catamaragne came in. A group went aboard & a party ensued. A young girl about 10 years old proceeded to climb the halyard with no visible form of support. When she got to one of the spreaders she walked out to the end, holding on to nothing, & sat down, as in a huff. A while later she was called down for food & immediately climbed up again, but this time to the second spreader & repeated the operation, sitting there like a seagull eating the food in the middle of the spreader for a good 30 mins. A tin of drink to one side, which would have killed someone, if it had been knocked off. Nobody below seemed to care a jot.
 
pandos said:
For use climbing a mast it is not going to be subjected to the type of stress that a fall whilst climbing would exert on the harness...

I use an old petzel harness I bought for climbing probably 30 years ago and it is still perfect albeit not the most comfortable...the cheap one on the link looks attractive but I will probably just find someway to add padding under the legs.

I am frequently amused watching youtube of guys climbing masts and the number of variations on the same theme strikes me every time...
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I would use my old climbing harness but first I need to lose 3 stone
 
pandos said:
... I will probably just find someway to add padding under the legs....
Click to expand...

I've been an active rock and ice climber for 40 years and have lots of harness. The simplest and most effective way to add padding is to cut a 5" x 8" piece of firm foam from one of the exercise/weight room tiles and secure to the inside of the underside of the leg loop with duct tape. So comfortable, and easy to remove before you go to the crag! You probably have one in the garage.

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northwind said:
All this worry over harnesses, all, you need is a plank of wood...
Listen to the creaking sounds when he goes over the edge.. Oh and spare a thought for the cameraman.
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Clearly a few years back.

With all of the cell phone and wind towers, this is all in a day's work for many. Actually rather relaxing after a while, since no one bothers you, and the scenery is great. The unfun part is if a thunderstorm comes up, common in many parts of the US. The tower is well grounded, so if you are far enough up the safest bet is to find a comfortable spot and strap in (they sway a good bit).
 
I actually like the Lazilas Professional bosuns chair because it adjusts to a snug all around fit and yet still allows good movement and is comfortable for an extended time at the top.

I've never timed myself up the mast but just found this video. It's one and a half minutes long and I spend about a minute of that time waiting for slack to be taken up on the safety lines both at the start and at the lower spreaders. It looks like about 35 seconds to climb the forty nine foot mast.

One drive - Jubilant mast climb video

I didn't stand on the radome. I just used the bracket to give me a head start on the second part of the climb. I think I got to the top whilst they were still taking in the slack in the halyards.
 
Martin_J said:
I actually like the Lazilas Professional bosuns chair because it adjusts to a snug all around fit and yet still allows good movement and is comfortable for an extended time at the top.

I've never timed myself up the mast but just found this video. It's one and a half minutes long and I spend about a minute of that time waiting for slack to be taken up on the safety lines both at the start and at the lower spreaders. It looks like about 35 seconds to climb the forty nine foot mast.

One drive - Jubilant mast climb video

I didn't stand on the radome. I just used the bracket to give me a head start on the second part of the climb. I think I got to the top whilst they were still taking in the slack in the halyards.
Click to expand...
Video won't run. Does now!

Something to do with upper arm strength?
Respect!
 
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