Mast Climbing

[alec]

Went up the mast a couple of times to replace a broken VHF aerial and wind flung Windex.

The actual bracket for the aerial/Windex also broke in half and needed replacing also.

This meant that I needed to be up there for some time, and working on the very top of the mast.

Sitting in the bosun's chair, I just could not get high enough to do the work in a reasonably safe position. It seemed to me that if I could stand full stretch the job could be done.

I would welcome any ideas or setup tips that others may have used to overcome this problem.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DAVIDO]

Get a man in my knees knock on the top of a step ladder /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SimonD]

I saw this in PBO some time ago. A piece of three quarter ply about 14 by 10 inches with two holes cut through for your feet. Two cam cleats and a couple of bulls eyes to guide the rope on the centreline. Then thread the topping lift through the cleats, tie off round the boom and tension.

To clime, you put your feet into the holes and stand up. Mate takes slack out of pulling up rope (usually the main hallyard) and you sit down. Then pull your feet up to slide the board up the topping lift; stnd up and repeat.

Dead simple to make and use and takes all the effort out of mast climbing. ANd of course, gives you something to stand up on at the top of the mast.

Simon

 

[Pads38]

If you just need to go "a little bit higher" you could stand up on a prussik loop wrapped around one of the other halyards.

If doing this a climbing harness may be more secure (rather than stepping up out of the bosuns chair).

Pads

 

[KellysEye]

Simplest solution is to put a couple of folding mast steps near the top of the mast.

 

[savageseadog]

Arrange a loop in another halyard to stand in but the main thing is to have a waist sling round the mast enabling you to effortlessly stand with the mast top at about chest level. Use an adjustable buckled webbing sling round the mast and round your body.

 

[mandlmaunder]

there is a loop ladder that attaches to a halyard, use this and uncomfy chair, when at top of seat height stand in the loop for the extra height needed

 

[Amari]

What worries me about sending someone up the mast ( I reckon I'm too heavy and not agile enough - pensioner etc, sob, sob) is the strain on the masthead pulley. Already 1 of 3 pulleys up there is knackered. Is this a concern?

 

[Blue5]

I bought a topclimber for just this sort of application works brilliantly and allows you the extra couple of feet(excuse pun) at the top of the mast /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[alec]

[ QUOTE ]
What worries me about sending someone up the mast ( I reckon I'm too heavy and not agile enough - pensioner etc, sob, sob) is the strain on the masthead pulley. Already 1 of 3 pulleys up there is knackered. Is this a concern?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Very helpful indeed.


I didn't like the thought of going over the top either. 15.5 stone , nearly 60, well used etc.

I seem to extoll the virtue of being broke as a requirement for experiencing the true meaning of sailing...........

Quite enjoyed it actually. Make sure you do it with plenty of people around for the double hard pontoon cred that will probably last for about a week.

Had the bosun's chair on one sheave and harness on another. Would have thought using a block outside of the mast would be too risky. If a sheave breaks I would have thought that the mast gubbins would still hold you ok. But would welcome any thoughts from others.

 

[jeremyshaw]

I used to worry about the load on the sheave when climbing the mast. But I suspect it's much less than the load when you've fully cranked up the halyard, the wind is blowing 20+ and you are wondering about reefing. And, as you say, even if it collapses the halyard is still going through the mast so unlikely to drop you, though descent might be tricky...

 

[wavelet]

My worry is always the tired rivets holding winche to mast. Most people seem to wind the climber up heedless of the risk of the winch tearing off the mast. Backup, failsafe and do what I do - hardly ever volunteer to go up other people's masts.

 

[simon_sluggett]

I rig a petzl ascender fixed to a harness on a spare halyard at the mast. This locks when going downwards to save you if you fall.

 

[thalassa]

Winches tearing off has always been my worry too. I got this from the mountaineering shop fifteen years ago.
Took this pic a week ago with a novice climber. Wife is just steadying the ascent.

 

[Rabbie]

On my SnapDragon my Topclimber don't!. Lucky you. How do you get the top of the mast (say, chest level) at a workable height with the 'grips' in the way?