Mast Ladder (Portsmouth or Gosport)

[colin_dev]

Is there a kind person living in the Portsmouth/Gosport area who would be willing to loan me a Mast Ladder?
I have a masthead job to do; but I would like to give a ladder a try before I consider purchasing one.

Colin

 

[Gin]

I was in the same boat as you last year(sorry for the pun) and try as I might I couldn't get a test drive of a mast ladder and also like you didn't want to spend a lump of money on something I couldn't use.

I had tried a nylon/polyester tape caving ladder which was very light but it just had too much stretch in it for me to be able to safely rely on leg strength( I had to use a lot of arm effort and it was frightening in my unskilled status).

I was very much dependent on a trusted person 'top-roping' me in case I fell.

In the end I took the risk of buying a Deffee ladder which uses the mainsail track to hold the device close to the mast and it avoids, thereby, body weight sagging back and becoming dangerous.

It is very much easier and safer but it is bulkier and heavier(not terribly so)and I still feel safer 'top-roped'. Nevertheless I am happy to go aloft with a fall arrester and no 'top-roper'if I must.

 

[Lakesailor]

Just refine your technique.........

 

[colin_dev]

Well, sadly LakeSailor's tip didn’t' work, my daughters are too modest and my son just doesn’t have the body for it.

However we successfully used the ratchet technique described in the thread below, it worked well, so thanks to the contributors.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...true#Post887190


Colin