Mast Ladders - without vitriol, please

Robin2

Robin2

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I enjoyed the recent altercation under the heading of "Working Up the Mast". However there was rather more heat than light ...

I want to get a mast climbing ladder. What makes have forumites used? and would they recommend them?

I read in a 2002 PBO article about a Deffee ladder - are they still available?
 
i have tried a stainless steel climbing ladder and i found it just about impossibe to use and that was while the boat was on a cradle.the important thing is to have something which is safe easy to use and can get you to work above the top of the mast.the Topclimber is one option but i bought a climbing harness and equipment for about 80 pounds and it works brilliantly. i would recommend this option every time
 
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Topclimber is one option but i bought a climbing harness and equipment for about 80 pounds and it works brilliantly. i would recommend this option every time

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Any chance of some more info please.
 
I have used a Deffee mast ladder and was surprised how easy it was to use - I don't usually do heights. Because it is more vertical than you would normally use a ladder it is probably slightly harder on the arms than a 'normal' ladder. It folds up into a small roll, about the same size as a sleeping bag. The treads are a hard plastic and the method of construction seems good.
 
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How much did it cost? Unfortunatly no price on the website.....

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You need to download the order form/price list - about £140 for 30ft

John
 
I use a

climbing harness in preference to a bosun's chair BUT

How does one get up when single-handed?

I use a mast ladder - purchased from Hurst in their previous apothesis - and in use for 15 years.

In 1993 it cost me £120 for a 12.5m mast.

It's made of heavy-duty orange tape, slides up the mast groove on plastic slides, attached to the main halyard at the one end and fixed to the reefing horn at the other.
 
So what happens if the sail is stuck in the up position - no slide available to stop the ladder swinging?

Personally I am going to fit steps to the mast - not pretty but always there!
 
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So what happens if the sail is stuck in the up position - no slide available to stop the ladder swinging?

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Hoist the ladder tight to start with, and take about 10 short lengths of cord to tie round the mast and ladder as you go up.

John
 
Bit difficult if the sail is up, one of my reasons for choosing steps, the other was the fact climbing up the front or back of the mast was equally easy.

At the end of the day they are all compromises, and we should probably be able to have all options.
 
Yup, fantastic. Got one for my yacht about 10 years ago, used it plenty of times. Again, was about 120 pounds, wouldn't know current price. Highly recommended!
 
I am sure these things work OK but IMHO nothing beats proper mast steps. They don't have to look ugly either as Bartons (and probably others too but mine are Bartons) fold up flat against the mast when not in use and never snag anything. As others have said they have the advantage of being able to go up either the inside or the outside of the mast which is handy, especially if a halliard jams with the sail up. If you wear a fully harnessed bosuns chair too you can sit down for a rest when you get there and have both hands free for the job and crew does not have to sweat buckets winching you up. It also helps you swing clear of obstructions like the radar antenna on the way up and down apart from the security aspect.
 
Some do I think. The Barton ones don't though as they have a nylon washer either side of the step between it and the channel it sits in. They take a bit of wiggling to get them out and put them away because they fit fairly tightly in the channel but that has the advantage of ensuring they don't rattle.
 
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