Mast Ladders

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I am thinking of purchasing a mast ladder, It's not often one has to go aloft but when one does it requires the full co-operation of the crew and confidence of the skipper (me) I have read the article on the subject (PBO) but I do not know anybody who has used one to confirm the findings. Questions, Are they realy worth investing in, and has anybody had any problems in using them. Maybe I could pick up a cheap second hand one!!
The trouble is my yard charge an arm and a leg to provide the hoist. 2 missions aloft would easily cover the cost of a ladder. Any readers with comments re good or bad experiences would be most appreciated. Ta

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[snowleopard]

don't even think about a second hand ladder, you will have no idea of what abuse it has received and you're betting your life on it!!

the most important thing is to make sure it stays close to the mast and doesn't wander around in mid air. i believe the tape-loop type have luff track slides for that purpose.

some people swear by the plastic folding type. i would be nervous about so many separate links to fail but they seem to work ok as boarding ladders so i guess they're stronger than they look.

i have a pair of climber's 'jumars' which grip the rope. used in conjunction with someone below on a winch to haul up the bosun's chair it works quite well. it's a good way of getting up with a weak crew on deck.

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[suse]

http://www.gdeffee.freeserve.co.uk/

These sound pretty good (ie NOT stirrups, but a hard plastic step), and had a very good write up in one of the mags (cant remember which) a few months ago. I havent quite bought one yet, as my mast sliders are bigger than those illustrated on the web site, and I havent discussed this with Mr Deffee, but I'm tempted ...

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[roger]

I have and use the webbing loop type. You have to specify the mast sliders to fit your mast. Mine works fine. I'd hate to use it at sea especially as you have to take the mainsail down.
PBO geve instructions some years ago about mast steps made out of stainless steel strap - a DIY project. This might be suitable for you.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[nordic_ranger]

Saw one used this afternoon looked ideal and easy to use. Not for me though I'm scared of heights.


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[max]

I use a webbing ladder which I think is called Hurst mast Climb. It fits into the luff track slide and is hauled up by the main halyard.

I go up single handed without difficulty using a device which I bought from a climbing shop as safety (its a jamming device you attach it to a harness and slide up any available halyard).


I wouldn't want to go up it at sea, but I imagine that goes for any of the available devices.

The webbing loops are uncomfortable on the feet if you do not wear hard soled shoes

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[jfkal]

I got steps fixed all way up. Sure footing even in a storm. Would not want to dangle aloft in a webbing ladder

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[sailbadthesinner]

PM stingo
he has just fitted mast ladder to his boat

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>I can't walk on water, but I do run on Guinness</font color=red>

 

[Guest]

There is of course the old trick of ...

using a halyard and large sack of gear on the other end .... You in a bosun's chair on one end of the halyard, the other end tied to a large sack of gear a few kilos lighter than yourself. The weight of the sack coming down helps pull you up. But its lighter than you so you can come back down again !! OK so there's a little more to it than that .... loops and pendants etc. + rock=climbers locking bits etc. - but I think you get the idea ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[pvb]

You\'re probably too young....

...to remember Gerard Hoffnung, aren't you?

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[Guest]

Who ??? nm

*

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[pvb]

Thought so! (nm)

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[Guest]

Adm. Seamanship Manual Vol ....

but of course we can always pull out the old Cheque Book ... eh ???

Just to enlighten the few ..... the post quoting an old seamans method of assisted climbing was as a pointer and obviously needs the other bits such as guys and preventers ...... having seen and actually used the method - I can in all truth say it works and certainly kept my money where it can be better used .....

You want to use some linked together plastic ... go ahead mate - at least with tried and proven seamans methods the strength and risk of the method is down to the user's skills..... not some fancy Korean / Taiwanese Plastics factory.

So maybe next time I use it ..... I'll post a date and time on the forum so that you un-believers can watch !!!!

Lighten up mate - life's too short to be so clever !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Guest]

But of course you may mean this guy ...

Gerard Hoffnung was born in Berlin in 1925 and went to London in 1939 as a schoolboy refugee. Although he died at the early age of 34 years, he achieved in his short life enough to fill a whole series of lifetimes. Artist, teacher, cartoonist, caricaturist, musician and tuba player, broadcaster and raconteur, a much sought after speaker at the Oxford and Cambridge Unions and prison visitor, a Quaker - these were all facets of a creative personality.


Unfortunate choice really ......

I'll leave you to play with your cheque book then .....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[jmp]

Re: You\'re probably too young....

Remember it well---One of the funniest!

Still have a recording of course.

Some readers may care to be enlightened.----Has anyone a script and the ability to paste onto a post.

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[jmp]

By the way a short time ago saw a picture of a yacht with a conventional ladder,presumably hoisted with halyard & lashed at the bottom .
May be another way to do it alone !
Hardly a permanent or portable solution however.

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