Mast steps

[Flossdog]

Has anyone got Mastwalker folding steps on their mast? If so what do you think of them? Are they easy to unfold on the way up and fold on the way down? I have come to the conclusion that steps are the only realistic way up a mast singlehanded! Thanks guys and guyesses.

 

[castaway]

I have Beanstalk steps...They look identical to Mastwalker except made of somesort of nylon rather than Alloy

Mine are great and very easy to fit and climb.

Nick

 

[Flossdog]

Thanks Nick, yes almost same as the Mastwalker. Was a bit nervous of putting my 85kg weight on a plastic fitting but they do say they are guaranteed to 360kg so must be OK. Thanks for saying they are easy to use as this was my major worry.

 

[nimbusgb]

Actually that's 310 lbs they are rated to, only 140 kg!

installation instructions

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Not sure that i would trust my weight, 76Kg, on an alloy step either, especially a fold-out design. There is no telling when they might snap off and the guarantee is not much of a consolation if a casting were to collapse while I was working at the masthead.

I have self-made, self-designed, steps in stainless and my feet cannot slip off sideways. I regularly climb up, sail single-handed, was sixty-two last December and smoke a pipe.

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

I have mast steps and they are terrific when it comes to freeing a halyard which has got tangled behind the mast steps.
I have strung a taut fine line from top to bottom of all the rungs and that helps but-------.
A friend has excellent folding ones but it takes ages to unfold them on the way up and to fold them on the way down.The problem is that you want the steps spacing to be quite near your full stretch. If the boat is bucking ariund, fiddling to unfold each step can be a bit of a one handed dangle---pretty hazardous.
Bad as they are , if your wife cannot easily winch you up the mast you need some sortof solution. Electric winches or using the rope gypsy on the windlass are some possibilities---but.
back to the original question.
Removable webbing mast steps are close to the answer.

PS to Puff... WHAT SIZE ARE YOUR FEET!!!!!!! Have you read about the GIANT in Jack and the Beanstalk???

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

[ QUOTE ]

PS to Puff... WHAT SIZE ARE YOUR FEET!!!!!!! Have you read Jack and the Beanstalk???

[/ QUOTE ]

Size 43 for deck shoes, size 44 for boots. I wouldn't climb barefooted.

Why Jack and the Beanstalk? My mast does not reach the clouds. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Hoolie]

[ QUOTE ]
Why Jack and the Beanstalk? My mast does not reach the clouds.

[/ QUOTE ]
Might do if you're smoking your pipe up there /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

[ QUOTE ]

Might do if you're smoking your pipe up there /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Now there's an idea ...

I wonder if I could rig up some sort of hot-air balloon over my pipe; some webbing to my safety harness ...

Back to the drawing board! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif