Rope ladder - bargain!

CaptainHogwash

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There's a company selling a handful of traditional rope ladders like this on eBay. Apparently they have half a dozen or so left in stock as a result of an over order by a company that cleans giant oil tanks or sumfink. (No metal ladders allowed in the tanks in case of sparks.) They seem to be popping a couple at a time on eBay where they're selling for peanuts, so it might be worth contacting the seller and doing a deal direct if you need/want one. No connection - I just collected mine today and it's a proper bit of kit!

Now, has anyone got any tips for climbing the things with a power drill in one hand and a vhf antenna bracket in the other?
 
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Feet round back

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What, while stood on a ladder???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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Now, has anyone got any tips for climbing the things with a power drill in one hand and a vhf antenna bracket in the other?

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It looks difficult enough carrying nothing and with the upper end fixed to something stationary. See here.

As a matter of interest [to me anyway] how much space does it occupy when rolled up and how heavy is it?
 
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Feet round back

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What, while stood on a ladder???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

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Yes! Strangely enough, that is the 'correct' way. See the video to which TwisterOwner has linked.
 
My ladder is the 20m version. Haven't weighed it, but I'd estimate 25-30kgs. It's rolled up loosely in a very big sack at the moment, so not sure how tightly it will stow yet either - although as I'm planning on splitting the ladder in two (I only have a 28ft mast) it shouldn't be too much of an issue. Anyway, for £14.99 I'm not complaining.

Before I attempt to climb it, I'm thinking of lashing one of the lower rungs along the boom - close to the mast - so the aft edge of the ladder will be presented in such a way that I can ascend as per the video link while still facing the mast. Possibly lashing the other side of the ladder to the mast at a couple of points on the way up to aid stability.
 
30kgs! Blow me down, that's more than my engine! Hope you've got a good supply of spinach on board!
 
I was also interested in this - and would have cut it in half, the intention being to stow it onboard. However, when I mailed them and asked "how heavy, how big".....I received this response:

Hi
Unfortunately, we don't have a weighing machine at our warehouse, but it is quite heavy. When rolled it fills one of cages (similar to a supermarket cage used by staff to fill up the shelves). Sorry, I can't be more help but this item is at our Dagenham warehouse.
Kind regards
Simon

Think I'll be looking at other means of mast climbing! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Haha - they must have meant it would fill the bottom of a supermarket cage. (Unless they just tipped it into one without rolling it up first, I suppose. But it is only two bits of 20m rope and some sticks,after all...)
 
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