Solo mast climbing

[Daydream believer]

I once watched an eldery fellow ( in his 70's)row out to his boat with an extending ladder he used for painting his house fascias
He stood the base of it in the cockpit
Hoisted the extension out with the halliard & the proceeded to climb as it it was the most normal thing in the world
A number of us stood gobsmacked on the shore wondering who would call 999 first

At the other end of the age scale I watched a large catamaran arrive in Boulogne.
There was a party of about 15 people aboard & a young girl ( about 10-12 years old) climbed the halliard- bare footed-, & stood on the spreader
She then proceeded to walk out from the mast & stopped half way without holding mast or shroud
She then proceeded to have a chat with someone on the pontoon without a care in the world
Over the weekend she did this several times & nobody aboard seemed to care in the least

 

[SteveSarabande]

If i had an extension ladder and a roof rack that would be my first choice, as long as i was tied to a pontoon

 

[pandos]

This looks like a good ides, the only problem is the link to the halyard, if that fails its curtains.

That's why I link both lines to both the halyard and the topping lift.

Using a climbing rope is safer because if you fall it will absorb the shock load, and it will not tension to the point that it is difficult.

 

[estarzinger]

Have you considered using a grigri instead of one of the jumar's?

Here are some pics of what I do:http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/mastclimbingpics.pdf, although they are a bit out of date since I just switched to the bigger "commercial version" of the grigri (called the "RIG" I think). I am also playing around at the moment with foot ascenders, used a lot by tree workers.

I use same system, but add a figure of eight for absailing down afterwards.

Double end a climbing rope and haul it to top of the mast connected to both main halyard and topping lift.

Tension one line and leave the second one free,

Attach the figure of 8 to the loose one.

Jumar up a few feet on the tensioned line. stop, take a rest, pull the loose line through the figure of 8 and tie off.

......

 

[eddystone]

Have you considered using a grigri instead of one of the jumar's?

Here are some pics of what I do:http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/mastclimbingpics.pdf, although they are a bit out of date since I just switched to the bigger "commercial version" of the grigri (called the "RIG" I think). I am also playing around at the moment with foot ascenders, used a lot by tree workers.

This is broadly the system I intend to use and have just been taught how to do it at a local climbing wall. My only question is how to attach the static line to the halyard or do you use 2 halyards, and where do you tie it off at deck level. Also I want to use a second static line for stability.

 

[pagoda]

This looks like a good ides, the only problem is the link to the halyard, if that fails its curtains.

I have been experimenting this weekend, i have a harness, two petzl ascenders, belay device and assorted slings. I also bought a 25m static line which i used to climb on, this is less stretchy than the halyard.

I watched a few youtubes, one called ropewalking which made ascent easy, but with a tensioned line abseiling wont work. I found using ascenders to descend very hard and slow.

My problems were:
1. The tensioned rope pinned the rope to the mast making sliding past the radar reflector, steaming light difficult.
2. It was awkward keeping feet in the slings, i saw some adjustable leg loops on google that would be better.
3 if i left the trailing end loose then jumaring was really tough.

I need more practice and I think mast steps might be the better option singlehanded

Going downwards with Petzl ascenders is perfectly feasible, but requires patience and concentration. I am by no means light, but find using ascenders pretty simple for going up to fix things. I have my harness on the top ascender and a device called an "etrier" in the lower one (a set of steps made in tape loops - might be derived from tree-surgeon work?) , with a carabiner at the lower end to the halyard below me to stop it drifting about. I rarely go up alone...
I have considered steps, but I don't like the idea of drilling holes in masts, and then you have to trust pop rivets enough...

The important thing is to take everything up with you..! It's OK if you have somebody on deck, you can send up tools etc on a spinnaker or 2nd jib halyard if need be. No fun on your own at all if you forget something!

 

[fergie_mac66]

Climbing harness,

2 x Prussik loops

A couple of slings - one long for your feet to push up on, one short for your harness

2 x halyards (one as safety line)

Caribiners (locking ones) to suit - 3 will usually do

Helmet - up to you on this - I don't bother but some think it is a good precaution

And practise before you have to do it in anger.

I used to use prussic knots but last year tried this out instead easier to decend

care is needed at the top with both prussics and bachman if you push them both to the v top without leaving any clearance it can be difficult to start the decent unless you can get the weight of the bottom one ! the first time I nearly found myself stuck at the top as couldnt loosen the bottom knot which was jammed right up to the top

 

[Drews]

I use a Petzl ascender for going up and a Grigri for coming down, works great for me.

 

[Graham_Wright]

I use same system, but add a figure of eight for absailing down afterwards.

Attach the figure of 8 to the loose one.

Jumar up a few feet on the tensioned line. stop, take a rest, pull the loose line through the figure of 8 and tie off.

Up a few more feet on the jumars then , take rest , pull up loose line,,,,

A bit slow but very safe, always on two lines, escape already set up.

Tony

This is essentially my recommended technique when single-handing with a MastaClimba but I use an Anka which is like a figure of eight with horns on.

When comparing methods talking to Barney Green, he described a setup where taking up the slack on the figure of eight line could be achieved by pulling downwards which is less tiring than upwards as otherwise required. You don't need to tie off then (at least using the MastaClimba).

For the life of me I can't remember what he said.
Must get in touch again.

Perhaps one of you can imagine a way?

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

I have a Topclimber that works in the same way as the climbing kit. If you are not a climber its probably the easiest way to make sure you have all the right bits, in the right order, in a single bag, but at a price. It also requires a halyard without an eye on the end.

http://www.topclimberinternational.nl/index.html

In my experience, though, being over weight and not as fit as I might be, its not an easy task hauling myself up!

If you have an eye inthe end of your halyard there is no need to alter it. Simply tie on a suitable rope securely, and haul it to the top of the mast

 

[Graham_Wright]

If you have an eye inthe end of your halyard there is no need to alter it. Simply tie on a suitable rope securely, and haul it to the top of the mast

+1

 

[alteredoutlook]

I use a Petzl ascender for going up and a Petzl Stop for coming down, works great for me! Cavers use them the whole time - do youtube search of 'SRT' to see how its done. (srt=single rope technique).

nb. the ascenders have teeth in them that grips the rope to prevent you coming down. This can kn*cker the halyard quite quickly if its a 'soft sheath', so I always haul a spare rope up on a halyard and climb on that

 

[Graham_Wright]

I use a Petzl ascender for going up and a Petzl Stop for coming down, works great for me! Cavers use them the whole time - do youtube search of 'SRT' to see how its done. (srt=single rope technique).

nb. the ascenders have teeth in them that grips the rope to prevent you coming down. This can kn*cker the halyard quite quickly if its a 'soft sheath', so I always haul a spare rope up on a halyard and climb on that

I agree with that and only use an ascender as a safety attachment.

 

[eddystone]

If you have an eye inthe end of your halyard there is no need to alter it. Simply tie on a suitable rope securely, and haul it to the top of the mast

How would you recommend tying it on? Directly to the eye in the halyard with a knot or shackle on? I planned to have my main static line reasonably slack but then have a loop around a much tighter second static line which would have to be attached to a foresail halyard. I could attach myself to that with a knot if something went wrong with the main line, which I would attach to both the main halyard and topping lift for safety. One problem is that I'm going to have to untie from the second line to pass over the spreader. Thinking about it I could just use the genoa halyard itself as the second line. I'd be using harness, ascender to go up, gri gri to come down and slings.

 

[jollyboy]

I also have a Deffee mast ladder. It feeds into the mainsail track. I then go up the mast without anyone else in support. I attach my safety harness to the topping lift. Up the ladder a few steps, tighten the topping lift, up a few more steps, and so on. Just make sure you remember to take all the tools you need ;-).

John B
Vagrant 1718