Whats a good way to get up the mast on your own?

[DangerousPirate]

Hello, I just recieved my new vhf antenna and I REALLY dont want to lower the mast again. So I thought climbing it.

I am not sure if thats safe with the weight on the top of the mast. I feel like the boat might capsize or at least heave a lot. Its only a 1,5 ton boat with a fin keel. No bulb.

So how I would go out about doing this: every half a meter or so I would tie horizontal ropes in between the parallel shrouds to create a ladder. (Old boats used to do this a lot) to get up safely and without needing a second person to pull me up with a halyard and harness and such.

Im on a pontoon here so Id secure an extra docking to the mast fairly far way up and a cleat on the opposite side of where I would climb up to keep the boat from falling over.

This way I could climb up whenever I need to do any work WITHOUT having to lower and raise the mast all the time.

Thoughts?

 

[penfold]

Hoisting a rope ladder up the mast seems easier, or with the requisite rock-climbing gear ascend on a tensioned rope; a further rope with double bowlines at intervals would be needed to act as a failsafe for clipping onto with a harness unless you're significantly braver than me. And a mobile to call Trumpton in case it goes wrong and you get stuck.

 

[neilf39]

Not too difficult on a tensioned main halyard using ascenders or prussic knots. I used caribiners in prussic knots. One rope attached to bosuns chair and another to a foot rope with double loops for the feet. Length of rope is critcal to make the most of sliding the ascenders/knots the best distance. You need to be fit and the halyard has to be really tensioned. You also need a rope double looped around the mast and attached to a harness to act as a fail safe (you will need to swap to another at the spreaders). Probably easier to get hold of a ladder you hoist in the main track.

 

[Roberto]

When I had a boat with a 8-9m mast I went alongside a small ship, asked permission to get on their deck and pulled the mast head towards me with a halyard.

 

[Daydream believer]

Put the aerial on a mast on the push pit. Use an old sailboard boom ( extending type) fix it with 2 "U" bolts That will give you 2.5 metres + above water line
That will give you a reasonable range which will do until you do decide to drop the mast. The range will be OK in actual practice because the receiving station , such as CG will have a high mast. You do not need a great range for entering harbour etc & ships will get you at 10+ miles very easily

 

[dansaskip]

You mention the weight but not size of boat. I used to go up the mast of my Sadler25 no problem or worry that it might tip over. I used climbing gear (jumars, jammers or prussiks with a harness) on a tied off halyard. Caveat but then I was a professional climber so did know what I was doing.

 

[HughClayton]

Using climbing gear it’s straightforward to climb the mast by yourself; I do it regularly ...... but you really do need to know what you’re doing and be confident in your skills and gear.

it’s quite possible to teach yourself (lots of YouTube vids) but I’d suggest practicing in a tree and using a safety line.

Prussic knots work but a petzl grigri and petzl ascender plus two webbing slings, a harness and 6mm loop for a prussic safety line works better.

 

[Travelling Westerly]

Using climbing gear it’s straightforward to climb the mast by yourself; I do it regularly ...... but you really do need to know what you’re doing and be confident in your skills and gear.

it’s quite possible to teach yourself (lots of YouTube vids) but I’d suggest practicing in a tree and using a safety line.

Prussic knots work but a petzl grigri and petzl ascender plus two webbing slings, a harness and 6mm loop for a prussic safety line works better.

That's exactly the same route I did but rather than use a tree I paid £20 for an hour instruction down the local climbing wall. Well worth it. Only criticism of them was they didn't supply me with a cure to my absolute terror of heights

 

[rogerthebodger]

I fitted steps to my mast and it makes it easy to go up the mast.

It looks like you have rat lines up your shrouds so steps only to be fitted from the top of the shrouds upwards.

 

[BobnLesley]

I'm another who uses climbing gear and a bar-tight main halyard; ascenders or prussic loops to a climbing harness and a wooden step (much more comfortable than foot loops if you're going to be up there for a while) with the word 'camera' written on it; i got fed up of reaching the top and thinking: "Damn, I should've brought the camera". As noted earlier, getting the line length between ascender and harness/step just the right length to suit yourself is critical to making it quick/comfortable/easy and whilst I've done it alone, I don't recommend it; have someone someone down on deck tailing a jib halyard as a safety line.

 

[RJJ]

I'm another who uses climbing gear and a bar-tight main halyard; ascenders or prussic loops to a climbing harness and a wooden step (much more comfortable than foot loops if you're going to be up there for a while) with the word 'camera' written on it; i got fed up of reaching the top and thinking: "Damn, I should've brought the camera". As noted earlier, getting the line length between ascender and harness/step just the right length to suit yourself is critical to making it quick/comfortable/easy and whilst I've done it alone, I don't recommend it; have someone someone down on deck tailing a jib halyard as a safety line.

Hi - sounds a great set-up. I would love to imitate you through flattery.

How does the wooden step work? I do get fed up with the pressure on my you-know-whats.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Like @dansaskip I've been up the mast on a 2 ton 25ft boat with absolutely no sign of instability. But if it is really tippy then hauling the mast down to a neighbouring pontoon wold be easy.

 

[doug748]

Unless you actually want to get mast climbing sorted, I would follow post 2 and put the aerial on the pushpit, for now. You will probably want to have the mast down next winter anyway. It's all about giving yourself an easy life.

BTW that photo looks far from a 1 1/2 ton boat. Worlds Strongest Man would pull a muscle trying to drag that over. ;- )




.

 

[peter gibbs]

The problem with any rope ladderin climbing a mast is that is cannot be stabilised, so on ascending your feet do not remain under your centre of gravity. Stable ascending is better assured by working your way up climbing rope, not halyard, using two ascenders, to the bosun's chair, and to a bar for the feet. Good for controlled solo descent too.

Additional security using prussic loops etc complicate rather than ensure safety. Ascenders carry mountaineers' weight securely and are fit for our purpose. Simplicity is safety, believe me.

I use a galley strop round all at the work position to free both hands.

PWG

 

[TernVI]

1) if you have to ask how to do it, don't even think of going up a mast without assistance.
2) don't underestimate the awkwardness of doing any useful work while you are up there.

I don't like antennas on the pushpit, they have short range and get broken a lot.
For this season, mount it on a 2m pole secured to the pushpit.

 

[parbuckle]

A ridiculous suggestion maybe but they used to do it in the olden days careen her over in a steep to muddy creek and see if it is possible to use some shorter means of reaching the masthead I have no idea if this would work it depends a lot on keel type etc as stubby keel boats want to stay upright

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

On my previous boat I fixed folding steps. On the present one I haul a ladder of steps up the trysail track. In both cases someone, usually my wife, takes up the slack on a safety line attached to a bosun’s chair. Both work(ed) fine but, as stated in an earlier post, do not underestimate how difficult it is to work at the top of the mast. In particular every tool needs a wrist strap: fastenings and parts need to be safely stored but easily accessible ( in a weighted bucket on flag halyard?): arms thwarted and hemmed in by shrouds: trying to use screwdriver when mast means you can’t see slot: etc.,etc. Not forgetting it may be blowing a whoolyy and you are freezing cold and the sun is in your eyes. Enjoy and Good Luck!

 

[penberth3]

1) if you have to ask how to do it, don't even think of going up a mast without assistance.
2) don't underestimate the awkwardness of doing any useful work while you are up there.

I don't like antennas on the pushpit, they have short range and get broken a lot.
For this season, mount it on a 2m pole secured to the pushpit.

Absolutely. It might sound a bit trite, but anyone asking such basic questions shouldn't even be attempting this.

This is the safe way

 

[rogerthebodger]

Absolutely. It might sound a bit trite, but anyone asking such basic questions shouldn't even be attempting this.

This is the safe way
View attachment 111658

Then some one motors past at speed creating a wake such the mast wings a meter or more hitting you in the face and knocking the cheery picker over.

At least it you are tied to the mast you cn just hold on tight until the wake stops.

 

[penberth3]

Then some one motors past at speed creating a wake such the mast wings a meter or more hitting you in the face and knocking the cheery picker over.

At least it you are tied to the mast you cn just hold on tight until the wake stops.

Very good. Any more suggestions - struck by lightning, attacked by seagulls?