Scored a mast climbing system!

[Tally Ho]

I climb my mast 2x a season. I use 2 Petzl ascenders on the main or spinnaker halyard, a chair connected to one, and foot loops on the lower one. I wear a climbing harness, secured to the other halyard for a backup.

Stand in the foot loops, and slide the top ascender (with the chair) up so the chair is under your bum…and sit. Raise your knees and slide the lower ascender up. Stand up in the loops, and repeat the process. Inchworm your way up the mast…not fast, but pretty simple and reliable way up.

To come down, reverse the process. Sit in the chair, and lower the foot loops. Stand in the loops and lower the chair. Bend legs and sit down in the chair. Repeat all the way down.

I didn’t like the original Mast Climber because the ascenders required you to feed the climbing rope THROUGH the ascender (it wasnt open like a modern ascender). So that ruled out using a halyard if it had a fitting on it. They may have improved the ascenders since then, but if you are buying it used…check and see what sort of ascender it uses.

Greg

 

[thinwater]

I looked up the Mastmate ladder and realized I've used them. One difficulty is you need to lower your main sail. Great when working in harbor, but off shore it is not unlikely you may want the added stability of your main sail being up. A second problem for me is I can't use one on my boat unless I want to install a dedicated track for the mast mate... Not high on my list.

I've never used a Camp Goblin... But something to look at more closely.

dj

In fact, you do NOT have to lower the main. You can anchor the ladder just on one side and tension it very tightly. I've done it. In fact, on my PDQ it was a pain to remove the slugs and open the mast gate, so I never used the slugs, not in a dozen trips. I just snugged it well with a winch. This does NOT actually increase the peak strain on the ladder system, since any jerking or falling is subtracted from the pre-tension.

 

[thinwater]

I'm getting Blue Wave fittings with that link....

dj

My apologies. There seems to be some problem with my ability to copy image links. Try this blog post link instead.

Mastmate and goblin in use

 

[dLj]

In fact, you do NOT have to lower the main. You can anchor the ladder just on one side and tension it very tightly. I've done it. In fact, on my PDQ it was a pain to remove the slugs and open the mast gate, so I never used the slugs, not in a dozen trips. I just snugged it well with a winch. This does NOT actually increase the peak strain on the ladder system, since any jerking or falling is subtracted from the pre-tension.

Ah, I did not realize that. Do you remove the slugs on the ladder? Or just not worry about them. How about your thoughts on the 18" vs the 12" spaced steps. I've only used the 18" steps and did not particularly like that spacing. Works, but I wasn't too thrilled with it. looking it up right now I see they have a 12" spacing ladder also.

dj

 

[dLj]

My apologies. There seems to be some problem with my ability to copy image links. Try this blog post link instead.

Mastmate and goblin in use

That worked... No apologies needed... (I'd just be calling the kettle black).

So with no sail track needed, I could ascend the front side of my mast - where I typically prefer on my boat...

dj

 

[thinwater]

Ah, I did not realize that. Do you remove the slugs on the ladder? Or just not worry about them. How about your thoughts on the 18" vs the 12" spaced steps. I've only used the 18" steps and did not particularly like that spacing. Works, but I wasn't too thrilled with it. looking it up right now I see they have a 12" spacing ladder also.

dj

Just don't worry about them. When you can fit them, they help.

Yes, a shorter spacing would be much better. A very common complaint. OSHA says rungs should be 10-14 inches, because that is the proper spacing for efficient climbing.

 

[Hayden Watson]

A few things.

• Wrap the outside of the ascenders with athletic tape. Better grip, no scratches, takes minutes.
• One RATED harness is all that is needed. That is all tower works and climbers use. But the bosun's chair is not rated, so it actually counts as zero.
• The harness must be such that you can not fall out, even inverted. If you have a waist, a snug climbing harness works. If you don't have a waist you will need a body harness. OSHA requires them because that is the only way they can be sure for all workers of all shapes.
• For hand time comfort look for wide leg loops. Narrow, climbing harness loops and standard fall protection harness will put your legs to sleep. You need a big wall harness, a tower harness (above), or you can add padding to a climbing harness (works really well).
• Practice low on the mast until it seems easy and logical.
• Pre-tension the halyard snug. This will prevent sagging back and bouncing.
• And most important. The primary and secondary halyards must climb-worthy. The sheave and axle it runs over must be climb-worthy, and the tail must be well secured (a cleat or winch in addition to a clutch IMO). You don't need 4 halyards if they are good. With two ascenders on the halyard you really do not need a belay, other than against the chance of a main halyard failure. But the primary halyard must be above question. If it is not, replace it with a climbing rope (a rope suitable for climbing). If the pulley or entire masthead is suspect, you can back up your climbing with a Prusik around the mast.

Finally, your belayer is NOT a practiced climbing belayer. Might be a good guy, but that is not the same as training. Don't expect them to do something that they are not trained for and practiced in. A winch is NOT designed for lowering people, and a MUCH higher percentage of people have been dropped on sailboats than with climbing belay devices. I was around the seen after a guy got dropped lowering. The belayer made some unknown mistake. We think there may have been a loop of slack and the rope popped off the drum. This is NOT what winches are for. I've been lowered from climbs and rappeled many thousands of times, sometimes in horrible conditions, and getting lowered with a winch gives me the creaps far more. My opinion based on some accidents.

padded harness

Excellent post. It is true for most people that four halyards are not needed. But... Most people climbing are not 67-year-old 240-lbs people who are married to my wife. For some reason she wants to keep me around. The point about lowering on a winch is a very good one. I have found that it is best to reduce the wraps to one full turn and then my wife, holds her hand on the wrap as she lowers to prevent the jumping the drum you mentioned.

 

[thinwater]

That worked... No apologies needed... (I'd just be calling the kettle black).

So with no sail track needed, I could ascend the front side of my mast - where I typically prefer on my boat...

dj

Yes, I've done that many times. Just pull it tight.

 

[thinwater]

Excellent post. It is true for most people that four halyards are not needed. But... Most people climbing are not 67-year-old 240-lbs people who are married to my wife. For some reason she wants to keep me around. The point about lowering on a winch is a very good one. I have found that it is best to reduce the wraps to one full turn and then my wife, holds her hand on the wrap as she lowers to prevent the jumping the drum you mentioned.

I should add that although I am 64, I still rock climb several times each month. I'm planning on ice climbing at the local crag in the morning! It's not so much strength, as that I am very used to being up in the air and moving up there. I am also extremely safety consious, which is how I have done this for over 40 years.

 

[Calif. Ted]

My buddy weighed 225+ and I was 150 soaking wet so he always winched me up when one of our boats required. I used a harness because of familiarity until I got to an age where my legs went numb very quickly. Switched to a bosun's chair and while originally didn't feel as secure with use I certainly came to prefer. When I quit going aloft he asked me to winch him up his latest boat, a Bristol using a harness. His Bristol has a tiny non tailing winch on the mast, as compared to the giant 2 speed self tailers on his last boat. Trying to lift him with that tiny winch I could only give him an atomic wedgie, couldn't get his feet off the ground.