Climbing Harness

[Ducati]

I needed to get up on my mast for 15 mins of work.

Bosuns Chair @ West Marine - $150.00

Climbing Harness @ Eastern Mountain Sports @ $40.00

Guess what I bought?

 

[Bill Roosa]

Swiss seat - $0.00

 

[Tim R.]

2 climbing harnesses. $0.00

My brother is a manufacturers rep for Mammut.

 

[Ducati]

Did some climbing in my time.

I call that the Nutcracker Suite (seat).

 

[Cool Beans]

how does the climbing harness work? I have a few minutes of mast work too, and don't want to drop the dime for a seat or mast mate right now. . .

 

[thinwater]

And painful as hell after 5 minutes.

Swiss seat - $0.00

There is a reason climbers don't use them. Strictly an emergency thing.

The important thing is to "hang test" the harness at the store, like trying on shoes. No every harness fits. Any climbing store will have a provision.

There is no single answer:
* Sport harness--light, cheaper, agile, poor comfort, need foot support if more than a few minutes.
* Big wall harness--heavier, more cumbersome, more comforatble
* Bosons chair--most awkward, chair-like

 

[JRacer]

Re: And painful as hell after 5 minutes.

Here are some other options

http://www.wesspur.com/?gclid=CNrP6OKZ7KsCFYPu7QodWxNgKQ

http://www.sherrilltree.com/Recreational-Gear/tree-climbing-Saddles_2

Just depends on how much you want to save when betting your life!

 

[stephen Penny]

So how do you climb the mast, what is its purchase, do you use a chair or harness and do you need assistance?

Consider a 10:1 purchase swisstech with bosuns chair and harness (to stand up in while at the top of the mast)?

 

[joker460]

If it's only for a very short time, why not ask around at the marina. Most of the time there's one person with a chair.

 

[thinwater]

Just depends on how much you want to save when betting your life!

What is the purpose of this wave-the-bloody-shirt-statement? Do you have information regarding a UIAA approved climbing harness that has failed, other than a few that weren't buckled properly? I doubt it. Rock climbing equipment, unlike much sailing equipment, is built to well vetted standards and subject to 6 sigma testing programs that would put most marine products to shame.

There are differences in UIAA climbing equipment, but they are not safety differences.

I will grant that the tree climbing products are more comfortable; like big wall harnesses, they are built for extended hang time.

 

[gpdno]

I was a serious rock climber in my college years and trusted my life many a times with my climbing harness. First time I went up the mast I had no hesitations using the climbing harness but it's uncomfortable hanging on it for an extended time. I have since bought a bosuns chair for the comfort value but don't trusted it 100% for safety so I always also wear and tie off to the climbing harness as a back-up.

 

[shipwreck66]

Seriously. Haven't any of you guys ever made your own harness? About 10ft. of 1in. strap is all you need, depending on your waist size. If you have old halyards lying around just double them up and use a D ring. Find a Boy Scout, a Marine or someone who was in Airborne, they'll show you how to do it.

 

[woodster]

Spanish Bowline

Seriously. Haven't any of you guys ever made your own harness? About 10ft. of 1in. strap is all you need, depending on your waist size. If you have old halyards lying around just double them up and use a D ring. Find a Boy Scout, a Marine or someone who was in Airborne, they'll show you how to do it.

would that be like a Spanish Bowline...i am suprised i havent seen anybody mention one with all the knot info i have come across on here

regards

woody

 

[srhummer]

Used several web harnesses (Swiss Seat) for years climbing and repelling on cliffs. Have used for a few minutes on the mast without spending BIG $$ for a BIG harness. I carry a piece for emergeny web since it only takes up a small bit of storage space in a zip lock bag to keep it clean.

Here is how I tie them -

1- get a length of 1" tube webbing (length dependant on your size but about 9-12 feet), locate the middle and hold in left hand in front of you at your belt buckle.
2- Take the end to the right through your legs and around the right leg at the top of the thigh just below the cheek bringing it outside the leg and back to the front, drop it inside the middle section still in your left hand. Swap hands an repeat with the left end for the left leg.
3- Grab both ends in your hands (one in each hand) and release the middle, now pull, squat, lift, pull, squat, lift several times until tight - as I was taught - if it hurts now it will hurt less when you fall and need it or hang from it on the cliffside for hours.
4- Keep both ends tight and take around your back, right to right and left to left (middle now forms a rough triangle in front around the jewels) and bring both ends back to the front, tie a square knot as tight as possible.
5- Make a second pass around your waist and tie a second square knot in front.
6- Tie any remaining web out of the way or tuck into your pockets - I use half-hitches around the web on my legs - so that it is out of the way.
7- Attach the hoisting hailyard or climber into the three straps in front (the two passes around your waist and the middle of the web).

Legal disclamer - I do not advocate this method for others but it is what I have used for almost 40 years, some years more than others and less as I have gotten older.

If this was hard to follow you can find Swiss Seat instructions on the internet (google or bing) and there are a few variations. PLEASE be sure and tie it correctly since you are hanging from it.

WORD OF CAUTION - AS A CLIMBER THIS WAS THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT I REPLACED MOST OFTEN EVEN IF IT JUST HAD A SMALL FRAY IN ONE SPOT OF THE WEB OR ANY DISCOLORATION.

 

[thinwater]

Yes, a Boy Scout, climber, or Marine faced with an emergency would tie a harness. I've tied sailing harnesses for deliveries when there were not enough. Easy. I've been climbing all over the US for 30 years, at relatively high level, from Canon to Stone mountain to Josua Tree. Ice in the winter. I know all the shortcuts and work-arounds.

Tying a harness and then hanging in it for the 10-30 minutes it may take to finish the task will be very painful and can cause serious damage to the legs due to lack of circulation. It can even be deadly.

http://www.elcosh.org/en/document/590/d000568/will-your-safety-harness-kill-you%3F.html

http://ohsonline.com/Articles/2003/03/Will-Your-Safety-Harness-Kill-You.aspx

I'm not trying to alarm anyone, but hanging free in a harness for a time and quickly rappeling down a cliff are completely different things. Even in a good harness, if you are up for more than 5 minutes you should have a way to get your weight onto your feet (a couple of webbing slings around the mast can work, or in my case, I use a Mast Mate, often supplemented with slings).

Be careful.

 

[Sumner]

......... I use a Mast Mate, often supplemented with slings.....

Would you recommend the Mast Mate and could you elaborate on the slings, either here or in a PM?

I need something to get to the top of our Endeavour's mast and I'm leaning towards the Mast Mate..

http://www.mastmate.com/spec.htm

... or the ATN Mastclimber...

http://www.sailrite.com/ATN-Top-Climber-Bosuns-Chair

..... I like the latter from the standpoint I don't have to insert it into the mast, so if there was a problem with the sail up and I couldn't get it down for some reason I could still use the ATN Mastclimber.

I"m almost 68, but still in pretty good shape and I'm 6-1 and 160. Not affraid of heights. We sew a lot of our projects and considering my weight I might feel comfortable buying the ascender's...

http://www.atninc.com/ascender_en.php

.... and making the harness, but maybe that isn't a wise plan. What ever I get I'd be using a second safety line on me.

I'd be interested in comments from people who have either of the above products.

Thanks,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Gunni]

Spinlock Mast Pro harness with Petzl footloops, a Petzl Gri-gri ascender/descender and a regular ascender. I ascend a section of 10mm climbing line tied off to the halyard. Works well. Comfortable.

 

[Prime Time]

I have a climbing harness that the person going aloft wears and has the safety attached.
We hoist the person on a home made bosuns seat. 2 pieces of 3/4 inch plywood laminated together. 4 holes drilled, in the corners. 1/2 inch 3 strand nylon looped thru the holes, crossing underneath.

 

[RichH]

There is a 'trick' to climbing harnesses, that if you dont know can kill you. This is a very rare occurrence but if you are not aware you can get innocently into deep doo-doo.

When you are straining in the harness - KEEP MOVING. The pressure from a thin harness will 'stop' the flow of return blood from your major leg veins and when you later 'move' the now somewhat 'devitalized' blood will/can 'suddenly' circulate and totally upset your 'body chemistry' and which can cause severe metabolic problems. Many climbers have had severe reactions and even instant death after 'hanging' for long times in harnesses; so, the trick is to keep your upper legs moving so that the return flow of venous blood isnt significantly blocked by the tight harness abound your thighs. If your legs are 'hurting' when youre long term in a climbing harness .... move your legs - will allow 'leakage' past the restriction from the harness. Dont just 'hang there' for a long time in the harness - move your legs! and shift your weight around IN the harness.

 

[thinwater]

I see RichH picked up on the leg strangulation issue too....

Would you recommend the Mast Mate and could you elaborate on the slings, either here or in a PM?

I need something to get to the top of our Endeavour's mast and I'm leaning towards the Mast Mate..

http://www.mastmate.com/spec.htm

... or the ATN Mastclimber...

http://www.sailrite.com/ATN-Top-Climber-Bosuns-Chair

..... I like the latter from the standpoint I don't have to insert it into the mast, so if there was a problem with the sail up and I couldn't get it down for some reason I could still use the ATN Mastclimber.

I"m almost 68, but still in pretty good shape and I'm 6-1 and 160. Not affraid of heights. We sew a lot of our projects and considering my weight I might feel comfortable buying the ascender's...

http://www.atninc.com/ascender_en.php

.... and making the harness, but maybe that isn't a wise plan. What ever I get I'd be using a second safety line on me.

I'd be interested in comments from people who have either of the above products.

Thanks,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

Slings. I use etriers, because I have them and they are easily adjusted.
http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/p...mond/idesc/Etrier/Store/MG/item/103151/N/1049
But simply webbing sling would do, if the right length.

Mastmate. This certainly CAN be set free-flying, without using the track. I usually do it that way, because it is simpler. As long as you have a halyard winch and can get some tension on it, it's fine that way.

ATN system. I dislike it personally, because I like climbing the ladder better, and because the ladder is at least twice as fast for a confident climber. The Mastmate also provide foot rests, which I like. The ATN system is more compact to store and would be safer at sea.

And I ALWAYS use a harness and a safety line; either a climber belaying me on a halyard or an accender running on a halyard. I also carry a few slings and biners to secure myself to the mast, particularly if I'm working at the spreaders; a big wake is a bugger.
http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/p...sc/18+mm+Nylon+Sling/Store/MG/item/890004/N/0
Rope would work as well, but climbers use these as they are fast and convenient.