Just speaking with an old (salt) friend of mine and he was telling me about a ladder he made for getting "up there". He simply got a length of webbing and every foot stitched a loop. This continued up to within 4' of the height of the mast. He then attached slugs to the thing so he could haul it up the bolt slot to the top with the main halyard. He then simply climbs to the top. Anyone seen these available commercialy?
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Mast Mate
Yes I have one it is called mast mate bought it about ten years ago and have never used it so can not coment on how well it works it was in an add in the back of a sailing mag. I did see one at Bacons in Ann. in May can,t rember the price
Yes I have one it is called mast mate bought it about ten years ago and have never used it so can not coment on how well it works it was in an add in the back of a sailing mag. I did see one at Bacons in Ann. in May can,t rember the price
MastMate web site
I have also been interested in these since I first heard about them, but have never tried one. Check this web site for details. www.mastmate.com
I have also been interested in these since I first heard about them, but have never tried one. Check this web site for details. www.mastmate.com
check out
the "ATN Topclimber" too. Unlike the mastmate, which can only be used straight up the mast, the top climbers use a static line, that can be tied off anywhere. You can go up the back stay, forestay, whatever. You can find it on the web and/or the back of most sail mags, domestically in the US anyway.
the "ATN Topclimber" too. Unlike the mastmate, which can only be used straight up the mast, the top climbers use a static line, that can be tied off anywhere. You can go up the back stay, forestay, whatever. You can find it on the web and/or the back of most sail mags, domestically in the US anyway.
I had a Mast Mate and Used It
I had a Mast Mate for my old Catalina 30. I have to say you'd better be prepared for a stiff climb (lotta distance between "rungs"), and you'll have to unstrap the safety harness at the spreaders and restrap...not fun. Further, they pinch your feet. However, for the money and convenience, they are a good value.
I had a Mast Mate for my old Catalina 30. I have to say you'd better be prepared for a stiff climb (lotta distance between "rungs"), and you'll have to unstrap the safety harness at the spreaders and restrap...not fun. Further, they pinch your feet. However, for the money and convenience, they are a good value.
A note of caution
Make sure your masthead sheave is up to the task. I tried to hoist a fairly lightweight friend to the masthead of my H23 with a bosun's chair and broke the sheave. Granted it was plastic and pretty old, but don't forget that because the halyard is cleated at the base of the mast, the sheave will feel TWICE the weight of the person climbing the mast. If the sheave breaks the axle should prevent them from falling, but the sheave will not roll freely anymore and will accelerate halyard wear. Peter H23 "Raven"
Make sure your masthead sheave is up to the task. I tried to hoist a fairly lightweight friend to the masthead of my H23 with a bosun's chair and broke the sheave. Granted it was plastic and pretty old, but don't forget that because the halyard is cleated at the base of the mast, the sheave will feel TWICE the weight of the person climbing the mast. If the sheave breaks the axle should prevent them from falling, but the sheave will not roll freely anymore and will accelerate halyard wear. Peter H23 "Raven"
Peter is right, Peter is right, Peter is right <grin>
Since one is allowed to edit one's message for up to 24 hours, I can eat crow and write 100 times: Peter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is right
Since one is allowed to edit one's message for up to 24 hours, I can eat crow and write 100 times: Peter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is rightPeter is right, Peter is right, Peter is right
Dakota Jim, here's how I figured it
Lemme check that again...let's say I haul the mast ladder to the top of the mast, climb onto the bottom step and stop. That's (blush) 250 lb of downward pull on the shackle. The tension would be the same everywhere in the halyard, i.e., 250 lb. Since the halyard goes over the sheave and comes down on the other side to the cleat, the downward pull on that side is also 250 lb. It is balanced by 250 lb of upward force on the cleat. However, the total downward force on the body of the sheave is the sum of the downward pulls on both sides...500lb. It's the same way a four-part or six-part tackle is used to multiply mainsheet or boomvang tension and exert large downward forces on a boom. Peter H23 "Raven"
Lemme check that again...let's say I haul the mast ladder to the top of the mast, climb onto the bottom step and stop. That's (blush) 250 lb of downward pull on the shackle. The tension would be the same everywhere in the halyard, i.e., 250 lb. Since the halyard goes over the sheave and comes down on the other side to the cleat, the downward pull on that side is also 250 lb. It is balanced by 250 lb of upward force on the cleat. However, the total downward force on the body of the sheave is the sum of the downward pulls on both sides...500lb. It's the same way a four-part or six-part tackle is used to multiply mainsheet or boomvang tension and exert large downward forces on a boom. Peter H23 "Raven"
Okay, I give . . . <grin>
Indeed you have to balance the 250 with 250 and you are correct. . . . Please note that my previous message is history . . .nice to get rid of one's mistakes before the whole world can see them . . . <grin>
Indeed you have to balance the 250 with 250 and you are correct. . . . Please note that my previous message is history . . .nice to get rid of one's mistakes before the whole world can see them . . . <grin>
Tooooo technical for me. Phew!
Hang on a minute. This was just a simple question about a ladder!
Hang on a minute. This was just a simple question about a ladder!
Peter remains correct.
Since Peter weighs 250, there is 250# pulling down on one sided of the sheave. In order to keep the halyard from moving in his direction, another 250# needs to be applied downward on the other side of the sheave to balance his 250#. So with 250# of pull on each side of the sheave, the sheave is resisting a total of 500# of weight. If the sheave was a fixed point with the halyard tied to it, there would only be 250# of pressure on it. The fact that it is a balance point, with another 250 offsetting his weight changes everything. Really Peter, you could lose a little weight. <grin>
Since Peter weighs 250, there is 250# pulling down on one sided of the sheave. In order to keep the halyard from moving in his direction, another 250# needs to be applied downward on the other side of the sheave to balance his 250#. So with 250# of pull on each side of the sheave, the sheave is resisting a total of 500# of weight. If the sheave was a fixed point with the halyard tied to it, there would only be 250# of pressure on it. The fact that it is a balance point, with another 250 offsetting his weight changes everything. Really Peter, you could lose a little weight. <grin>
Seems Like it Would be
250# across the whole length of the line. The vector on the cleated end of the line is up whereas the end with a guy hanging from it is down.
250# across the whole length of the line. The vector on the cleated end of the line is up whereas the end with a guy hanging from it is down.
Peter and Jim...........
...are right on. Both ends of the line are 250# down, meaning the sheave is 500# up. This is also why you need to be really careful with any block that changes the direction of a loaded line by more than about 60 degrees; you will start to get loads on the block that are greater than the load on the line. The worst case is a 150-180 degree turning block for a genoa line. Look at one that is designed into the original boat structure; they are incredibly beefy, as is the hull base that they are mounted on; 2X the line load is why. Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
...are right on. Both ends of the line are 250# down, meaning the sheave is 500# up. This is also why you need to be really careful with any block that changes the direction of a loaded line by more than about 60 degrees; you will start to get loads on the block that are greater than the load on the line. The worst case is a 150-180 degree turning block for a genoa line. Look at one that is designed into the original boat structure; they are incredibly beefy, as is the hull base that they are mounted on; 2X the line load is why. Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
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