Okay I operate mostly single handed . . . so how do you get up the mast, without help or a crane?
Climbing the mast
- Thread starter Topaz
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You put together a 4 part tackle
and attach one end to your bo'sons chair and the other end to your halyard and haul that end up the mast. After that you climb into your seat, grab the fall on your 4 part tackle and pull. The force that you apply to the fall with your arms reduces the weight of your seat in the chair. Each foot of line that you pull on the fall will raise you 3 inches. However the force on the fall will be less than one forth of your weight. When you have reached the height that you want bring the fall up under the bo'sons chair harness and half hitch it to the four parts of the tackle.
and attach one end to your bo'sons chair and the other end to your halyard and haul that end up the mast. After that you climb into your seat, grab the fall on your 4 part tackle and pull. The force that you apply to the fall with your arms reduces the weight of your seat in the chair. Each foot of line that you pull on the fall will raise you 3 inches. However the force on the fall will be less than one forth of your weight. When you have reached the height that you want bring the fall up under the bo'sons chair harness and half hitch it to the four parts of the tackle.
Climb
Using a top-climber or a mast mate (ladder). I had a mast-mate and bosuns chair for my last boat, however would feel a bit uncomfortable climbing up the mast without a bosuns chair under me so when I got to where I needed to work I could sit. Also, if I get tired. Top climber is what I am getting from Santa this year (along with all the other stuff). It will let you go up and down by yourself. Google top climber and you can see the product in action.....there was a thread on this a few months ago...look in the archives. Good luck
Using a top-climber or a mast mate (ladder). I had a mast-mate and bosuns chair for my last boat, however would feel a bit uncomfortable climbing up the mast without a bosuns chair under me so when I got to where I needed to work I could sit. Also, if I get tired. Top climber is what I am getting from Santa this year (along with all the other stuff). It will let you go up and down by yourself. Google top climber and you can see the product in action.....there was a thread on this a few months ago...look in the archives. Good luck
Do a Google Search For........
ATN Top Climber. I use it and it works well. Bought mine at a consignment/discount/second hand store in Annapolis (Bacons) for a little more than half the list price. It was brand new. If you go this route you'll also need some 1/2" braided line to go with it. Good luck.
ATN Top Climber. I use it and it works well. Bought mine at a consignment/discount/second hand store in Annapolis (Bacons) for a little more than half the list price. It was brand new. If you go this route you'll also need some 1/2" braided line to go with it. Good luck.
ATN Top Climber
I used an ATN Top Climber this summer. After e few minutes fumbling with it, I was going up the mast. It works well, if you take a few breaks to rest and enjoy the scenery. Try this link.
I used an ATN Top Climber this summer. After e few minutes fumbling with it, I was going up the mast. It works well, if you take a few breaks to rest and enjoy the scenery. Try this link.
A bosun's chair and lots of knots
I've seen someone climb up to the spreaders using the shrouds, but I use a bosun's chair. I pull on a rope with each hand, and push a little with my feet. Every 5 feet I make a loop in the free end of the rope and tie a knot in it, in case the rope comes out and I slip. I haul the upper tackle up with the jib halyard, wrapping it around the winch and at least 2 cleats. It's a lot easier if you have someone to pull you up, but your arms sure feel good after a day of going up and down the mast. A good workout!
I've seen someone climb up to the spreaders using the shrouds, but I use a bosun's chair. I pull on a rope with each hand, and push a little with my feet. Every 5 feet I make a loop in the free end of the rope and tie a knot in it, in case the rope comes out and I slip. I haul the upper tackle up with the jib halyard, wrapping it around the winch and at least 2 cleats. It's a lot easier if you have someone to pull you up, but your arms sure feel good after a day of going up and down the mast. A good workout!
I used a ladder...
Granted I wasn't at sea, but in port. I only had to go up about 18 feet. So I used a 12 foot ladder tied off to the mast and roped myself to the mast. Did my work and was done. There is an ATN Top Climber listed in the classified section of this site.
Granted I wasn't at sea, but in port. I only had to go up about 18 feet. So I used a 12 foot ladder tied off to the mast and roped myself to the mast. Did my work and was done. There is an ATN Top Climber listed in the classified section of this site.
rock climbing gear
I have tried a lot of other techniques over the years but there is nothing like rock climbing gear for this purpose. I use mechanical ascender hardware for going up and rappel hardware for coming down. I attach a climbing rope to my main halyard and hoist if up to the top with a spinaker halyard for a safety back up. I can get up with ease and more importantly back down in a hurry with no effort, that's the fun part. A climbing harness is much safer than a bosun's chair.
I have tried a lot of other techniques over the years but there is nothing like rock climbing gear for this purpose. I use mechanical ascender hardware for going up and rappel hardware for coming down. I attach a climbing rope to my main halyard and hoist if up to the top with a spinaker halyard for a safety back up. I can get up with ease and more importantly back down in a hurry with no effort, that's the fun part. A climbing harness is much safer than a bosun's chair.
Another ladder
SJS PrimeClimb mast ladder (slides into sail track) and a climbing harness attached to a spare halyard to self-belay. MastMate has web loops while PrimeClimb has rigid steps.
SJS PrimeClimb mast ladder (slides into sail track) and a climbing harness attached to a spare halyard to self-belay. MastMate has web loops while PrimeClimb has rigid steps.
Halyard with a bowline and a monkey's paw
tied off to a Tree Workers saddle. Allows for heavy objects eg. chain saws to be beanered in. Chicken strap around the mast once in position. HEAD ACHE!
tied off to a Tree Workers saddle. Allows for heavy objects eg. chain saws to be beanered in. Chicken strap around the mast once in position. HEAD ACHE!
Bosun's chair
I'ts been a while, but I used to sail 'deep sea' on a freighter & all we ever used was a bosun's chair, a line and a single sheave block. The line you use has to be large enough diameter to enable your hands to get a grip on it, so 1/2" is probably the smallest I'd use, but it isn't particularly hard physically to haul yourself up with a single part line as you're only effectively only lifting half your weight, plus a small amt for the friction loss in the sheave. A loop from the fall of the line is pulled thru the vee made by the ropes of the chair; this loop is passed over your body and snugged up, making a slip knot at the point where the working end of the line is attached to the rope of the chair. It's dead simple and it works. To raise of lower yourself from wherever you're working, just grab both parts of the line above the 'slip knot' to cinch it, and work a little slack from the free end of the line thru the knot. Any book on knots, rigging & ropework should show how its done. Using a multi-part tackle for a bosun's chair is a waste of time; you'd have to haul feet of line just to move a few inches. Take forever. The line you use has to be fat enuf to grip and soft enuf to be easy on the hand and to provide some friction in the slip knot though: I'd be careful with a slippery dacron or some of the high-tech cordage, but a soft nylon braid should work just fine.
I'ts been a while, but I used to sail 'deep sea' on a freighter & all we ever used was a bosun's chair, a line and a single sheave block. The line you use has to be large enough diameter to enable your hands to get a grip on it, so 1/2" is probably the smallest I'd use, but it isn't particularly hard physically to haul yourself up with a single part line as you're only effectively only lifting half your weight, plus a small amt for the friction loss in the sheave. A loop from the fall of the line is pulled thru the vee made by the ropes of the chair; this loop is passed over your body and snugged up, making a slip knot at the point where the working end of the line is attached to the rope of the chair. It's dead simple and it works. To raise of lower yourself from wherever you're working, just grab both parts of the line above the 'slip knot' to cinch it, and work a little slack from the free end of the line thru the knot. Any book on knots, rigging & ropework should show how its done. Using a multi-part tackle for a bosun's chair is a waste of time; you'd have to haul feet of line just to move a few inches. Take forever. The line you use has to be fat enuf to grip and soft enuf to be easy on the hand and to provide some friction in the slip knot though: I'd be careful with a slippery dacron or some of the high-tech cordage, but a soft nylon braid should work just fine.
Rope ladder
Make a rope ladder and hoist it with a spare halyard. Clip on to the rigging as you go up.
Make a rope ladder and hoist it with a spare halyard. Clip on to the rigging as you go up.
Rope ladder!!!
Please, do not try a rope ladder. This only works if you are a monkey. Regards from Canada.
Please, do not try a rope ladder. This only works if you are a monkey. Regards from Canada.
Power assist ...
If you are really brave ... Find some open water, set the autopilot. Tie a line with a small sea anchor on to the tail of the halyard you want to go up. Stand by the mast and clip your climber's harness onto the halyard. Toss the sea anchor into the water. The sea anchor on the halyard tail will take part of your weight, so you can climb up the mast. Possible problems: The wind come up while you are aloft, putting enough pressure on the sea anchor so you can't get down. While you are stuck at the top of the mast waiting for the wind to die, the boat runs aground.
If you are really brave ... Find some open water, set the autopilot. Tie a line with a small sea anchor on to the tail of the halyard you want to go up. Stand by the mast and clip your climber's harness onto the halyard. Toss the sea anchor into the water. The sea anchor on the halyard tail will take part of your weight, so you can climb up the mast. Possible problems: The wind come up while you are aloft, putting enough pressure on the sea anchor so you can't get down. While you are stuck at the top of the mast waiting for the wind to die, the boat runs aground.
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