going aloft without a helper

[planoron]

Does anyone use their windless? What about rigging an atv 12 volt winch to pull yourself up the mast? I've been thinking about this for awhile. No one wants to winch 250 lbs up the mast.

No but my wife has no problem winching me up the mast quickly. I bought a Milwaukee right angle drill with a winch bit. Now any winch on the boat is electric with 2 speeds

 

[vetch]

Personally I wouldn't go aloft without a safety line and another person aboard.

If you really wanted you could get ascenders to go aloft using the halyards. but you would still need to buy or make a seat and some other rigging.

https://www.amazon.com/PETZL-Ascens...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00Q78W64M

 

[Justin_NSA]

Coincidence or what? My August Sail magazine just arrived and there's an article entitled "How to climb the mast alone."

 

[Ken13559]

I like to be independent too. So I bought a Topclimber. Half way up, I was all out of steam. By the time I reach the mast top, I felt like I've left my brain on deck! Never again the Topclimber. I've gone back to having someone crank me up.

KenY

 

[Kopite]

For me, the three ascenders ( feet, seat, and safety on another halyard). It’s so easy and I feel safer in control of my own movements vs being hoisted in someone else’s hands. Climbing the mast has become fun.

 

[Tally Ho]

No but my wife has no problem winching me up the mast quickly. I bought a Milwaukee right angle drill with a winch bit. Now any winch on the boat is electric with 2 speeds

@planoron, What size winch are using to go up the mast?

I tried it on my Lewmar 16, but the drill could not crank my 210 pounds up. I am going to try running the halyard to my larger primaries to see if the gearing works to get me and my fat @ss up the mast !

Greg