I am thinking of buying a bosun's chair. My buddy says I should also buy a climbing harness as well. And then tie them both to separate halyards. What do you use to climb your rig? Pete
Going Up Your Rig
- Thread starter Tsehum Pete
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I had an ATN Top climber
but it proved too much for me. Just don't have the strength I used to have. Sold it. Now I am looking at the Prime Climb Mast Ladder. It is a rigged aluminum ladder that rides inside the sail track. No halyard needed except for the safety harness. Haven't ordered it yet but got all the details. Another expense came up that precludes me from ordering this month.
but it proved too much for me. Just don't have the strength I used to have. Sold it. Now I am looking at the Prime Climb Mast Ladder. It is a rigged aluminum ladder that rides inside the sail track. No halyard needed except for the safety harness. Haven't ordered it yet but got all the details. Another expense came up that precludes me from ordering this month.
Petzl Ascension Ascender
I use two Petzl Ascension Ascender from mountain climbing shop with the ATN bosun's chair and a climbing rope. It is much safer than cranking up. You just have stand up and sit down repeatedly. The Asender let me go up and down the mast without the need for someone cranking the winch. My Admiral doesn't have the strength or nerve to crank me up. http://www.mec.ca Search for Ascender
I use two Petzl Ascension Ascender from mountain climbing shop with the ATN bosun's chair and a climbing rope. It is much safer than cranking up. You just have stand up and sit down repeatedly. The Asender let me go up and down the mast without the need for someone cranking the winch. My Admiral doesn't have the strength or nerve to crank me up. http://www.mec.ca Search for Ascender
Rock climbing harness & ascenders
I started out using a bosun's chair but after slipping out and wearing it around my chest on the way back down I knew I needed something more secure. I also wanted to be able to climb the mast without help from below. I went to the rock climbing department at REI and ended up with a pair of ascenders and a harness. There is no way to fall out of this harness, even if you are upside down and unconsious. I hooked each ascender up to a foot loop so I could climb up with basically the same motion that a cross-country skier uses with one hand and one foot on each ascender. This works great if you are young, strong and athletic which I used to be way back when but alas no more. I went back to REI and got a nylon web ladder that is about 6 ft long to attach to one of the ascenders. With the ladder on a seperate line it is easy to climb up to the top of the ladder then slide the ascender connected to my harness up as far as I can reach. At that point I step out of the ladder and hang from the harness while I slide the ladder rig up as far as I can reach repeat as nessacary. This does not take a lot of strength. That rig worked great for going up but it was still a slow struggle comming down so back to REI for rappelling hardware. There are several types but I bought the spring-loaded type which works best in this application. It has a lever that you pull out to allow the rope to slide through, if you lose your grip you stop. One last piece of equipment required is a rope designed for climbing hardware that is twice as long as your mast plus a few feet. DO NOT USE CLIMBING HARDWARE ON YOUR HALYARDS OR ANY LINE NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT PURPOSE!!! It can be very hard on your halyards and also kill you. I tied a figure eight knot on a bight at the center of my climbing rope which I attach to the shackle on my main halyard. When I haul my main halyard up to the masthead there are two climbing ropes hanging from it this way. One side gets the ladder rig on an ascender and the other goes through my rappelling hardware. Climb the ladder, take up slack, etc. Then when it's time to come back down you just use the line with the rappelling hardware on it and slide back as fast as you please. That is the fun part. Use your feet to hold your self away from the mast and walk backwards down the mast using the lever to control your speed. That is all that you need but if you would like a safety backup, like me, you can use either a prusic knot or the ascender that was left over after you bought the rapplling gear to attach to a spare halyard or topping lift. If I have the luxury of a helper, I attatch the topping lift to my harness and tell them to take up slack as I climb. I could also have them pay out slack on the way down but for that short time I usually just use the one line that the rappelling hardware is attached to with no backup. Bob V
I started out using a bosun's chair but after slipping out and wearing it around my chest on the way back down I knew I needed something more secure. I also wanted to be able to climb the mast without help from below. I went to the rock climbing department at REI and ended up with a pair of ascenders and a harness. There is no way to fall out of this harness, even if you are upside down and unconsious. I hooked each ascender up to a foot loop so I could climb up with basically the same motion that a cross-country skier uses with one hand and one foot on each ascender. This works great if you are young, strong and athletic which I used to be way back when but alas no more. I went back to REI and got a nylon web ladder that is about 6 ft long to attach to one of the ascenders. With the ladder on a seperate line it is easy to climb up to the top of the ladder then slide the ascender connected to my harness up as far as I can reach. At that point I step out of the ladder and hang from the harness while I slide the ladder rig up as far as I can reach repeat as nessacary. This does not take a lot of strength. That rig worked great for going up but it was still a slow struggle comming down so back to REI for rappelling hardware. There are several types but I bought the spring-loaded type which works best in this application. It has a lever that you pull out to allow the rope to slide through, if you lose your grip you stop. One last piece of equipment required is a rope designed for climbing hardware that is twice as long as your mast plus a few feet. DO NOT USE CLIMBING HARDWARE ON YOUR HALYARDS OR ANY LINE NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT PURPOSE!!! It can be very hard on your halyards and also kill you. I tied a figure eight knot on a bight at the center of my climbing rope which I attach to the shackle on my main halyard. When I haul my main halyard up to the masthead there are two climbing ropes hanging from it this way. One side gets the ladder rig on an ascender and the other goes through my rappelling hardware. Climb the ladder, take up slack, etc. Then when it's time to come back down you just use the line with the rappelling hardware on it and slide back as fast as you please. That is the fun part. Use your feet to hold your self away from the mast and walk backwards down the mast using the lever to control your speed. That is all that you need but if you would like a safety backup, like me, you can use either a prusic knot or the ascender that was left over after you bought the rapplling gear to attach to a spare halyard or topping lift. If I have the luxury of a helper, I attatch the topping lift to my harness and tell them to take up slack as I climb. I could also have them pay out slack on the way down but for that short time I usually just use the one line that the rappelling hardware is attached to with no backup. Bob V
I use money....
...to climb my rig. That is, I hire a guy from the rigging shop whenever something at the mast head needs attention. With a double spreader B&R rig, I can easily reach the lower spreaders and steaming light with my regular collapsible aluminum ladder. Anything higher, I hire a pro. I once saw a guy fall out of bosun's chair from nearly 40 ft up. It wasn't pretty. Money is a good alternative to consider....
...to climb my rig. That is, I hire a guy from the rigging shop whenever something at the mast head needs attention. With a double spreader B&R rig, I can easily reach the lower spreaders and steaming light with my regular collapsible aluminum ladder. Anything higher, I hire a pro. I once saw a guy fall out of bosun's chair from nearly 40 ft up. It wasn't pretty. Money is a good alternative to consider....
PRIME CLIMB
I BOUGHT MY BOAT FROM THE GUY WHO DEVELOPED THE PRIME CLIMB SYSTEM. IT WORKS GREAT! HERE IS THE LINK. GOOD LUCK
I BOUGHT MY BOAT FROM THE GUY WHO DEVELOPED THE PRIME CLIMB SYSTEM. IT WORKS GREAT! HERE IS THE LINK. GOOD LUCK
ATN diy
I looked around and favored the ATN system but it seemed pricey. Like EatDrinkHealthy, I went with Petzl ascenders (ebay). I got foot loops and a dedicated rope for the ascenders from onrope1.com, and a Plastimo Pro bosun's chair from ebay also. Even with the pricey chair and the rope I still came out ahead. I tie the rope to the halyard (NOT to the shackle), hoist it all the way up, secure it and use the ascenders on the other rope. I tie the jib halyard to the chair and a friend wraps it around a winch and keeps the slack out of it as I go up, and cleats it off when I stop. The ATN says it might take some getting used to but I found it very easy. I haven't had any issues with the chair (knock on wood), and I do like the comfort, but if I had to do it over again, I might go with a harness.
I looked around and favored the ATN system but it seemed pricey. Like EatDrinkHealthy, I went with Petzl ascenders (ebay). I got foot loops and a dedicated rope for the ascenders from onrope1.com, and a Plastimo Pro bosun's chair from ebay also. Even with the pricey chair and the rope I still came out ahead. I tie the rope to the halyard (NOT to the shackle), hoist it all the way up, secure it and use the ascenders on the other rope. I tie the jib halyard to the chair and a friend wraps it around a winch and keeps the slack out of it as I go up, and cleats it off when I stop. The ATN says it might take some getting used to but I found it very easy. I haven't had any issues with the chair (knock on wood), and I do like the comfort, but if I had to do it over again, I might go with a harness.
Sounds like a good idea as a back-up to me...
...but a rigger once told me to always tie a bosun's chair thru the lifting ring, or the ring's straps, and not use the shackle. If the shackle gives way then you are a faller. Always tie the halyard thru it, somehow.
...but a rigger once told me to always tie a bosun's chair thru the lifting ring, or the ring's straps, and not use the shackle. If the shackle gives way then you are a faller. Always tie the halyard thru it, somehow.
Good point Paul
In my post I mentioned using the shackle on my main halyard to connect to the climbing line but neglected to say that I back that up with a seperate line that connects the main halyard to the climmbing line with rolling hitches. I leave this back-up slightly slack but it's there if I need it. I do feel that the main halyard shackle is far more secure than the snap shackles that are used on the headsail halyards but not quite secure enough to use without a back-up. Bob V
In my post I mentioned using the shackle on my main halyard to connect to the climbing line but neglected to say that I back that up with a seperate line that connects the main halyard to the climmbing line with rolling hitches. I leave this back-up slightly slack but it's there if I need it. I do feel that the main halyard shackle is far more secure than the snap shackles that are used on the headsail halyards but not quite secure enough to use without a back-up. Bob V
Bob V.??
I once saw a guy lifting his daughter by the shackle beside me on a mooring in Cuttyhunk harbor. (Not that it maes any difference, but he was on a H340, also). I shuttered when I saw him doing it. She stopped the operation at the first spreaders because she was afraid to go any further. I am glad because I think I would have had to tell him to stop, myself.
I once saw a guy lifting his daughter by the shackle beside me on a mooring in Cuttyhunk harbor. (Not that it maes any difference, but he was on a H340, also). I shuttered when I saw him doing it. She stopped the operation at the first spreaders because she was afraid to go any further. I am glad because I think I would have had to tell him to stop, myself.
The only shackle that is safe to use
is a screw pin shackle. I use a four part tackle to go up. Hoist the upper block on the halyard and the lower block to my climbing harness. The hauling part is passed through a couple of climbers attached to my harness and Nancy takes three turns on a mast winch and tails that. With a four part tackle when I pull the tail I reduce the load on the harness by my pulling force and the tackle pulls me up. Slowly but it works.
is a screw pin shackle. I use a four part tackle to go up. Hoist the upper block on the halyard and the lower block to my climbing harness. The hauling part is passed through a couple of climbers attached to my harness and Nancy takes three turns on a mast winch and tails that. With a four part tackle when I pull the tail I reduce the load on the harness by my pulling force and the tackle pulls me up. Slowly but it works.
Harness
You got the right idea Pete, and the 'ladder' is called atrier's (should be two) Bob V same as the 'mast mate' in the pic made from webbing (but much shorter) and used for strict 'aid' climbs for rock or mountaineering. The 'Mast Mate' is a good system but back it up with a 'prussik-knot' round the mast so if all goes wrong, or you pas out from heat, exhaustion, it will hold you. Climbing harness is a safe way to go, keep it as simple as possible, spring-loaded rap device? Getting down is no worry, how FAST you get down is. The one comment I can offer, true, is that I have had two main halyard shackles break while sailing, I don't believe it is umcommon, I do not use them for my halyards any longer.
You got the right idea Pete, and the 'ladder' is called atrier's (should be two) Bob V same as the 'mast mate' in the pic made from webbing (but much shorter) and used for strict 'aid' climbs for rock or mountaineering. The 'Mast Mate' is a good system but back it up with a 'prussik-knot' round the mast so if all goes wrong, or you pas out from heat, exhaustion, it will hold you. Climbing harness is a safe way to go, keep it as simple as possible, spring-loaded rap device? Getting down is no worry, how FAST you get down is. The one comment I can offer, true, is that I have had two main halyard shackles break while sailing, I don't believe it is umcommon, I do not use them for my halyards any longer.
We lower the mast
On a Catalina 250 it takes 5 minutes. Do the repair and then crank it back up. There are advantages to a smaller boat.
If I had a big boat I would do what Warren does - hire someone. At 57 I wont even go up extension ladders to paint the house. I have known people whose fathers have fallen off ladders at my age and it ruined their lives. Climb the mast out in the ocean for a necessary repair? Sure, that is part of the game. Climb up 40 or 50 feet to replace a bulb at the dock? No way.
On a Catalina 250 it takes 5 minutes. Do the repair and then crank it back up. There are advantages to a smaller boat.
If I had a big boat I would do what Warren does - hire someone. At 57 I wont even go up extension ladders to paint the house. I have known people whose fathers have fallen off ladders at my age and it ruined their lives. Climb the mast out in the ocean for a necessary repair? Sure, that is part of the game. Climb up 40 or 50 feet to replace a bulb at the dock? No way.mast mate
The mast mate comes with a safety belt to connect you to the mast. It is almost impossible to fall since you are standing in the web steps and harnessed to the mast. It is the easiest and safest way I have found yet to go aloft. It does not require a helper to winch you. I was once dropped 8' from the top of a tall mast and landed standing on the spreaders. A very close call. The line had tangled and popped off the winch as it was being fixed. A safety line was being used but in the confusion was allowed to go slack. Believe me when I say Mast Mate is the safest way to go.
The mast mate comes with a safety belt to connect you to the mast. It is almost impossible to fall since you are standing in the web steps and harnessed to the mast. It is the easiest and safest way I have found yet to go aloft. It does not require a helper to winch you. I was once dropped 8' from the top of a tall mast and landed standing on the spreaders. A very close call. The line had tangled and popped off the winch as it was being fixed. A safety line was being used but in the confusion was allowed to go slack. Believe me when I say Mast Mate is the safest way to go.
Back UP
Three years ago, I went up the mast to install new spreader lights. I was alone, and on the main halyard, with no back up. Using a 4 - 1 purchase block setup, I pulled myself up. There was a sharp edge that I hadn't noticed on a block. Was up for quite a while, swinging around and getting things done. I do remember the line snapping, but have absolutely no memory of falling. Next thing I remember was lots of blood, not being able to move, and thinking that if I went in the water I would drown. Next thing I remember is the medics cutting me out of the harness. Final result was a major concussion, 14 staples in my hard head, and three crushed vertabae. I am still paying the price for my own stupidity. DO NOT GO UP THE MAST WITH OUT A BACK UP SAFETY LINE, AND DO NOT GO UP THE MAST ALONE.
Three years ago, I went up the mast to install new spreader lights. I was alone, and on the main halyard, with no back up. Using a 4 - 1 purchase block setup, I pulled myself up. There was a sharp edge that I hadn't noticed on a block. Was up for quite a while, swinging around and getting things done. I do remember the line snapping, but have absolutely no memory of falling. Next thing I remember was lots of blood, not being able to move, and thinking that if I went in the water I would drown. Next thing I remember is the medics cutting me out of the harness. Final result was a major concussion, 14 staples in my hard head, and three crushed vertabae. I am still paying the price for my own stupidity. DO NOT GO UP THE MAST WITH OUT A BACK UP SAFETY LINE, AND DO NOT GO UP THE MAST ALONE.
Mast Mate and a bosuns chair
I use the mast mate and have some else tail the haylard thats attached to my very good bosuns chair this way theres no strain on the person down below which could be my spouse then once I'm where I want to be other than the top I do my work and for the trip down if one of my buddy's is helping I take the express down. Another method I've tried is using the haylard on my windlass and talk about taking an express going up!
I use the mast mate and have some else tail the haylard thats attached to my very good bosuns chair this way theres no strain on the person down below which could be my spouse then once I'm where I want to be other than the top I do my work and for the trip down if one of my buddy's is helping I take the express down. Another method I've tried is using the haylard on my windlass and talk about taking an express going up!
agree with RAD...
As a first timer, I recently "climbed" up using the mast mate...very easy. I did feel more comfortable also having a bosun's chair under me. The chair was more comfortable at the top by being able to sit and work vs. standing in the mast mate loops. All in all, they were a good combo.
As a first timer, I recently "climbed" up using the mast mate...very easy. I did feel more comfortable also having a bosun's chair under me. The chair was more comfortable at the top by being able to sit and work vs. standing in the mast mate loops. All in all, they were a good combo.
ATN TOP CLIMBER
I use the ATN top climber with a safety harness. I like to walk and sail so I don't want to take any chance. I climb using the Top Climber and my wife has the extra halyard running through a clutch and onto the winch. I feel safe that way. The climber is easy for me and easy on my wife.
I use the ATN top climber with a safety harness. I like to walk and sail so I don't want to take any chance. I climb using the Top Climber and my wife has the extra halyard running through a clutch and onto the winch. I feel safe that way. The climber is easy for me and easy on my wife.
climbing harness
I trust the climbing harness way more than a bosuns chair.. (who knows the history of my bosuns chair that i inherited with my boat) - though the bosuns chair is comfortable.. I'd trade the extra safety of a climbing harness. As a climber, you always tie the harness into the rope - never use a clip, shackle or carabiner on the harness... Using a clip or shackle at the harness/bosuns chair just introduces another potential failure point.. I use a figure of 8 knot on the main halyard, do a web search for climbers knots - and how to tie in with a figure of 8. In my opinion, this is far safer than trusting your life to any shackle or carabiner.
I trust the climbing harness way more than a bosuns chair.. (who knows the history of my bosuns chair that i inherited with my boat) - though the bosuns chair is comfortable.. I'd trade the extra safety of a climbing harness. As a climber, you always tie the harness into the rope - never use a clip, shackle or carabiner on the harness... Using a clip or shackle at the harness/bosuns chair just introduces another potential failure point.. I use a figure of 8 knot on the main halyard, do a web search for climbers knots - and how to tie in with a figure of 8. In my opinion, this is far safer than trusting your life to any shackle or carabiner.
So as a fellow X climber
How do you repel..or attach yourself to wall protection if you have such aversions to carabiners, shackles..etc.? The only real advantage I see is a 4" gain in hight up to the mast head..which in itself is reason enough to do it your way...
How do you repel..or attach yourself to wall protection if you have such aversions to carabiners, shackles..etc.? The only real advantage I see is a 4" gain in hight up to the mast head..which in itself is reason enough to do it your way...
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