Our Windex corroded through and fell off so I talked my oldest son into letting me winch him up the mast..... that was work (for me, not him!!!) Memo to self: ABSOLUTE requirement on our cruising boat = mast steps. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
How to get your kid high *yks
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Another Windex Story, not Urgan Legend
When I was growning up, the younger brother of my best friend drank some Windex. My mother, very concerned, asked my friends mother what she did. My friends mother said we just aimed him towards a window when he needed to pee.
When I was growning up, the younger brother of my best friend drank some Windex. My mother, very concerned, asked my friends mother what she did. My friends mother said we just aimed him towards a window when he needed to pee.
Mast steps?
Mast steps are handy to help climb a mast while you are in a bo'suns chair, but they are not a substitute. In my opinion the proper number of mast steps is three. One close to the deck to make attaching the halyard and using the sail cover easier. The other two are at the top of the mast so you can stand on them to get at parts of the masthead that you can't reach from the chair. The rest of the steps just snag halyards, cause chafe, and add points for corrosion to attack the mast (4 screws per step). Not to mention the extra weight aloft and windage. I'd invest in a windless before adding mast steps. Use the rope drum on the windless to hoist the person going aloft.
Mast steps are handy to help climb a mast while you are in a bo'suns chair, but they are not a substitute. In my opinion the proper number of mast steps is three. One close to the deck to make attaching the halyard and using the sail cover easier. The other two are at the top of the mast so you can stand on them to get at parts of the masthead that you can't reach from the chair. The rest of the steps just snag halyards, cause chafe, and add points for corrosion to attack the mast (4 screws per step). Not to mention the extra weight aloft and windage. I'd invest in a windless before adding mast steps. Use the rope drum on the windless to hoist the person going aloft.
I ditto that.
I already have 2 mast steps just above the deck, and I want to install 2 at the top so I can stand on them while working on all the stuff up there. Otherwise, I would not want anything else on the stick.
I already have 2 mast steps just above the deck, and I want to install 2 at the top so I can stand on them while working on all the stuff up there. Otherwise, I would not want anything else on the stick.
Go for the steps
I put mast steps on my Catalina 30 about 3 years ago. The non-preferred kind, you know, the triangular looking ones that catch all your lines.....I LOVE THEM. I climb on offshore oil rigs all day for a living so im used to climbing. I feel safer in the triangulur steps on my mast than in the folding steps simply because my feet cant slip out of the 'stirrup'. Im 200 lbs, my girl friend is 120 lbs. It is not always practical to send her up the mast. With the mast steps and a bos'ns chair i can climb most of the mast and she can tail me off as i climb. Takes less than a min to get to the top. Will your external halyards get hung up on the steps? YES DEFFINATELY, but only till you get used to the idea that the steps are up there and you will hold and hoist your halyards differently and no more problem. How often will you need to go up the mast? More often than you think, when you can easily do it. Upper mast work doesnt get put off...radio antenna, tv antenna, radar, windex, anchor light,etc. etc. If you change your mind, they can always be taken off.BTW, there are ways to keep halyards from hanging up. I havent done any yet because the steps havent been a problem, and yes...I do sail regularly.
I put mast steps on my Catalina 30 about 3 years ago. The non-preferred kind, you know, the triangular looking ones that catch all your lines.....I LOVE THEM. I climb on offshore oil rigs all day for a living so im used to climbing. I feel safer in the triangulur steps on my mast than in the folding steps simply because my feet cant slip out of the 'stirrup'. Im 200 lbs, my girl friend is 120 lbs. It is not always practical to send her up the mast. With the mast steps and a bos'ns chair i can climb most of the mast and she can tail me off as i climb. Takes less than a min to get to the top. Will your external halyards get hung up on the steps? YES DEFFINATELY, but only till you get used to the idea that the steps are up there and you will hold and hoist your halyards differently and no more problem. How often will you need to go up the mast? More often than you think, when you can easily do it. Upper mast work doesnt get put off...radio antenna, tv antenna, radar, windex, anchor light,etc. etc. If you change your mind, they can always be taken off.BTW, there are ways to keep halyards from hanging up. I havent done any yet because the steps havent been a problem, and yes...I do sail regularly.
Bob....
your a trip
I go up the mast with rock climbing gear. Read a story of a guy to drifted for 3 months because he couldn't get up the mast. Figured I needed a way to get up the mast by myself in any conditions. I have 4 lines (Jib, spin and Main halyards, Topping lift) that I could use to get up so if any go out, I always have another. I would love to have steps but funds are limited now and the climbing gear is cheap and maybe the safest. Still not sure how to rig steps on a B&R rig for a 376.
your a trip
I go up the mast with rock climbing gear. Read a story of a guy to drifted for 3 months because he couldn't get up the mast. Figured I needed a way to get up the mast by myself in any conditions. I have 4 lines (Jib, spin and Main halyards, Topping lift) that I could use to get up so if any go out, I always have another. I would love to have steps but funds are limited now and the climbing gear is cheap and maybe the safest. Still not sure how to rig steps on a B&R rig for a 376.
Bob
I agree with Franklin. I go aloft several times a year and it's a breeze with a pair of accenders. One for the safety harness and one for your feet. My only suggestion is not to climb your halyards, but use the halyard to hoist a dedicated climbing line, then lower the climbing line when you're done. Anyone who can squat and stand can use this method and it saves the need for another poor soul from lifting your(or my) fat ass up the mast.
I agree with Franklin. I go aloft several times a year and it's a breeze with a pair of accenders. One for the safety harness and one for your feet. My only suggestion is not to climb your halyards, but use the halyard to hoist a dedicated climbing line, then lower the climbing line when you're done. Anyone who can squat and stand can use this method and it saves the need for another poor soul from lifting your(or my) fat ass up the mast.
Getting Kids high
I have had the kids on our boats since they where 2 years old and here's my oldest daughter helping her dad and enjoying it. Keep kids sailing
I have had the kids on our boats since they where 2 years old and here's my oldest daughter helping her dad and enjoying it. Keep kids sailing
MastMate
I bought this system so I can go aloft with my wife or any one else tailing a halyard and me in the bosuns chair. I was up to the top in no time and had my friend secure the halyard while I sat in the chair and worked, the cool advanage of this system is there is no effort on the person tailing and climbing was a breeze so if I had to just run up there to fetch a halyard that could be done quickly and alone
I bought this system so I can go aloft with my wife or any one else tailing a halyard and me in the bosuns chair. I was up to the top in no time and had my friend secure the halyard while I sat in the chair and worked, the cool advanage of this system is there is no effort on the person tailing and climbing was a breeze so if I had to just run up there to fetch a halyard that could be done quickly and alone
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