I'm thinking about buying a "MastMate" climbing device and would like to hear from anyone who has used one. Pro's and con's appreciated.
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Scary
I have one and it take's a little getting used to. There is a lot of sway and it's absolutely necessary to hold on to the mast to keep stable when going up or down. In an extreme emergency, and I mean extreme, you can go to the top by yourself. In other than emergency conditions when using the ladder, I use a safety harness with someone assisting me. I actually prefer to use the bosun's chair and keep the mast mate just for single handed emergency's. Bottom line, I'm not really impressed with it.
I have one and it take's a little getting used to. There is a lot of sway and it's absolutely necessary to hold on to the mast to keep stable when going up or down. In an extreme emergency, and I mean extreme, you can go to the top by yourself. In other than emergency conditions when using the ladder, I use a safety harness with someone assisting me. I actually prefer to use the bosun's chair and keep the mast mate just for single handed emergency's. Bottom line, I'm not really impressed with it.
50' ......... $380.00 + S&H
I don't think so....just buy some line a little more then twice the size of your mast and some wood (for the steps). Drill a hole on each end of the step to run the line through. Take the first board and run it all the way to the center of the line and tie a knot just below it...now do it for the next board. Should take only an hour and cost maybe $50 for the line and wood. I was actually thinking this last night and am going to build one this weekend.
I don't think so....just buy some line a little more then twice the size of your mast and some wood (for the steps). Drill a hole on each end of the step to run the line through. Take the first board and run it all the way to the center of the line and tie a knot just below it...now do it for the next board. Should take only an hour and cost maybe $50 for the line and wood. I was actually thinking this last night and am going to build one this weekend.
Franklin, how are you going to
secure it to the mast? The mastmate has slugs to keep it aligned in the track. Have you ever seen or used one? Just want you to be careful.
secure it to the mast? The mastmate has slugs to keep it aligned in the track. Have you ever seen or used one? Just want you to be careful.
Bos'n chair and "falls"
I have been using this system for may years (30+) and it works just fine. Basically you go buy some blocks (a double and a single with becket) and 200' of 1/2 inch 3 strand nylon. Put the line on the blocks with the last turn at the top. hoist this to the mast head with your halyard while paying out the line. Attach your bos'n chair to the bottom block and put a safety tie on the shackle. Put on your safety harness. Sit in the chair and start pulling yourself up. When you get passed the spreaders loop the tether of your safety harness around the mast and attach it to your harness. You can stop anywhere you like. Simply loop the end of your falls line under the attachment point of the lower block to the chair and tie a half hitch. There is only 1/4 of your weight pulling on the line (for me 40 lbs). It is easy to pull yourself up. Now you have a way up the mast, an extra anchor line, and a hoist system to lift heavy things from the dock or water. Be careful. Once you hoist the falls, tie the halyard off on two or more cleats. Franklin, Be sure that your Blue-Cross is paid up!
I have been using this system for may years (30+) and it works just fine. Basically you go buy some blocks (a double and a single with becket) and 200' of 1/2 inch 3 strand nylon. Put the line on the blocks with the last turn at the top. hoist this to the mast head with your halyard while paying out the line. Attach your bos'n chair to the bottom block and put a safety tie on the shackle. Put on your safety harness. Sit in the chair and start pulling yourself up. When you get passed the spreaders loop the tether of your safety harness around the mast and attach it to your harness. You can stop anywhere you like. Simply loop the end of your falls line under the attachment point of the lower block to the chair and tie a half hitch. There is only 1/4 of your weight pulling on the line (for me 40 lbs). It is easy to pull yourself up. Now you have a way up the mast, an extra anchor line, and a hoist system to lift heavy things from the dock or water. Be careful. Once you hoist the falls, tie the halyard off on two or more cleats. Franklin, Be sure that your Blue-Cross is paid up!
securing to mast
as you know, attach the top to somthing like a spin halyard and raise it. Before that, you tie to bottom to something down below on the mast. As you raise the ladder, the length should be shorter then the length to the haylard top so you can crank on the haylard to get the ladder tight. It's not a perfect solution for trying to get up in rough conditions, but should work easily for most conditions, especially at the dock. For rough conditions I recommend rock climbing gear. Just as a warning though...I heard that there is a big risk of passing out if you sit in the harness too long. If you need to be up there a long time....move around to get the blood flowing out of your legs. The reason I want the ladder is so I can go up the mast, at least part of the way, while at sea to get a better view. If you are worried about falling and your alone, put on a harness and attach the topping lift to it and while you climb the ladder, pull the topping lift tight. If you fall, you should be able to hold onto the topping lift enough to control your fall if not stop it all together. This only works though if you have an adjustable topping lift.
as you know, attach the top to somthing like a spin halyard and raise it. Before that, you tie to bottom to something down below on the mast. As you raise the ladder, the length should be shorter then the length to the haylard top so you can crank on the haylard to get the ladder tight. It's not a perfect solution for trying to get up in rough conditions, but should work easily for most conditions, especially at the dock. For rough conditions I recommend rock climbing gear. Just as a warning though...I heard that there is a big risk of passing out if you sit in the harness too long. If you need to be up there a long time....move around to get the blood flowing out of your legs. The reason I want the ladder is so I can go up the mast, at least part of the way, while at sea to get a better view. If you are worried about falling and your alone, put on a harness and attach the topping lift to it and while you climb the ladder, pull the topping lift tight. If you fall, you should be able to hold onto the topping lift enough to control your fall if not stop it all together. This only works though if you have an adjustable topping lift.
another usage
The cool thing about this rope ladder is that it can be used for lots of stuff. What got me thinking about this is that I need to get up my piling at my dock. Last weekend I used a normal ladder but it was even more risky then a rope ladder and I also risked marking up the deck and it was hard to lug around. With this rope ladder, all I have to do is throw a line over the piling bar and pull up the ladder and tie it all off. Piece of cake.
The cool thing about this rope ladder is that it can be used for lots of stuff. What got me thinking about this is that I need to get up my piling at my dock. Last weekend I used a normal ladder but it was even more risky then a rope ladder and I also risked marking up the deck and it was hard to lug around. With this rope ladder, all I have to do is throw a line over the piling bar and pull up the ladder and tie it all off. Piece of cake.
Homemade
Warren, I made my own "topper climber" for about for about $30. I have used it several times with no problems at all and it only took some basic tools and a sewing machine. They are based on some climbing principles and are very safe. The ones I made will hold you at whatever level you ish for as long as you wish. If you were to slip somehow the rig locks itself in place and stops you from falling until you release it.
Warren, I made my own "topper climber" for about for about $30. I have used it several times with no problems at all and it only took some basic tools and a sewing machine. They are based on some climbing principles and are very safe. The ones I made will hold you at whatever level you ish for as long as you wish. If you were to slip somehow the rig locks itself in place and stops you from falling until you release it.
Franklin, I am not sure you understood
my previous post. The mast mate has sail slugs attached to prevent it from swinging around too much. Have you seen or used one? If you just attach only the top and bottom, there is a lot of swinging that can happen in the middle. You might be glad if you actually try one and make yours accordingly.
my previous post. The mast mate has sail slugs attached to prevent it from swinging around too much. Have you seen or used one? If you just attach only the top and bottom, there is a lot of swinging that can happen in the middle. You might be glad if you actually try one and make yours accordingly.
I have one
It came with the boat. I've used it 3-4 times. What I do is use the bosun's chair with my wife taking up the slack as I climb she isn't strong enough to winch me up. It takes a little skill to get your feet into the steps. I couldn't find one once and my wife supported me for several minutes. She was letting me down a little too fast. One foot hung up in a step and I couldn't get my other foot into a step. Akward to say the least. I watched a guy use a top climber with his father on belay. It looked easier and safer than the mast mate. Whatever you do I would have a separate safety line with someone on belay. Tom
It came with the boat. I've used it 3-4 times. What I do is use the bosun's chair with my wife taking up the slack as I climb she isn't strong enough to winch me up. It takes a little skill to get your feet into the steps. I couldn't find one once and my wife supported me for several minutes. She was letting me down a little too fast. One foot hung up in a step and I couldn't get my other foot into a step. Akward to say the least. I watched a guy use a top climber with his father on belay. It looked easier and safer than the mast mate. Whatever you do I would have a separate safety line with someone on belay. Tom
Overbuilt but homemade
My wife and I decided to make our own mast ladder similar to the Mast Mate system. We were able to purchase 150' of 10,000 lb truckers tie down webbing and two 3000 lb stainless D rings for $75.00 cdn at a local tent and awning shop. We used a heavy weight industrial thread and we were able to sew this project on our Janome home sewing machine. The layout was a little time consuming but we were able to sew the 36 alternating steps in about 10 hrs of evening work. Our stitching was very thorough and the strength overall would probably let it be utilized as a tow strap to pull 4 x 4's out of mud bogs! We still have to attach the sail slugs but we are pleased with how it looks thus far. It is destined for use on our 37' Hunter cutter. Even though we have the utmost confidence in the results you can be sure we will utilize every available halyard as safety lines when climbing.
My wife and I decided to make our own mast ladder similar to the Mast Mate system. We were able to purchase 150' of 10,000 lb truckers tie down webbing and two 3000 lb stainless D rings for $75.00 cdn at a local tent and awning shop. We used a heavy weight industrial thread and we were able to sew this project on our Janome home sewing machine. The layout was a little time consuming but we were able to sew the 36 alternating steps in about 10 hrs of evening work. Our stitching was very thorough and the strength overall would probably let it be utilized as a tow strap to pull 4 x 4's out of mud bogs! We still have to attach the sail slugs but we are pleased with how it looks thus far. It is destined for use on our 37' Hunter cutter. Even though we have the utmost confidence in the results you can be sure we will utilize every available halyard as safety lines when climbing.
Screw on Mast steps
For the cost of a mast mate you could probably buy enough screw on steps to reach the top of a mast. Some boats at my marina have these steps. After the initial placement they would seem a better alternative. Several store sell them. Tom
For the cost of a mast mate you could probably buy enough screw on steps to reach the top of a mast. Some boats at my marina have these steps. After the initial placement they would seem a better alternative. Several store sell them. Tom
I feel safe hanging from two lines
while I have gone up to the spreaders on one line, I was not "relaxed". I use Liam's system but with a 5:1 ratio. Haul top block to top of mast, clip harness and chair into bottom block and the tie in backup second halyard into harness if you have someone to "tail" the backup halyard. If the second halyard is going to be "static", tied off at the bottom, then attach yourself to the second halyard by way of an ascender (sp)and slide it up as the chair goes up. Now if you want a system where both the hauler and haulee can get stung by bees at the same time and let go of everything and not cause a fall; clip another ascender from the harness to the line in the block system that is doing the hauling ( the final line that is being pulled down while you are going up) then the person in the chair slides both ascenders up the haul line and backup line. Everyone can let go of everything and the chair is suspended on the block system and the separate backup halyard. If I am alone, I use the same system. Pull myself up ( is is easy but slow with 5:1 ratio), slide the ascender up the block system a few times then reach over and slide the acsender up on the back up halyard. TO descend, I use a rapell device on the block system but still keep the back up line/ascender hooked up. The issue with ladders of any type, is they don't stop your fall. You use one halyard to haul up the ladder and so end up hanging from a single halyard with no back up. If I had to climb the mast on a ladder, soon as I got to the "working" elevation, I would rig a girth hitch sling around the mast.
while I have gone up to the spreaders on one line, I was not "relaxed". I use Liam's system but with a 5:1 ratio. Haul top block to top of mast, clip harness and chair into bottom block and the tie in backup second halyard into harness if you have someone to "tail" the backup halyard. If the second halyard is going to be "static", tied off at the bottom, then attach yourself to the second halyard by way of an ascender (sp)and slide it up as the chair goes up. Now if you want a system where both the hauler and haulee can get stung by bees at the same time and let go of everything and not cause a fall; clip another ascender from the harness to the line in the block system that is doing the hauling ( the final line that is being pulled down while you are going up) then the person in the chair slides both ascenders up the haul line and backup line. Everyone can let go of everything and the chair is suspended on the block system and the separate backup halyard. If I am alone, I use the same system. Pull myself up ( is is easy but slow with 5:1 ratio), slide the ascender up the block system a few times then reach over and slide the acsender up on the back up halyard. TO descend, I use a rapell device on the block system but still keep the back up line/ascender hooked up. The issue with ladders of any type, is they don't stop your fall. You use one halyard to haul up the ladder and so end up hanging from a single halyard with no back up. If I had to climb the mast on a ladder, soon as I got to the "working" elevation, I would rig a girth hitch sling around the mast.
Capt Jim
Thanks...you gave me an idea. I have a climbing gear that I normally use. I can put the harness on and use the Assender attached to a haylard as I go up the ladder. The assender is fast and easy to use. If I fall off my ladder, the assender will hold me up because it will be attached to the harness by a 3' line. Thanks Capt Jim.
Thanks...you gave me an idea. I have a climbing gear that I normally use. I can put the harness on and use the Assender attached to a haylard as I go up the ladder. The assender is fast and easy to use. If I fall off my ladder, the assender will hold me up because it will be attached to the harness by a 3' line. Thanks Capt Jim.
Mast Mate
I have a Mast Mate that I may put up for sale if you're interested (on this website). In general, it works fine...once you have untangeled it and set it up for hoisting (which takes awhile). Of course, you also need to drop all the slides out of the mainsail track and insert the slides from the Mast Mate. I now have a roller furling Main, so the Mast Mate no longer works for me.
I have a Mast Mate that I may put up for sale if you're interested (on this website). In general, it works fine...once you have untangeled it and set it up for hoisting (which takes awhile). Of course, you also need to drop all the slides out of the mainsail track and insert the slides from the Mast Mate. I now have a roller furling Main, so the Mast Mate no longer works for me.
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