Up the mast with my Mast Mate

Jacktar · May 24, 2018

Some of us are just old school,

thinwater · May 24, 2018

Yup, that can be the best way, I've done it many times. However, I suggest you lift the ladder with a halyard (can't fall that way), secure the legs with ropes, and tie it to the mast as soon as you reach the top. You can even tie it to the mast before it is hoisted.

Take the time to make it SOLID.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2016/03/extension-ladders-on-deck.html

ToddS · May 24, 2018

dziedzicmj said:
your legs are the strongest - climb with your legs, not hands. So use a pair of ascenders (one for the harness, one for the leg(s). If you use a 4:1, you have to use your arms. A 3rd ascender on a separate halyard, as safety. No need for extra help. Even in a fractional rig, you can use the jib halyard as safety line (the worst case, you fall a few feet).

I agree, and have gone up several times this way (mostly birdproofing missions). My home-made rig is SLIGHTLY different than this... instead of your two ascenders, I use one ascender, and one grigri... by alternating between standing on a strap attached to the ascender, and "sitting" in a harness hooked to the grigri, I can inchworm my way up under my own power... legs are strong... arms are weak. Then when I'm ready to come down, I can ditch my foot-strap & ascender up there, with just my harness attached to the grigri, I can belay myself back down. Yes, all of this should be done with a second/separate belay system as backup as well.
I also don't CLIMB up the halyard directly... I use a halyard to hoist up a static climbing rope with nobody on it first... then it is fixed there, and I ascend the climbing rope. All of the equipment (halyard, climbing rope, carabiners, harness, ascender, grigri) is closely inspected for wear, damage, safety before every use.
While having an assistant may help with safety in some ways, there is also a plus side to not having a helper anywhere near the danger-zone directly below me where I could drop a tool, etc.

Jacktar · May 24, 2018

If you look real close you will see I anchored the top with the jib halyard on the top rung. Did not move with the ladder neatly jammed inside the lower shrouds. But fastening the zip ties around the spreader boots one handed (one hand for boat one hand for work! rule) was a little challenging.

Crazy Dave Condon · May 25, 2018

Although old school use of ladders was to use a ladder on small boats, as a dealer I dropped all masts on Precision,Hunter,Beneteau, Catalina, MacGregor and others. I have seen accidents of owners using ladders that resulted in injuries but what got my attention was a black body bag with a body going past me on a stretcher headed to the morgue. I urge extreme caution in the use of ladders as I was never a fan of them going up masts

thinwater · May 25, 2018

CD is right, of course. Be very careful. A boat can and WILL move while you are up there, so the ladder must be very well secured and you must climb it with extreme caution and tie-off while working.

Common sense. Lots of it.

dziedzicmj · May 25, 2018

Jacktar said:
But fastening the zip ties around the spreader boots one handed (one hand for boat one hand for work! rule) was a little challenging

A harness tied above the spreaders would make it hands free.

pateco · May 25, 2018

I have been having my 18 year old son go up the mast using something similar to a mast mate.

Along with a climbing harness like this:

pateco · May 25, 2018

Brian D said:
Send me your son. Please.

You cant afford him. LOL

Hell, I can't afford him .

He is moving away and starting College in 3 weeks. There goes my crew.

Will Gilmore · May 25, 2018

Nobody can afford a teenager. Even the government doesn't subsidize them.

- Will (proud parent of $200,000 in student debt, tuition, housing, vacations abroad, fraternity dues and parties, moving costs, :beer:

,... for two; hoping the JD pays for itself and the nursing degree is a good investment for our old age, Dragonfly)