Which assender do you use ?
- Thread starter CYQK
- Start date
Hello CYQK,
A rigger whom I respect and trust does not ascend using the halyard on the boat. His solution is to stitch his choice of climbing line to the end of the halyard and pull his trusted line through the turning blocks at the top of the mast. Once the end of his line is in hand at deck level again he ties it off, ties the other part of that line as needed, and climbs entirely on his own line. Of course there will be some differences in the technique depending on the type of climbing equipment you have chosen, but the use of one's own line is the key issue. Once the project is completed he unties his line and pulls it and the original halyard back to the beginning position and removes the stitching to free the end of his line from the halyard.
I have seen this process done, but, sadly, I have none of the pictures that SBO members love!
A rigger whom I respect and trust does not ascend using the halyard on the boat. His solution is to stitch his choice of climbing line to the end of the halyard and pull his trusted line through the turning blocks at the top of the mast. Once the end of his line is in hand at deck level again he ties it off, ties the other part of that line as needed, and climbs entirely on his own line. Of course there will be some differences in the technique depending on the type of climbing equipment you have chosen, but the use of one's own line is the key issue. Once the project is completed he unties his line and pulls it and the original halyard back to the beginning position and removes the stitching to free the end of his line from the halyard.
I have seen this process done, but, sadly, I have none of the pictures that SBO members love!
It will be simpler to hoist a smaller climbing line. Climbing gear is standardized around 9-11 mm and it will save were on your halyard. There are industrial grabs for larger sizes.
^^ That rigger is smart. He doesn't know your gear. However, if you run a safety to another good halyard, You can be safe as long as you have fundamentally good halyards.
^^ That rigger is smart. He doesn't know your gear. However, if you run a safety to another good halyard, You can be safe as long as you have fundamentally good halyards.
ATN TopClimber. It's easy and safe to use but requires some upper body strength, so get in shape!
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,364
I watched several men climbing coconut trees barefoot, no rope, using a machete to drop the coconuts to the ground. The trees were at least 70 feet and they were at it for three days clearing a marina and condo complex. I saw one of them climbing a mast the same way. A year later I saw a young lad doing the same thing. After that I considered adding rat lines to my rigging to make the climbing easier. Still working on the idea.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,364
I will follow your quest for “ratlines” to climb into your rigging.
One thought, taken from Brian Toss’s “The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice”
It appears to be sound advice. Best of luck. Take pictures just in case.
One thought, taken from Brian Toss’s “The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice”
When you climb ratlines, always hold onto the shrouds, not the ratlines, in case a seizing let’s go.
It appears to be sound advice. Best of luck. Take pictures just in case.
Oh! You meant ascender. 
I thought this thread was about the types of boat sterns.
I thought this thread was about the types of boat sterns.
If I was going to use one the ATN would be a good choice. It is made of stainless steel Its open design allows it to be fitted over a taught halyard, synthetic shroud or stay from 3/8" up to 5/8" diameter. Ascender | Sailboat Gear| ATN Sailing Equipment (atninc.com). I know they are relatively popular (my berth neighbor climbs with 2 ascenders one on a separate rope) but I found the Swi-Tec Mastlift SWI TEC Mastlift 13m (swi-tec.us) with its is 10:1 purchase is effortless and fast to go up and down the mast and does not require someone on a winch.
Years ago as a sailboat dealer, I witnessed a friend of mine go up as a professional rigger using the existing line on board of the boat. That line was defective. Line broke ending in two broken legs. The wisest decision he made was to haul himself up using lines he trusted that he owned afterwards
Well put!!...........just purchased new high breaking strength, low stretch spinnaker halyard (primary climbing line) and topping lift (used as a back-up safety line) to replace 16 year old lines in the event I or someone else needs to go up the mast.
I tried using a pair of ATN ascenders, but they were a real pain to keep from scaring up my newly repainted mast. When they got within 5' of the top, it was impossible to climb further without them dragging the metal edge over the paint and I needed to finish by having my ground crew haul me up.
After that attempt, I went back to my home-made ascender.
I use a 6' long piece of 3/8" line tied end-to-end with a double fisherman’s knot. I use that loop of line to make a Prusik knot on a tensioned halyard. I have a set of stirrups tied to the prusik and two other halyards tied to my climbing harness.
To climb, I sit in the harness and slide the prusik as high as I can get it while keeping my feet in the stirrups. I then stand in the stirrups and my wife hauls the harness up tight so that I can sit at the new higher level. I just inchworm my way to the top.
I made three trips up the mast using this technique over the Memorial Day weekend to install my new G-wind. The advantage is that there are no sharp edges to mar the mast and it does not require a great deal of strength for either the climber or the ground crew. Most of the work is done with leg muscles.
After that attempt, I went back to my home-made ascender.
I use a 6' long piece of 3/8" line tied end-to-end with a double fisherman’s knot. I use that loop of line to make a Prusik knot on a tensioned halyard. I have a set of stirrups tied to the prusik and two other halyards tied to my climbing harness.
To climb, I sit in the harness and slide the prusik as high as I can get it while keeping my feet in the stirrups. I then stand in the stirrups and my wife hauls the harness up tight so that I can sit at the new higher level. I just inchworm my way to the top.
I made three trips up the mast using this technique over the Memorial Day weekend to install my new G-wind. The advantage is that there are no sharp edges to mar the mast and it does not require a great deal of strength for either the climber or the ground crew. Most of the work is done with leg muscles.