Hi all, the wind direction thingy (technical term) that sits atop of my mast is not giving a true reading, ive checked everything within reach and as best i can tell it is all as it should be, which leaves a trip up the mast, I called a supplier today about the purchase of a rope ladder, but for a 50+foot mast the price was over $800. does anyone have a realistic price and safe option for getting up the mast. i have a bosons chair and harness, but was looking for a option i can do on my own, Thanks in advance. Ben

Youll need 2 others to winch you up.

have a look at " mast climber "

Thats awesome.

Have a look at this months cruising helmsman it has an artical on making solo mast climbers

I have a top climber and it's easy to use. Allows me to get my head above the top of the mast and all done without the need for anyone else. I like the idea of not having to rely on someone else knowing what they are doing to ensure my safety. Once setup, you are always attached and there is no chance of falling if you keep the harness on or don't try to hang upside down in it . I suppose it also helps if you know how to tie knots. Because I can put the bottom attachment point in multiple locations I am able to inspect the standing rigging at the tips of my spreader as well.

Sometimes I use it just for taking pictures

Thanks Guys, appreciate the comments, and will look to purchase a Top Climber, seems like the way to go, also thank for the offer to Loan / borrow, but im in Sydney. Ben

Hi Ben
You allready have bosons chair and harnes, now you need enough suitable rope.
I use blocks from the boom. Feed enough rope to winch one block on top of the mast
and the other attached to the chair.
Use spare halyard, for safety harness,
I Have done it without help, but with second person it's easy as.

Thanks for this info... I will get the top climber myself. I have a bosuns chair but also by myself mostly.
I have to change my sheaves. Has anyone done this without taking the mast out?

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McNaughtical said..
Thanks for this info... I will get the top climber myself. I have a bosuns chair but also by myself mostly.
I have to change my sheaves. Has anyone done this without taking the mast out?

Hey McN, This is not recommended. Mast down is the way to go.

Even if you did do it by going up, it is at least two trips, ie by using the aft halyards while you replace the fwd sheaves and vice verca for the aft sheaves.

Working at the top of the mast is for young and/or athletic types but even then the work is difficult and quite stressful.

Do you want to pit your life against $500 worth of crane hire??

More than likely the sheave s/s axle pins will be siezed in the mast so you will need to go up with pliers and multigrips to get the split pins out, anti sieze spray to loosen and lubricate the pins, hammer and punch to drive the pins out, and a smaller diameter rod to poke through so you don't drop the sheaves down the mast.

All of the tools will need lanyards on them so that you do not drop them on the head of the person keeping watch on you below.

Are you still thinking of going up the mast???

Good advice from Cisco Mc Nautical
as well as sheaths when it down you can look at every thing which would be a real bonus and peace of mind in a big blow\
and perhaps your nav lights are notLED so it would be a great chance to change them and tidy any thing else up there

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Charriot said..
Hi Ben
You allready have bosons chair and harnes, now you need enough suitable rope.
I use blocks from the boom. Feed enough rope to winch one block on top of the mast
and the other attached to the chair.
Use spare halyard, for safety harness,
I Have done it without help, but with second person it's easy as.

Hi Charriot,
I think I know what you mean, but I'm not certain.
Can you explain a bit more
regards,
Allan

The way l do it is with the help of my son who is operating the two self tailig whinches and the rope clutch while l am hanging off the two spinnaker halyards sitting on a bosuns chair. I clip the second main halyard to my harness just because l got it. On those three ropes l was up there when it was blowing 20+ kn. Safe as.
I do it at least three, four times a year to check things.
It is not magic but you have to be fit!

Ben, if you need help, l can pull you up. No worries.
Send me a pm.

To use a rope climber, you need a flat calm to be safe, first time, and you better be super fit because it is a hard way doing it. Be warned.
I would not do it on my own.
When it starts pitching and rolling, you going to soil your pants.

Read the article in latest "Cruising Helmsman" re mast climbing. I think it is the best method.

I think mast climbing on your own is just plain foolishness. Having a person on deck to send up tools on a mouse line is handy for a start. Ultimately if you do fall the other hand could still save your life.

If the climb is set up correctly the person on deck can also bring you safely down if you pass out.

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Lazzarae said..

SandS said..

sorry top climber ..........http://www.topclimber.com.au/

I've got one of these ^^

Where are you, you're welcome to borrow it - I'm Lake Macquarie.

Looks good price seems good video makes it look easy, I would still have a second person on board if possible.

So Chris when are we going to fix the windex?

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keithw said..

video makes it look easy,

The TopClimber is hard work when you're not young & fit!!

Easy if you're young & agile.

It's comforting to have someone else helping with a back up line around a winch.

Top climber would be a good set up with a back up line. Risky business depending on one sheave.

This is worth a read. l-36.com/mast_climbing.php


This is is the item I should have built by now, better suited to older people. Obviously can be used other ways, solo with a harness etc.

Read the comments on the video and do not use the clip to attach the rope!

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Ramona said..
Top climber would be a good set up with a back up line. Risky business depending on one sheave.

This is worth a read. l-36.com/mast_climbing.php


This is is the item I should have built by now, better suited to older people. Obviously can be used other ways, solo with a harness etc.

that is a really good find Ramona !!! great idea !!!!!

hi Datawiz
Guess it's a good idea have plan B in case you need to go UP .
Also going UP mast, once a year or few, can't justify the cost of climbing gear.
Just borrow from the mainsail boom block and tackle / removing or bypassing becket/,
Top block attach to main sail halyard and hoist up to top of the mast....sure you feed enough rope / 5 times mast length/
Bottom block is attach to the bosons chair. Think about safety , I Use spare halyard around my waist as a safety ,
means it's quite independent if something give up on main halyard.
you end up with ratio 4 to 1 and that's quite manageable to get up to top.

hi Datawiz
Guess it's a good idea have plan B in case you need to go UP .
Also going UP mast, once a year or few, can't justify the cost of climbing gear.
Just borrow from the mainsail boom block and tackle / removing or bypassing becket/,
Top block attach to main sail halyard and hoist up to top of the mast....sure you feed enough rope / 5 times mast length/
Bottom block is attach to the bosons chair. Think about safety , I Use spare halyard around my waist as a safety ,
means it's quite independent if something give up on main halyard.
you end up with ratio 4 to 1 and that's quite manageable to get up to top.

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Lazzarae said..

keithw said..

video makes it look easy,

The TopClimber is hard work when you're not young & fit!!

Easy if you're young & agile.

It's comforting to have someone else helping with a back up line around a winch.

Well I thank thee Larry for going up my mast near Easter last year which unfortunately proved to be a fruitless exercise as far as getting the Tri Light working but upon your inspection did confirm that the other mast head fittings were sound.

As I recall you did express a feeling of physical exertion not too far from exhaustion when we got you back on deck.

Take note folks. The length of the mast is a lot easier to traverse when it is horizontal than when vertical.

Say no more, say no more. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind man.

I repeat my comment on this thread or the other one that mast climbing without on deck support is utter foolishness.

I really like Ramona's vid of the board with saddles and cam cleat for it's simplicity and without a doubt economy.

It seemed too simple so I am going to have to watch it again.

Yes, I have watched again and I reckon it is the duck's nuts.

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cisco said...



Yes, I have watched again and I reckon it is the duck's nuts.

These have been around for years and seem popular with the Poms. When you are wearing a climbing harness you can stand well above the top of the mast. Bosuns chair you have to reach up. There are several ways to use these and I think the best way is a dedicated rope for the easy climb hauled up on a halyard. Another halyard for a harness and ascender and ideally a further halyard as a safety line for the assistant.

Friend of mine climbs his enormous wooden mast with exterior halyards using climbing gear and can scamper up really fast. I've watched him a few times but he often does it by himself. Couple of weeks ago when he went out to his yacht he found the halyard laying in a heap on the deck!

I use a very similar system to Charriots...., I have two "double" blocks, one attached to my harness (arborist harness) & the other block (double with a becket) I send to the top of the mast on a spare halyard, on the tail instead of the cleat, I'll tie a Prusik knot www.animatedknots.com/prusik-knot to my harness.
As a back-up, I'll cleat the headsail halyard off hard against the mast (all my halyards etc are external), & use a second Prusik on that.
You pull down the tail rope of the system, lock it with one hand under your arm then slide up the Prusik.
Its basically the same as what a lot of Arborists use, except with the addition of the blocks to make it easier.
You simply twist the Prusik knot to descend, once you let go it locks & stops, so you can work hands free, twist the knot again to descend again. The only downside is, you have the double block system "above you" so to speak, so its not super easy to work above the mast head. You need to take a separate line line with loops in it, to step into when at the top.

Once your up & enjoying the view, you still have to get down!, make sure whatever system you use, you can get down safely, easily & quickly, without the need to disconnect.
cheers

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Ramona said..

Couple of weeks ago when he went out to his yacht he found the halyard laying in a heap on the deck!

Phew, I bet that raised the hairs on the back of his neck. A very timely warning.

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cisco said..

Ramona said..

Couple of weeks ago when he went out to his yacht he found the halyard laying in a heap on the deck!

Phew, I bet that raised the hairs on the back of his neck. A very timely warning.

The tricky bit now is which of the remainder halyards to use to climb up and effect a repair!

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Charriot said..




hi Datawiz
Guess it's a good idea have plan B in case you need to go UP .
Also going UP mast, once a year or few, can't justify the cost of climbing gear.
Just borrow from the mainsail boom block and tackle / removing or bypassing becket/,
Top block attach to main sail halyard and hoist up to top of the mast....sure you feed enough rope / 5 times mast length/
Bottom block is attach to the bosons chair. Think about safety , I Use spare halyard around my waist as a safety ,
means it's quite independent if something give up on main halyard.
you end up with ratio 4 to 1 and that's quite manageable to get up to top.

Thanks Charriot,
Now I get it
regards,
Allan

Perhaps replace an existing halyard by 'mousing' a new line.
regards,
Allan

I go up my mast often as I love the view up there! I installed aluminium mast steps all the way to the top and I use a climbing harness with main halyard attached and my partner keeping it tensioned as a back-up. I have threaded shock cord through the steps to stop the halyards getting tangled while sailing.
I installed a new LED anchor light and lubricated all pullys last time I was up there.
Works great!