How to Climb the Mast by Yourself
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- What do you do when you are miles from home and help and need to climb the mast on your boat? And what if you are alone? In this vid I show you two methods I have used for climbing the mast alone.
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Another great video. I have the ATN Climber and used it for several years, but always found it awkward and uncomfortable to use. A couple of years ago I re-rigged my boat one stay at a time, (never again - next time, I'm pulling the stick and doing it in the yard on the ground) and had to climb the mast over 2 dozen times. The ATN is ok for emergency use, but it wasn't going to cut it for a complete re-rigging job. First I experimented with a 3 part tackle, but my mast is 40', and is was just too tiring - I'm in my 50ies - so I ended up with a 5 part system, and yes, a LOT of line. I sourced all parts of the hoisting system from REI's climbing department, including "static" mountaineering rope, and used large aluminum snatch type hauling blocks and locking aluminum carabiners to secure each end of the tackle - halyard at the top, Bosun's chair at the bottom. I hauled the top part of the system to the masthead, climbed in, up I went.
That made hauling fairly easy, but still left the problem of tailing and securing the working end of the purchase. Well, REI had a solution for that as well - it's called an ascender. Mountaineers use them for all sorts of ropework involving hauling, and as an aid for climbing fixed ropes:
www.rei.com/product/850351/petzl-basic-multipurpose-compact-ascender
They work on the same principle as the ATN hardware, but are much easier to use, and are compact. It's like having a third hand gripping the tail end of your hauling line. Attach it to the bosun chair ring with a (locking) carabiner, feed the end of your hauling line through it, and you are off to the masthead.
As far as the tail of the line piling up on deck, yes, that is an issue, and you have to keep the deck clear of any potential snagging points. You could also tail the end of the rope into a bucket hung from your bosun's chair I suppose, but I never had a problem with fouling. Like you, my safety back-up was a loop of line around the mast. I used length of nylon webbing, also sourced from the climbing equipment rack. The biggest downside to this system was that it won't get you as close to the masthead as using a halyard alone. To get around this, I installed three folding steps at the top of my mast so I can work comfortably up there - The rigging was in such bad shape I had to cut several of the clevis pins with a dremel tool, because they had long since seized and cold welded themselves into their toggles, so I was up there for hours. It's a good idea to throw a loop of webbing over the truck of the mast once at the top, This provides a nice safety margin while working. I use the the same webbing I use as a back-up. I used a figure 8 repelling device belayed to the chair to descend. This is much safer than hand-over-handing the line. It requires a special technique - which of course, you can learn on UA-cam.
The thing about using sailing hardware for mast climbing is that it is not designed specifically for that task. Climbing hardware is. As a bonus, "dirtbag" climbers are cheapskates, and climbing gear is priced surprisingly cheap as a result - at least compared with typical marine hardware. BTW - I was advised not to use typical braided nylon sailing line with the ascender - you are in effect climbing the covering, not the rope itself if you use yacht-braid. Climbing gear is designed specifically to be used with climbing rope, and visa versa - together, they form a proven, reliable system. All told I spent around $400 for my set-up, including the bosun's chair. West Marine sells the ATN climbing system for around $450, so cost is competitive with that system. If you are really cheap you can forgo the bosun's chair and use a climbing harness, which will pinch the shit out of your balls while saving you $100. Guess it depends on how much or little you like having your balls pinched....
Keep up the good work, and try cross-promoting your channel. This is exactly the sort of information anyone SERIOUS about cruising needs - not the semi-naked nymphs prancing around decks in gales videos.... ;-)
Thanks very much for your detailed comment here, will look into that Ascender gizmo for securing the hauling end--my system of the overhand knot is simple and easy but a little dangerous ... yes, if I recall I am using 7/16" yacht braid to ascend on with the ATN, seems to work OK so far, maybe a little chafe here and there. For major rigging projects I would also opt for pulling the stick, much easier with it horizontal on saw horses ...
Yeah I've used Ascenders in my Rope Access Days. They are great bits of kit.
I'm binge watching your channel ! I love it so far . You're doing a fantastic job ! Cheers.
Thanks for watching! Fair winds
Might I suggest as a safety or backup you use a prussik loop with a friction knot wrapped onto an additional halyard instead of the loosely tied rope around the mast (which will not slow your descent but will keep you on the boat).
Had to look that up--it's basically a rolling hitch to us sailors. That's a thought, although I think while the loop around the mast may not slow my descent, my suddenly clutching the mast--with arms and legs--in sheer terror will ...
Prussik backup is smart. Look up Blake's Hitch (a flavor of rolling hitch) but more control on descent, will hold you in position, and can be setup for self-tending if you do a double Blakes. Way safer. Also, I use a split tail, all borrowed from tree climbing folks.
The block and tackle method gave me chills! Use a prussik! or a friction device! Prussik could be made from a loop of thin line, you won't think to catch the mast in time. Another idea is to feed the slack rope into a bag attached to your belt, keeps it from tangling on the deck. It'll just feed straight back out on your way down. Any old bag will do!
An excellent and informative video! A topic rarely touched on, even in a cursory way, by the bikini & beer mega-sailing channels. And how rare is it that even the comments listed here are providing valuable information to sailors?
Wishing you continued success.
Great video. I use a Petzl Grigri and an ascender with a etrier attached to it. I used that setup with no experience other than UA-cam and have felt safe. I usually have another halyard set up with another capture device as a safety too
Really useful information. Thanks much.
That mast climbing rigg came with me sharpie... a need on any Gaffer
Being a former rock climber, now looking out to buy my first sailboat, it was kind of fun getting a look into a sailors view on climbing a mast or ascending a fixed rope.
So far I've much enjoyed your channel. I'm kind of plowing through all of your uploaded material. I particularly liked your very open and honest thoughts on "passage psycology" and your tips on how to sail without an engine.
Looking forward to more videos. Thanks!
Likewise, I've had several climbers chime in on this, which has been quite informative for me. Sounds like there are better (and cheaper) ways to do this than the ATN climber, but I didn't know that then. Thanks for watching.
Particularly like hearing about how you solve solo-sailing challenges as much of my sailing is solo.
It's nice to have the freedom that comes with knowing that you can handle things on your own, if need be.
Thank you, very informative video. I enjoyed watching you descending with the two rope climbers. Most videos show how to ascend but omit the getting down bit - which is more important! :) I enjoy your channel! Fair winds!
The last method was how we used to get up into treehouses, but we didn't use jammers but prusiks. These are loops of thin rope or climbing strap, attached to the standing line and attached to harness and as a loop. Only one foot is then needed to stand up.The knot jams when under strain. ozultimate.com/canyoning/knots/prusik/prusik.jpg
When you said something about wrapping a safety line around your mast, I thought to myself that your mast looks beautiful and ..... awfully "smooth" .... nothing like the rough texture of a power pole.
I do like your videos .... just a thought though ....
great video!
thx for showing this great tips
Thanks for stopping by..
So many videos on how to ascend a mast. I am not concerned about your methods, they are sound. But someone with less experience should proceed cautiously. The best way to learn how to work safely aloft is one-on-one instruction from your local rigger. The ATN climber works well but you are using leg muscles that probably are not used to this kind of strain: maybe 100 reps up and 100 reps down. So expect leg cramps unless you are used to this kind of exertion. If your system involves sitting in a harness instead of a chair with a board, (or a plastic "board"), realize that you are doing a real number on your hip joints, and you may still be feeling that pain 3 or 4 months from now.
There are as many things that can go wrong (like the tail of your "falls" getting fouled around the dinghy chocks) as there are different kinds of rigs. There is no "One" correct method. You are usually 4 or 5 stories up, and the moment that you realize what could happen is the moment preceeding the moment you break your back on the boom.
I have known eleven professional riggers in the last 40 years that I have been one.
Four are still working in the trade.
Four have died from falling.
Three have survived falls which convinced them to quit.
Three of those people have ridden falling rigs into the drink, two survived.
All of us have been dropped by well-meaning and relatively experienced helpers.
All of us have had close calls, that would have been worse if we hadn't expected the unexpected by setting protection.
Thank you.
All I am saying is please try to maximize your chances of success by simply asking for help from someone who has already made those kind of mistakes.
OK, I take your point, though I think most people already have a healthy fear of going aloft which makes them cautious. Complacency that comes from spending lots of time aloft may be the bigger enemy.
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I had ratlines on my old gaffer. Windage. probably but so easy to get up there.
Aahhrr! Those ratlines must have looked salty ... functional too but I imagine you gave away some windward performance with them, and gaffers generally don't have much to give away in that department.
ive scaled red woods with the ATN technique... simple is best...
What about those steps some folks attach to their masts? Maybe not for a wooden mast, but in general, what are your thoughts? Thanks.
Hi, thanks for the informative video. Question though, how does your safety line around the mast help you not fall down, if/when the rope attached to bosunchair breaks?
Hi Kevin,
The Mastclimber looks good. However, on my mast I have spreaders, radar pod, etc. I note that the halyard needs to be quite taught. Does that allow one enough wriggle room to get around the various obstacles one might come across on the way up?
Should be, I know people with double spreader rigs who use it.
Cool. Thanks Brian. My issue on my Lyle Hess Talesin sister ship is the mast has some decent rake and curvature to it which makes staying near to the mast and swinging about a challenge as I go up. Any suggestions?
I'm assuming you have a wooden mast and do not want to install mast stairs, which would be a solution. So probably it's best to keep that short span of rope going around the mast (which is also a safety) fairly snug.
Great series of Videos, full of knowledgeable insights.. thanks for taking the time to post them.
With your 3:1 pulley system, if you threaded the hauling end of the line through your carabiner using a 'Munter hitch' , it would hold you automatically if the rope slipped from your hands, so you wouldn't need to tie that one handed knot..
I must say I don't like how the ATN jammers rotate the rope they are attached to, even when its taut. I've found the ascenders used in rock climbing are better suited and easier to use for getting up my mast (before I added mast steps), and the halyard doesn't need to be taut for them to work. (I use these.. www.petzl.com/US/en/Professional/Rope-clamps/ASCENSION )
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, the climbing rope has to be really tight to prevent rotation with the ATN jammers, which can also ding up varnished spars if you are not careful.
www.climbing.com/skills/auto-blocking-munter/
Was wondering if a piece of bungy cord between the two jammers would make ascent easier so when you sit down the lower jammer slides up the line ready to stand up again?
Perhaps, but it would make the upper jammer harder to move up, working against the tension of the bungy cord. Probably best to consult mountain climbers on this, I'm sure they know all the tricks ..
Zi have one of these also. It is even useable by an Ol' fellow at 70, eh!
When rock climbing we used a similar idea called Jumar climbers/ascenders, www.rockclimbing.com/gear/Add-On_Climbing_Gear/Ascenders/Jumar_Ascenders_2994.html Thanks for your great videos mate, keep them coming...;-)
Indeed, I have heard from several climbers about this video. Sailors generally only scale the mast when they have to, but climbers ... that's what you do. Thanks for the info.
That safety line probably will not stop you... Phone poles are not as smooth as that beautiful storm mast if you wrap it twice or will them work for sure but take a little more effort going up.. You ever consider getting a hunters tree climber or making one they work great... Or maybe you could get some tree spikes fur that Purdy mast lol just joking.... A rope looped around your toes would let you push against your mast with your atc setup.... I would use the block and tackle and just add the atc hitch climber to that pull line... Think how easy that would be.... Of course you could get a Filipino to show you how they climb coconut trees
Yes, but the loop would keep you from helplessly falling away from the mast, so at least you could grab it and slow or stop your sudden descent. I'm sure the Filipino could do it without any safety and still be safe ...