This is the best and easiest system that I have seen so far. Personally, I would modify it slightly by using a descender with a lanyard attached to a separate line for redundancy. I may also need to add foot straps so when at the top, I can actually access the top of the mast. I'm not sure you could with this setup as it is. The whole pulley idea though is brilliant.
This is really great info. One really nit comment that actually enforces the simplicity of your system is that with the two blocks you are using, even if the top block had a becket, you actually have only a 2:1 tackle. The second line actually supporting you only changes direction at the top block making it appear you have 3 supporting lines and thus a 3:1 tackle. I really love all you stuff...especially your watermaker setup.
You were right Ken. Replying to my own comment, you obviously are not pulling down with a force of half your body weight. If you put a sack of potatoes in you bosuns chair equal to your body weight, and then stood on deck to haul them up, you would have to exert half of the weight. But since you are seated in the chair, when you pull down you reduce the weight in the chair that your 2:1 tackle now has to move up. It works out that you are lifting a third of your weight when you pull down and the tackle lifts the remaining two-thirds.
Thank you! I'm a 55-year sailor but have never had to do this solo before. Seen it done. Forgot the rigging. After about five other UA-cam videos full irrelevant and narcissistic crap (all done by millennials, of course), you delivered the goods. Thanks again.
Who needs the expensive and clumsy commercial self-raising and mast climbing systems when you've got this simple, efficient, and safe method. Think light! Thank you!
I've been looking at getting up the mast for a while, and looked at a good number of UA-cam videos and products online. This is by far the easiest, cost effective and pro way in my view. You earned yourself a subscriber today 👍
Thanks for posting this. I have just tried it out (using a 2 step wooden rope ladder re-purposed as a bosun's chair) plus stuff I had lying around in lockers; blocks and an old jib sheet. Up the mast for the first time to fix the steaming light, and all worked out well. Thumbs up!
Thanks dude, everyone else's videos on climbing the mast don't show enough of how it all works, with your system there ain't much to show, just a simple safe system.... Nice.
Great way to climb up the mast, one must be careful of the rope that falls on deck while ascending though. If it gets tangled somewhere then there is no way to get down!
That is an excellent video, very well explained and seems straight forward!!! I'll certainly give it a try soon as I need to get a view of my airspeed gizmo up there. thanks for sharing and for the clear and concise explanations. Have a great day
I like the simplicity of this system, and maybe when moored in flat seas it looks fantastic. But I can't see how this would work when you're in any sea at all. I've used the Dutch 'TopClimber' ascender system in 1.5 metre seas and it was ok, but only because the halyard I went up on was winched super tight.
Great method and well explained! I have two suggestions for improvement though; I would tie of the shieve rope differently on the hoist line. With your solution there is nothing holding the shieve line if the main comes off the shieve.. And I would add a body harness cause if you have an insident, for example bang into the mast due to waves, you can fall out of the bousuns chair.
Hi. Thank you for sharing. This what I'm been looking. What about a backup IF somehow the halyard breaks? You use a second halyard? if I understand it correct it will lead to a free fall.
Genius 🎉 i need to go up my wooden mast regular...oiling etc. ladder is awful 😵💫 will sort a pulley system out 4:1 for me tho...i ate all the Vegan pies...😊😂
as a novice idiot sailor, this looks like the easiest, trustworthy system and and best explained, thank you. Question: do you find your "flipping" solar panels work well?
Very smart! Simple and understandable! I just wonder how this will work if you absolutely need to get up the mast and the waves are one meter or more. But, it should work fine as long as the seas are flat.
Ha, good question as seas rarely flat even with no wind. Solution is patience. Keep legs wrapped around mast, and/or braced against stay, holding yourself from getting knocked around too much. Pull yourself up between waves during moment boat is steady. The higher you go up and the bigger the waves, the longer you have to wait but you've got nothing but time; you will make it up eventually. Also, this is good time to use climbing harness with thick pants for padding instead of bosun chair because climbing harness not so easy to fall out of.
So I'm curious, I understand that your prusik is being used as the stop on the line being used to pull yourself up. Where is your backup line? What if your block which is connected to the halyard fails?
I agree - the prusik should at least be on the line coming directly from the halyard! If one of the blocks break there is no security and you would fall down!
Black line in video had double braid splice that basically results in zero degradation of line strength. Though most any knot degrades line strength by 50%, working with lines that surpass your body weight is easy. I say, pick lines that are thick enough for your hands for easy handling. Most likely, it'll handle your weight.
Hi! Thanks for the video, a new way of climbing looks more easy! Short question. My boat have just a wire with a shackl coming down. I need to climb to get more ropes form the mast and down. I am told not to trust the shackls. How to attache a rope to a wire then? Thanks again!
I've used prusik knot on wire but need thin strong line, like 1/4 inch double braid dyneema, with extra turns. Why not trust shackle? If not one, why not two?
I had similar situation so kept short piece of webbing in bosun chair. This webbing was not much longer than arm length and had a carabiner on each end. I'd get as high as possible with the halyard and then shimmy up to top with one end of webbing attached to the bosun chair and the other in my teeth. At top, I'd wrap the webbing around top of mast attaching the carabiner at other end of webbing back to bosun chair. Of course, you stay attached to the halyard and only execute on calm day. Hope this helps. Good luck!
PLEASE do not copy this - this is very out of date technique and dangerous compared to the alternatives. There is no redundancy here and several points of failure that could result in death. At *very* least, have a second prussik safety line onto a *second* halyard, so that you don't fall if a block fails . . mind blowing how few people in the comments notice that there is *zero* redunancy here.
Additionally sitting loose in a bosun chair is also very dangerous. If you lose your balance and fall backwards, you're done. With a harness on that's secured on a second prussik knot thing are much safer without making this method cumbersome.
![Can You SINGLE HAND a Big Sailboat? | Sailing Wisdom [S4 Ep4]](/img/n.gif)
This is the best and easiest system that I have seen so far. Personally, I would modify it slightly by using a descender with a lanyard attached to a separate line for redundancy. I may also need to add foot straps so when at the top, I can actually access the top of the mast. I'm not sure you could with this setup as it is. The whole pulley idea though is brilliant.
This is really great info. One really nit comment that actually enforces the simplicity of your system is that with the two blocks you are using, even if the top block had a becket, you actually have only a 2:1 tackle. The second line actually supporting you only changes direction at the top block making it appear you have 3 supporting lines and thus a 3:1 tackle.
I really love all you stuff...especially your watermaker setup.
You were right Ken. Replying to my own comment, you obviously are not pulling down with a force of half your body weight. If you put a sack of potatoes in you bosuns chair equal to your body weight, and then stood on deck to haul them up, you would have to exert half of the weight. But since you are seated in the chair, when you pull down you reduce the weight in the chair that your 2:1 tackle now has to move up. It works out that you are lifting a third of your weight when you pull down and the tackle lifts the remaining two-thirds.
Very, very good. I really like the way you presented this. It seems to be a really good solution. Well done and thank you.
Thank you! I'm a 55-year sailor but have never had to do this solo before. Seen it done. Forgot the rigging. After about five other UA-cam videos full irrelevant and narcissistic crap (all done by millennials, of course), you delivered the goods. Thanks again.
After surfing the web and many complex "blow downs" on all things climbing the mast.....this one is a keeper....Thanks Ken
Who needs the expensive and clumsy commercial self-raising and mast climbing systems when you've got this simple, efficient, and safe method. Think light! Thank you!
I've been looking at getting up the mast for a while, and looked at a good number of UA-cam videos and products online. This is by far the easiest, cost effective and pro way in my view. You earned yourself a subscriber today 👍
The simplest solution, never would have thought of this. Thank you!
The best and simplest video I’ve seen on this subject.
Been going up masts for years never tried this. will get setup and try this looks like fun. great video thanks!
That Prusik knot is awesome, I use it for a lot of things.
Thanks for posting this. I have just tried it out (using a 2 step wooden rope ladder re-purposed as a bosun's chair) plus stuff I had lying around in lockers; blocks and an old jib sheet. Up the mast for the first time to fix the steaming light, and all worked out well. Thumbs up!
This actually the best video on UA-cam on going up your mast. Thanks!
Thanks dude, everyone else's videos on climbing the mast don't show enough of how it all works, with your system there ain't much to show, just a simple safe system.... Nice.
Your english is awesome. Your explanation is simple and east to understand. Nice posting!
Great way to climb up the mast, one must be careful of the rope that falls on deck while ascending though. If it gets tangled somewhere then there is no way to get down!
Slide down the mast like a fireman!
what a beautiful method to climb, thank you so much Ken!
Lovely and simple method of getting up the mast!!
That is an excellent video, very well explained and seems straight forward!!! I'll certainly give it a try soon as I need to get a view of my airspeed gizmo up there. thanks for sharing and for the clear and concise explanations. Have a great day
Wow. Excellent video. I will try this setup in my sailboat. Thank you very much. Greeting from Puerto Rico.
thanks. great video, nice simple system, safe and like you say, I already have everything onboard
Love your work. Great vid and location!
Simplest method i seen so far -thanks
Thank you. Well done and easy to follow!
Great simple method well explained and tested. Thank you!
Thanks, simple and easy. Definitely not a $450 price tag like those mastclimbers they try to sell. Just need some blocks.
Nice to see a new video, they are very informative. Look forward to more.
Fair winds!
Nice job Ken, always good to see a safe way to climb a mast.
Fred Acevedo Ortega river marina
Nice. I like the Prusicks hitch as a back up hands free.
Really well done. Thank you!
I like the simplicity of this system, and maybe when moored in flat seas it looks fantastic. But I can't see how this would work when you're in any sea at all. I've used the Dutch 'TopClimber' ascender system in 1.5 metre seas and it was ok, but only because the halyard I went up on was winched super tight.
you are a champion thanks for this educational vid
thanks for this. I have asenders, grigri etc but your method seems much easier and less complicated. I'm going to try it!
Thank you very much!!! That's really simple and sure. I'll try
Very nice explanation. Thanks!
Great method and well explained! I have two suggestions for improvement though; I would tie of the shieve rope differently on the hoist line. With your solution there is nothing holding the shieve line if the main comes off the shieve.. And I would add a body harness cause if you have an insident, for example bang into the mast due to waves, you can fall out of the bousuns chair.
His suggestion to you is to "shut the fuck up little daisy and make your own video."
Thanks Ken.. Much appreciated
Great help thanks for sharing. Heading up the mast of my Rival soo ... Andy UK
WHOW. Finally a really easy way to safely climb the mast solo!
Simple? Yes. Safe? No.
Thank you best video i found so far cheers.
Fantastic video!
nice and simple. great video. thanks!
Hi. Thank you for sharing. This what I'm been looking. What about a backup IF somehow the halyard breaks? You use a second halyard? if I understand it correct it will lead to a free fall.
Genius 🎉 i need to go up my wooden mast regular...oiling etc. ladder is awful 😵💫 will sort a pulley system out 4:1 for me tho...i ate all the Vegan pies...😊😂
Great video, thanks.
Thanks for this video!
This is a great video, where are you I want to sail there!!!!!
Excellent and useful information I'm sure Ill be suing sooner rather than later. :)
as a novice idiot sailor, this looks like the easiest, trustworthy system and and best explained, thank you. Question: do you find your "flipping" solar panels work well?
Great method thanks for sharing!
Very smart! Simple and understandable! I just wonder how this will work if you absolutely need to get up the mast and the waves are one meter or more. But, it should work fine as long as the seas are flat.
Ha, good question as seas rarely flat even with no wind. Solution is patience.
Keep legs wrapped around mast, and/or braced against stay, holding yourself from getting knocked around too much. Pull yourself up between waves during moment boat is steady. The higher you go up and the bigger the waves, the longer you have to wait but you've got nothing but time; you will make it up eventually. Also, this is good time to use climbing harness with thick pants for padding instead of bosun chair because climbing harness not so easy to fall out of.
So I'm curious, I understand that your prusik is being used as the stop on the line being used to pull yourself up. Where is your backup line?
What if your block which is connected to the halyard fails?
I agree - the prusik should at least be on the line coming directly from the halyard! If one of the blocks break there is no security and you would fall down!
very good thanks
What knot did you use to tie the black rope over the top of the block?
Black line in video had double braid splice that basically results in zero degradation of line strength.
Though most any knot degrades line strength by 50%, working with lines that surpass your body weight is easy. I say, pick lines that are thick enough for your hands for easy handling. Most likely, it'll handle your weight.
Hi!
Thanks for the video, a new way of climbing looks more easy!
Short question. My boat have just a wire with a shackl coming down. I need to climb to get more ropes form the mast and down. I am told not to trust the shackls. How to attache a rope to a wire then?
Thanks again!
I've used prusik knot on wire but need thin strong line, like 1/4 inch double braid dyneema, with extra turns. Why not trust shackle? If not one, why not two?
I have a challenge for you. Fractional rig need to thread new main halyard. Using your method on the Genoa how would I climb the last bit to the top?
I had similar situation so kept short piece of webbing in bosun chair. This webbing was not much longer than arm length and had a carabiner on each end.
I'd get as high as possible with the halyard and then shimmy up to top with one end of webbing attached to the bosun chair and the other in my teeth. At top, I'd wrap the webbing around top of mast attaching the carabiner at other end of webbing back to bosun chair. Of course, you stay attached to the halyard and only execute on calm day.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
PLEASE do not copy this - this is very out of date technique and dangerous compared to the alternatives. There is no redundancy here and several points of failure that could result in death. At *very* least, have a second prussik safety line onto a *second* halyard, so that you don't fall if a block fails . . mind blowing how few people in the comments notice that there is *zero* redunancy here.
Additionally sitting loose in a bosun chair is also very dangerous. If you lose your balance and fall backwards, you're done. With a harness on that's secured on a second prussik knot thing are much safer without making this method cumbersome.
What about a fat guy? 🤔
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