Climbing the mizzenmast

[Ryan Doyle]

Hi All,

I’ve never climbed a mast before, but I have to replace my radar dome mounted on my mizzenmast.

Curious if you all have any tips, tricks, suggestions for doing this solo.

Thanks very much in advance.

Ryan

[Mark Oppe]

I have retractable mast steps on my mizzen……they have been very useful especially when the wind generator needs attention.

Cheers

Mark

SV Mary Murray

Pearson 424 #164

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Mark Oppe

[rdugger]

I prefer to have someone crank we up.

Rules: Prefer morning when it's cooler. No one involved has been drinking alcohol. There are two persons at the mast (cranker and tailer). 

I self climb with an ATN when necessary. 

L-36 has a good review of mast climbing options

http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php

Rick

Eclipse

[Ryan Doyle]

Thanks so much for that article Rick.  Good call on the time of day and no booze.  Although, I don’t think I’ll have a problem overheating this weekend (I’ll be in the Chesapeake).

I was doing research and watching videos on the ATN last night.  Good to hear that someone here uses one.

[john stevenson]

I'm a fan of the L36 website, but this is the first time I saw this page and the mast climbing video.

His method is much too complicated for me.  If I were able to master the rig and process, and I would still be afraid things would get screwed up with all the disconnects and re-connects and I would be stuck at the top of the mast.  So I'll stay with my mast steps.

I did buy the ATN rig, and like the L36 guy found it not very workable, especially with the recommended approach of securing the climb line away from the mast.  My failure with that device is why I installed steps on my main mast.  I also agree with the L36 guy that the bosun chair provided with the ATN rig is really good and I've retained that as my chair.  I still have the ascenders somewhere on board, but I never used them since my initial attempts.

The best new thing I got from the video is the strop he uses for the safety line.  I plan to adopt that as my safety line when using my mast steps.  Previously I used a halyard as a safety line, which meant someone else on deck tending that line as I climbed up, then down.  If no one was around I just climbed without as safety line.  That meant I had only one hand free to work on whatever sent me up the mast in the first place.  With the stop in place I could use it to brace myself and have both hands free.  Maybe I also wouldn't have the urge for strong drink when back on deck having survived another ascent without safety line.

Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com
Sarah's Blog

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