How do I stabilize myself on the mast?

[roverhi]

Steps are good to go up the mast but terrible to work from. To have both hands free you have to lash yourself to the mast or work one handed. Your legs also get tired if you have to hang out for any length of time. Best to have someone haul up a bosun's chair to sit in after you climb up or other way to have the chair under your butt.

[oleman]

Climbing gear commonly known as a safety harness. Our mast ladder had a track down the center. A device or trolley is engaged on the track at the deck level as you climb the trolley follows the climber up the ladder. It only allows downward travel when there is no tension on the lever. If the climber accidentally slips the track holds them in place. I have never liked heights especially rolling on a vessel at sea on a mast.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

You can wrap your legs around the mast leaving both arms free.


It is best to navigate to a secluded sheltered location with little wave action. If not your best bet is just to hang on when powerboats pass.

I tried this yesterday but I was still moving.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by Sonny36

Why not install fold-up type steps on the mast?

Maybe at the top few feet in the future but don’t wanna ruin the beautiful look, especially after painting the mast 2 years ago. 😉

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by LeeV

We use a Harken bosuns chair which (for me) is more comfortable than the others I’ve tried. I have a 12’ piece of rope around my waist and knotted. As I go up I keep it around the mast till I reach where I want to work, and then I secure it snugly. It keeps me stable w/o swinging and with my legs wrapped I can unwrap them if they get tired and rest a minute or two.

Don’t forget to use a bowline on your halyard, not a shackle.

This is what I was thinking, will try it next time, thanks.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Steps are good to go up the mast but terrible to work from. To have both hands free you have to lash yourself to the mast or work one handed. Your legs also get tired if you have to hang out for any length of time. Best to have someone haul up a bosun's chair to sit in after you climb up or other way to have the chair under your butt.

Agree, the inside of my things are killing me today. Mast steps are good for going up but won’t stop the lateral movements as the anchor point is all the way down to the feet, plus we also race and don’t want to add to the windage than required.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by oleman

Climbing gear commonly known as a safety harness. Our mast ladder had a track down the center. A device or trolley is engaged on the track at the deck level as you climb the trolley follows the climber up the ladder. It only allows downward travel when there is no tension on the lever. If the climber accidentally slips the track holds them in place. I have never liked heights especially rolling on a vessel at sea on a mast.

I have done some guided climbing, rappelling etc. and have thought about getting a leather climbing harness from REI, the bosuns chair even though comfortable to sit on doesn’t feel very secure.

The device or trolly that you mention sounds like can be replaced with a Prusik knot, yes?

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Knotical

Today I was up the mast and even with very little wind and swell I experienced some noticeable lateral movement that I had to work with one hand and use the other hand to hold on to the mast/rigging to keep me stable. Is there a way I can remain in the center and have both hands free to work? I was thinking something like a strap or rope across the waist and the mast? If I use a rope then how do I tie it? I am sure there are other methods that folks use - please enlighten me.

Thank you.

I use a Petzl Sama climbing harness, sometimes a bosun chair.
You should be using a static safety line,strap, along with your climb.
Some of the crazies use no safety lines or assist.
But you might want some safety.
Just tie or clip yourself to the mast, your sideways roll will stop.
And should you come untethered you too will stop and not hit the deck.
Although it's Never comfortable to fall any distance.
Use two to suspend yourself midway between shrouds.
Experiment with it.
I climb unassisted with a 5 to 1 purchase, very secure.
SV Cloud Duster

[Markb250]

Just a length of light dyneema line a couple of meters long. Loose clove hitch one end to one of your shrouds, a couple of turns thru your bosuns chair support ring at your belly button, and tie the other end, with a little slack, to the other shroud. Reach out and slide the ends on the shrouds as you ascend/descend.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Knotical

I tried this yesterday but I was still moving.

A line to each shroud and back to your hip on the chair would help. Rope access harnesses always have d-rings on the hips.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by seandepagnier

You can wrap your legs around the mast leaving both arms free.


It is best to navigate to a secluded sheltered location with little wave action. If not your best bet is just to hang on when powerboats pass.

If you're young pull yourself and tools up the mast.
Tie off to the boson's chair and use your legs around the mast.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

I use a Petzl Sama climbing harness, sometimes a bosun chair.
You should be using a static safety line,strap, along with your climb.
Some of the crazies use no safety lines or assist.
But you might want some safety.
Just tie or clip yourself to the mast, your sideways roll will stop.
And should you come untethered you too will stop and not hit the deck.
Although it's Never comfortable to fall any distance.
Use two to suspend yourself midway between shrouds.
Experiment with it.
I climb unassisted with a 5 to 1 purchase, very secure.
SV Cloud Duster

Thanks for the tips, I hope I never have to climb when I am solo but it seems to be a good method to try, can you send me a photo of your setup if you have one?

[Knotical]

I like the idea of securing against the shrouds, thanks Mark and thinwater.

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by Cadence

If you're young pull yourself and tools up the mast.
Tie off to the boson's chair and use your legs around the mast.

Cadence, young is relative. I feel young but my body doesn’t comply, it’s a constant battle 😊

[PuttingDoctor]

Well on both of my Irwin’s 38’ and now 46’ I am blessed to have mast steps.
I free climb but also wear my tried and true lineman’s belt with heavy 3 strand lanyard. When I reach where I need to work I wrap the lanyard twice around the mast and lean back.
Adding a step at each masthead and spreader work station also eliminates the pain of standing on one leg for extended times.
I’ve owned this professional belt since the 1980’s when it was my tether as I shot photographs from helicopter skids and or was leaning out of aircraft without doors.
If you climb you need one.