1st (& 2nd) Trip Up The Mast

[montenido]

Hi all. I finally put my new halyard on the boat today, allowing me to ascend the mast with some confidence in the rope strength. My main task was to install a cheek block on either side of the mast, just below the spreaders, for my new "Jiffy Jax" lazy jacks. Let me tell you that in my limited experience, lazy jacks are worth their weight in GOLD! Anyway, as long as I was going up, I brought two SS padeyes and small blocks to install a flag/radar reflector halyard on the port side, to compliment my single block flag halyard on the starboard side.
As the title of my post hints, I actually went up twice. I used a climbing rig attached to a "Gibbs" ascender, as well as a loop of webbing for my feet, also attached to a "Gibbs". I believe they call this "inch-worming". Well it works. It works so well that once I was at the spreaders, with an additional safety strap attached, I looked down at my tool bucket on the deck with its raising rope neatly coiled beside it. Doh! So down I went, inch-worm style. At this point I figured out that wearing my sailing gloves aloft would be a pretty good idea, as I planned to rappel down using an "8" plate and carabiner. Back on deck I took a complete inventory of everything needed and made sure it was attached or in the bucket.
Back at the spreaders I used my cordless drill to locate the holes, realizing that a separate tether for this tool would have been smart Got both cheek blocks mounted, as well as the padeyes and blocks (and line) for the new radar reflector halyard. Didn't drop any tools or rivets, but I sure came close. Coming down using the "8" plate was easy after some initial driver error. All in all, it was a rewarding experience because I was certainly hesitant to tackle these projects, even though I am very familiar with this type of gear.
Next project is to the top to lube and inspect the mast-head sheaves and wind speed indicator. This is after shoulder surgery on Friday, which is why I had to hurry to get this project done. I was going to bring my camera aloft, but I was only going halfway up. Next time I will take some pics.

Thanks for reading.

[SVCarolena]

Glad to hear it went so well. I use the same method, albeit with Petzl ascenders. Good idea to take a camera - my last trip up I took a ton of pictures so that if I ever need to plan out repairs I can look at them before going up. Then again, it is almost worth the trip just for the view and to freak out all the powerboaters going down the river and in our marina.