Climbing the mast

[RookieHunter]

I found a very inexpensive and almost effortless way to repair my lower shrouds recently. I stepped the mast and a washer moved allowing the starboard lower shroud to partially come out of the mast. My son who is a teenager told me he preferred to climb the mast as opposed to dropping it to the deck and starting over. Informing him that you can''t climb a slick mast in a boat anchored at a marina because of movement he scooted right up the pole without a foot on any winch or cleat and repaired my problem.

Two notes---- he didn''t have to go up over 10-12 feet as opposed to going to the top of the mast

Also, if you don''t already have a teenager, it is definitely not a cheaper option to get a teenager versus buying the right equipment.

[gershel]

Hi, I also love my Top-climber. I also get to the top while standing,but it''s hard to work standing unless you tie yourself off some-how. I do not attach a climbing line to my halyard. The resulting knot keeps you from climbing 3"-4" higher,or more if the rope stretches. I installed a designated line(halyard) for climbing without a fitting spliced on the end. It''s always ready to go. The line that hold the seat has a snap shackle on the bottom of it. When you get as high as you want to go, you can raise the seat about a foot higher by snapping that shackle to the ascender handle,or to anything at the masthead,such as a eye bolt,a ring,a hole,etc. Then,when the seat is at the correct working height, you hands are free.
As far as changing the ascenders for Petzl''s.The cams on the originals are smooth & much easier on the rope. The Petzls''have sharp teeth.Both hold equally as well,once weight is applied, but the originals make descending much easier.
Marc