The last 3ft (mast work)

[deniseO30]

Last year, my good buddy Hank tried to get to the top of my mast with the ATN climber. He did get up there to inspect things But for some reason he could not get high enough to see and work on the top of the masthead. Is this a common problem with getting up there using ATN and Bosun's chairs?

Note; he's over 6ft tall.

[marcusc130]

Shouldn't be a problem. But you do have to stand up in the foot straps and kind of get up out of the seat to get over the mast head. The last few feet can be tough because the ascenders on the ATN rig tend to be right up against the mast at that point, and hard to manipulate. You really need to use the rigging to take your weight off the harness to move up high enough to get over the masthead.

[misfits]

Maybe I'm just getting old but that's the one area of the DIY arena, I'll gladly part with the cash.

[CaseyB]

I use the ATN and have to stand in the stirrups to do masthead work. Shouldn't be a problem unless the person doing the work is less than 5 feet tall.

[Bene505]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

I use the ATN and have to stand in the stirrups to do masthead work. Shouldn't be a problem unless the person doing the work is less than 5 feet tall.

What Casey said.

Regards,
Brad

[Faster]

I've seen where just two equal-level mast steps have been installed 4-5 feet below the truck so that the person up there has real solid footing and a good height to work on things at the masthead..

Avoids the run of steps all along the mast, and puts less load on the chair, lines, etc once you're 'up there'.. a telephone linesman's waist strap will improve the setup even more..

[Lake Superior Sailor]

Build a crows nest, stick around a while!...Dale

[celenoglu]

You can shorten the line from the bosuns chair to the ascender. This way you will be much higher. I am not sure if it is possible with ATN climber. I am currently using Petzl ascenders and 3/8 rope.

[zz4gta]

This is a common issue with the ATN if you want to sit in it and work. Just can't get up high enough. I use a climbing harness and can get a bit higher than the ATN.

[MarkofSeaLife]

Getting above the top of the mast can be tricky... Even trickier is doing it while not holding on so you can use a drill, tools, screws etc etc etc

And remember the average cruiser is a rank amature with tools in a workshop on terra firma so fumbling at the mast head can be a slow, frustrating and dangerous process. Dangerous for the poor mug on the deck too! One of my idiot mates who "loves" heights and is about 30 years old went up on his ATN mast climber, dropped a drill battery nearly on my head, bent the bloody toe rail and then ran out of energy to climb the ATN gizmo down!

I try to pay someone who is competant to do jobs up there. Though I will go up and do my own checks, etc.

Remember this: if you spent your whole life behind a desk and are now going cruising remind yourself of Dirty Harry "A mans gotta know his limitations"





Mark