[badsanta]

I finely got my fat butt up the mast. I used a mast climber and a climbing ascender. Worked very well. Replaced my electronic wind sensor added a windex and a New anchor light tricolor also a new steaming and deck light Just wanted to post my view from the top. On another note, while I was up there This large power boat came speeding out and I thought this is going to be a fun ride , well this guy or gal came around the bend and instantly cut his power and idled for 500 yards before resuming his speed, I received not a ripple. I wish I had a way to thank him. I could not believe he saw me especially with the tree line behind me. What a great skipper. I am not trying to prove anything, I am just real happy with myself that I figured it out and got past some fear. Thanks for posting suggestions and who ever said to ware short pants with the mast climber was right. Also the web steps are too far apart, no problem coming down but at 6'3" it was quite a tall step going up for me. Twice as many would have been better. And Yes SD that climbing harness was just the thing to take the strain off the feet while working. Many thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[smackdaddy]

Nice job santa! I've have the same trip coming up soon. Good to see you're write up.

 

[MarkCK]

Cool pic. I would never make it if I had to climb the mast.

 

[Boasun]

Yes! I can see you texting up there.

Now how are you going to get back down without using 100% Gravity??:laugher

 

[zz4gta]

I like the solar power bimini you got workin!

 

[SecondWindNC]

Got enough solar juice?

Great pic!

 

[CharlieCobra]

Nice to hear about a thoughtful and AWARE powerboat skipper. The first time up the mast is the worst. It gets easier afterwards.

 

[Mipcar]

Well done,I've tried and tried to be a brave little sailor but just don't have the head for heights.

Mychael

 

[sailingdog]

Badsanta—

Glad to help... And I think you and CD are tied for the largest solar panel array floating.

 

[scottyt]

mychael, its not the height, if you fall just aim for the water

now if you dont make it into the water then it hurts

 

[damies]

Now what you really need is a skinny child (No you can't have mine ) 25Kg is much easier to winch up the mast than 75Kg.

But seriously I am interested in knowing more about the mast climber and the climbing ascender, can you post links to these items so I can learn more? I'm not scared of the heights just couldn't figure out how to winch myself up.

As for peoples fear of the heights thing, it reminds me of a colleagues joke:

A man jumped off a very tall building, as he passed each floor he could be heard saying "so far so good", "so far so good", "so far so good", "so far so good", "so far so good".......

 

[zz4gta]

mychael, its not the height, if you fall just aim for the water

now if you dont make it into the water then it hurts

If I fell at my slip, I'd sink waist high in mud and drowned in 5' of water. :laugher

 

[JohnRPollard]

I finely got my fat butt up the mast. I used a mast climber and a climbing ascender. Worked very well. Replaced my electronic wind sensor added a windex and a New anchor light tricolor also a new steaming and deck light Just wanted to post my view from the top. On another note, while I was up there This large power boat came speeding out and I thought this is going to be a fun ride , well this guy or gal came around the bend and instantly cut his power and idled for 500 yards before resuming his speed, I received not a ripple. I wish I had a way to thank him. I could not believe he saw me especially with the tree line behind me. What a great skipper. I am not trying to prove anything, I am just real happy with myself that I figured it out and got past some fear. Thanks for posting suggestions and who ever said to ware short pants with the mast climber was right. Also the web steps are too far apart, no problem coming down but at 6'3" it was quite a tall step going up for me. Twice as many would have been better. And Yes SD that climbing harness was just the thing to take the strain off the feet while working. Many thanks for all the suggestions.

Congrats!! Great photo too. There is always something special about that bird's eye view of a sailboat.

I've never climbed a mast solo. I usually have at least one helper (preferably two) hoisting me in the chair. Which is why I have so many "up-the-mast" projects that are festering.

 

[badsanta]

I would have much rather used the windless. But I dont have any one I trust to hold the bitter end. My 8 yo grand son was on the boat with strict orders to stay away from the mast and to call 911 if something happened.

I used the main sail halyard to haul up the mast climber in the sail track. Tied off the staysail halyard and attached the asinder to it. I dont think I would have felt safe with just the web steps and the wast belt.

The PO added the solar. My next big project is to replace the non working refrigeration. The solar seems to stop charging at about 10:30 am as the batteries are full. go figure

 

[badsanta]

But seriously I am interested in knowing more about the mast climber and the climbing ascender, can you post links to these items so I can learn more? I'm not scared of the heights just couldn't figure out how to winch myself up.

I used the mast mate the others are just representative of what I used. I got it all off ebay, my favorite store. I see a mast mate listed there now. I did try the ATN top climber I like that better as you dont have to remove the sail. But for me I could not figure it out.

Flexible, portable mast climbing ladder made of nylon webbing which attaches to any sail tra

nForce Ascender

Phoenix Harness