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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Using a climbing harness to go halfway up?

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3494 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2013 : 03:16:45

Rick,

Where exactly is Swarthmore, PA ? You ever down in the Washington, DC area ? I have a Mast Mate. It slides up the mast slot similar to the sails. You hoist it using the main or jib halyard and cleat the halyard line. The Mast Mate has step loops made out of similar weave to what harnesses are made of and allows you to climb up the mast. I am not about to go to the top of the mast but I have gone up to the spreaders which is similar height as the deck light housing. It takes a bit of doing putting your foot into each loop but it is definitely secure and it comes with a safety harness that loops around the mast. Once at the deck light housing, it takes a bit of effort to hold steady and do any work but it can be done and it is not all that scary. You are welcome to borrow my Mast Mate if other options seem less inviting but you just have to figure out how to meet up to get it and then return it. I am in Northern VA near Fairfax City and Vienna. That's a few miles outside the Wash Beltway, that's west fairly close to Rt66 West and about 1/2 hour or so from the Beltway (Westside) MD/VA border. RT15 is past me but does go from PA near Gettysburg thru Thurmont, MD to Leesburg, VA and so that is another possibility coming south thru Leesburg,VA and then heading East on Rte7 or one of the other main routes gets to my area. Let me know if you are interested in using it.

Edited by - OLarryR on 05/13/2013 03:24:12

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2013 : 18:36:51

Larry - I grew up in the DC area, and I know it well. Thanks for the offer - I might take you up on it.

Right now I am waiting for that spreader bracket to arrive and see it it works with stabilizing my ladder against the mast. If so I will use it in conjunction with a safety harness/halyard as backup.

I am still debating whether to use incandescent bulbs or that LED bulb I showed above. The LED is not weatherproof, so not sure if it would degrade or short out in the deck light fixture.

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Tim M
1st Mate

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60 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2013 : 09:46:46

If you have a climbing harness you must know about 'ascenders' - rock climber's tools that clamp on a rope secure enough to hold your weight. They are the best way I have found to climb a mast with no other help required. Since I drop my mast all the time I've never had to on the Cat 25 but on our previous boat an '86 Pearson 28-2, I did a number of times. You just tie a loop in the end of a piece of 'Kern mantle' climber's rope - available at most outfitters - and hoist it to the top with the main halyard. Tie off the bottom end and with a loop of rope (or nylon webbing) tied to each ascender - one a foot shorter than the other you clamp them to the rope that's running to the top of the mast and stand in the loops. Then shifting all your weight from one to the other, you alternately release and slide them upwards the distance of a ladder rung and climb the rope to the top of the mast. Some people put two loops for both feet on one ascender and tie a bosun's chair to the other - then the motion is: stand up and sit down as you alternately move the ascenders upwards. The seat is nice if you need to spend any length of time up there. Coming down is the same process in reverse. Do a web search and you'll find better descriptions than mine but it makes it quite easy and is worth the investment. Good luck!

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2013 : 20:09:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tim M
 If you have a climbing harness you must know about 'ascenders...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I don't have a climbing harness, and don't intend to get one now that I've read about the other alternatives here.

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