Hi, everyone.
I just wanted to share my (thus far) positive experience going up my mast this past weekend with my new MastMate climbing system (from [url]www.mastmate.com[/url]) to do some much needed maintenance.
Even though the owner/creator of MastMate said I would be ok without backup, I personally felt uncomfortable going very far up the mast without any sort of backup system for two reasons: (1) My hand or foot could slip or (2) I could faint. Since I do indoor climbing, I used my mountain climbing harness as a backup safety.
Actually, I clipped my mountain climbing harness into two backup safety systems: (1) What is known in mountain climbing as a "loop chain" or "daisy chain". (See [url]www.rei.com[/url]) and (2) The unused jib halyard. (I used mountain climbing double figure-8 knots on all attachments instead of trusting the main and jib bowline knots and metal shackles.
I had my daughter use the jib winch to take up the jib halyard slack as I climbed. This had the added advantage of taking off some weight as I climbed and reduced my arm and leg muscle fatigue.
For the "loop chain" backup system, I used two of these loop chains, each with its own carabiner. Every so many feet as I climbed I would first clip one of the carabiners as high above me as I could reach and then AND ONLY THEN I would unclip the lower carabiner that I had previously clipped. This way, even if the jib halyard failed completely, I would still be clipped in with at least one carabiner and loop chain to a mastmate step either above me or a few feet below me. Worst case I could only fall a few feet.
Alternatively, if the entire MastMate system failed (if, for example, my main halyard broke), I would still be clipped into the jib halyard.
Unless I'm clipped into safety gear, I'm normally afraid of heights - I can jump out of airplanes no problem but I can't even climb a ladder without getting dizzy. In any case, this combination of MastMate plus loop chain plus jib halyard backup felt quite safe to me so I had no hesitation or fear of the 50+ foot height, even when the mast swayed a bit as boat wakes came by. It was actually kinda fun :)
See attached picture.
Ben
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Nice to hear it worked out for you. May give others inspiration to something similar with theirs.
Allan Rex
# 2216
Ben: A few questions.
I was wondering what length your mast mate is?
How you attached the base of the system?
How would it be reaching the front of the mast for maintenance work?
Thanks
_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP
I see your post and have a question. I'm trying to decide which mast climbing system to acquire and I see several people like the "Mast Mate". But before you can go up, don't you have to remove the main completely out of the mast track, (first taking the cover off) and either fold it away or let it pile up or tie it down on the deck and hope the wind doesn't come up while your up the mast? And then, don't you have to somehow get yourself up to the level above the boom and goose neck fitting to be able to start climbing with the Mast Mate? Then when finished you have to put the sail and cover all back on? I'm looking at other options that seem to be less trouble. Have I got this right?
Thanks
Sam
Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida
[QUOTE=bakerha;11403]Ben: A few questions.
I was wondering what length your mast mate is?
How you attached the base of the system?
How would it be reaching the front of the mast for maintenance work?
Thanks[/QUOTE]
I believe it's about 50'. It's a simple measurement: Just use your halyard to measure from the boom to the top of the mast. It doesn't have to be exact. You want the mastmate to run from about the point where the sailslide stop screw is to the top of the mast. If it's a bit too long that's no biggie. Just make sure you don't order it too short, obviously.
The base of the system slides into the sailtrack, just like your mast. Simple.
It's pretty good reaching the front of the mast, IF you have a body sling that can hold you near the mast. This is the danger part. You want to use something that is designed for this kind of work. I believe mastmate sells one. I don't know if it's any good or not. I made my own from my mountain climbing gear. Without such a sling it would be difficult and dangerous work. Even though the mastmate owner says it's ok, I would never climb the mastmate without being securely locked into a backup system. If you are climbing without one, it would be like climbing a 50+ foot ladder and working on it with no safety harness. Would you trust that? I wouldn't. What if you feint or slip? You're dead.
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
[QUOTE=Capt. Sam;11447]I see your post and have a question. I'm trying to decide which mast climbing system to acquire and I see several people like the "Mast Mate". But before you can go up, don't you have to remove the main completely out of the mast track, (first taking the cover off) and either fold it away or let it pile up or tie it down on the deck and hope the wind doesn't come up while your up the mast? And then, don't you have to somehow get yourself up to the level above the boom and goose neck fitting to be able to start climbing with the Mast Mate? Then when finished you have to put the sail and cover all back on? I'm looking at other options that seem to be less trouble. Have I got this right?
Thanks
Sam[/QUOTE]
Yes, to the removing the sail question. The mastmate would probably not be good for frequent use or at sea, especially on a windy day, to your point.
No, to the boom level question, since you can order a longer mastmate that goes all the way down to the deck.
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Thanks - this is helpful. A couple questions.
Would you feel comfortable at sea ascending the mast to do a repair or unfoul a line?
Being a climber, did you consider a block and tackle with a 3:1 or 4:1 advantage to as an alternative and , if so, why did you choose mastmate over that?
The reason I am considering the block and tackle approach is because. If the main sail is stuck (for whatever reason) in the raised position - the mastmate wouldn't allow me to climb to unfoul the sail. I know it probably ever happen - but I am concerned about not being able to get the sail down if required. It is the same reason I am reluctant to get an in mast furling sail.
Thoughts are appreciated.
Tim Farrell
S.V. Kailua
C36 - 1986
Hull# CTY0678A886
Hi, Tim. I would only feel comfortable in a relatively calm sea. Would not be comfortable in a storm...but then I wouldn't feel comfortable climbing the mast with ANY system in a storm. Think of the moment (physics term?) up there. Lots of momentum to knock you around, I'm thinking.
Being a climber, I'd only feel comfortable with a mountain-climbing belaying device...and an experienced belayer at the other end of the rope. I don't trust the halyards and winches that much. I do trust a good belaying system. That's just me though. Many people have gone up with the halyards and a bosun's chair. There's not much difference between a bosun's chair and a mountain-climbing harness, I suppose. I've never been in a bosun's chair, so I can't really compare.
You raise a good point about the mainsail being stuck. In that situation, obviously the mastmate would be useless.
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
Unless one installs a set of mast steps where they can be accessed from whatever climbing gear they use, reaching the masthead to work on things can be really difficult in a bosun's chair or harness.
At least with the Mastmate system, one can stand near the top of the mast.
Just a thought.
Jack Heaston
1987 C36 Mk I #692
Fin Keel, Std Rig, Rocna 15
Silent Passage, M25 XPB Repower