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#2
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Top of the mast...
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#3
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
"cavelamb" wrote in message
... wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Richard I've heard it's pretty straight-forward... you mostly use your legs. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com |
#4
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
Capt. JG wrote:
"cavelamb" wrote in message ... wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Richard I've heard it's pretty straight-forward... you mostly use your legs. I kinda doubt that's all that it takes. Even with a belly strap around the mast, there would simply be too much possible motion for my comfort. And I suspect you'd have to hold on with hands as well. All fun aside, I don't mind going up on a rope. But climbing a rope ladder? Definitely *not* fun. I know that one. Done it in and out of helicopters too many times. |
#5
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:58:57 -0600, cavelamb
wrote: Capt. JG wrote: "cavelamb" wrote in message ... wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Richard I've heard it's pretty straight-forward... you mostly use your legs. I kinda doubt that's all that it takes. Jon is correct. Even with a belly strap around the mast, there would simply be too much possible motion for my comfort. What motion? The static line you are climbing is anchored top and bottom, and is winched very tight. You aren't going anywhere execpt up and down. And I suspect you'd have to hold on with hands as well. You can let go with both hands at any point, and you never have to hold onto anything other than the ascenders while climbing up or down. All fun aside, I don't mind going up on a rope. But climbing a rope ladder? Definitely *not* fun. I know that one. Done it in and out of helicopters too many times. Once again, this is not a rope ladder. I wouldn't use one of those either. |
#6
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:26:21 -0600, cavelamb
wrote: wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Professional steeple jacks sometimes use a similar rig with a small bosuns chair that goes up with them. I talked with one of them once (on the ground) and he was a rock climber in his spare time. |
#7
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:26:21 -0600, cavelamb wrote: wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Professional steeple jacks sometimes use a similar rig with a small bosuns chair that goes up with them. I talked with one of them once (on the ground) and he was a rock climber in his spare time. Would he like to crew? |
#8
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:39:07 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote: On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:26:21 -0600, cavelamb wrote: wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Professional steeple jacks sometimes use a similar rig with a small bosuns chair that goes up with them. I talked with one of them once (on the ground) and he was a rock climber in his spare time. I'm related to the founder of this company, which climbs things more challenging than your average church steeple. He gave me some of the equipment in my rig. More importantly, he gave me a copy of the company safety manual he wrote, which is a pretty thick book. http://www.vertical-access.com/ |
#9
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
wrote in message
... On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:39:07 -0500, Wayne.B wrote: On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:26:21 -0600, cavelamb wrote: wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Professional steeple jacks sometimes use a similar rig with a small bosuns chair that goes up with them. I talked with one of them once (on the ground) and he was a rock climber in his spare time. I'm related to the founder of this company, which climbs things more challenging than your average church steeple. He gave me some of the equipment in my rig. More importantly, he gave me a copy of the company safety manual he wrote, which is a pretty thick book. http://www.vertical-access.com/ You should post some pictures of the device you're using. I'd certainly like to see it, although I doubt I'd attempt to duplicate it. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com |
#10
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Top of the mast...
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:26:21 -0600, cavelamb
wrote: wrote: Mast steps? Nope. You have a modified Top Climber ? as I recall... Completely my own creation. No Top Climber components used. Same idea, but using better components and several design improvements. No offense intended, but i can't imagine actually trying to use that. A bosun's chair on a rope is one thing. Your hands are (more or less) free to do something. But climbing up what amounts to a rope ladder and trying to do anything beyond snapping pictures is way beyond me. Richard I had one of those "rope ladder" things once. It was on a boat that I bought and on first inspection I thought it was a great idea. then I tried it out. If you aren't on dry land you need to tie off the bottom and then tension the "ladder"; and even then it still sags off. Once you get up there you are standing in fabric loops that not only support you but also compress your foot so it becomes uncomfortable to work after a very short time. My suspicion is that they probably work if you just want to go up and clear a caught halyard but as far as doing any real work up there they are a waste of time. Try doing a job that takes several hours - such as cutting and fitting new upper shroud plates, or fitting a plate to the top of the mast to hold your new raz-a-mataz VHF antenna and re;positioning the tri-color to clear the new antenna. A couple of hours in those fabric stirrups and you're a cripple. Cheers, Bruce (bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom) |
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