[Public-list] Re: Mast Steps / Top Climber

[Brian and Elaine Timmins]

Unassisted, yes. Very Safely, yes, so long as you pay attention. Very
Slowly, yes. Do you need to be very, very athletic, no, but it helps. The
heavier your thighs are, the slower you go up/down. If your sitting in a
chair with no side arms, shift over to hang a leg completely free off the
chair. Without using your hand to help, pick up your foot so that your heel
touches the rear of your upper thigh. Did you make it? Was it easy? If yes,
the Top Climber will be a breeze for you. The further away your heel was
from your thigh, the slower you'll go (shorter steps).
BUT, It does work, even for overweight, out of shape people like me. (just
very slowly)
Regards,
Brian ex#497 (Top Climber Owner)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Terrell" <DTERRELL at message.nmc.edu>
To: <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 3:05 PM
Subject: [Public-list] Re: Mast Steps


> I understand that ATN's Top Climber is another way to get to the top
> unassisted and very safely.
>
> >>> gwyn at beluga.phys.UVic.CA 1/19/2005 5:48:49 PM >>>
>
> My boat came with mast steps and I love them.
> http://astrowww.phys.uvic.ca/~gwyn/pers/smIMG0014.JPG
>
> I've done a significant amount of work on my mast (repairing
> wiring, installing a wind indicator, putting boots on the
> spreaders, checking the swages at the top of the rigging,
> retreiving halyards, taking pretty pictures). If I'm going to
> work for more than a minute or two, I tie myself to the mast with
> a loop of line and a climbing carabiner.
>
> The only draw back is sometimes halyards and sheets catch
> on the steps and you have to go forward and shake them free.
>
> I used to work on a 72' gaff-rigged ketch. Climbing the ratlines
> to set the topsail was easy if things were calm but alarming if
> there was any kind of sea running. Climbing an Alberg mast, even
> though it is shorter, is slightly harder. OK at the dock, VERY
> alarming when it blowing 25+ you're retreiving a halyard at the
> top of the mast. This is mostly because the steps aren't very
> wide, compared to ratlines, so you have think about your feet
> more carefully.
>
> Stephen
>
> Quasar #495
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>   Stephen Gwyn                 |  Tel: 1-250-721-8656
>   Dept. of Physics & Astronomy |  Fax: 1-250-721-7715
>   Univ. of Victoria            |  Cell: 1-250-885-6969
>   PO Box 3055                  |  E-mail: gwyn at uvastro.phys.uvic.ca
>   Victoria, BC  V8W 3P6        |  http://orca.phys.uvic.ca/~gwyn
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
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