[Alberg30] Anyone own a Mast Mate?

[Brian and Elaine Timmins]

   This description is appropriate to the ATN Mast Climber as well, except
the ATN puts both "custom" ascenders onto one line. There is no real problem
with the ATN system IF you can raise your heels to touch your backside.
Otherwise, it's slow but still does work. If you've got thighs that are
sometimes described as "tree trunks" like I do, it takes a while to get to
the the top.
   OBTW, I also own a Captain Al's mast ladder. It's ok (small letters) if
you wear shoes with built up heels. The typical boat shoe sneaker with the
smooth transition from sole to heel might allow your foot to roll the PVC
step treads. I never felt comfortable usimg this ladder.
Brian    ex#497
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "R.C. Alley" <ralley at chesapeake.net>
To: "Alberg 30 public list" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Anyone own a Mast Mate?


> Ok, girls: here is how you go up a mast by your lonesome anywhere,
anytime.
> You need:
> 1 pr mechanical ascenders
> 1 bosun's chair
> 2 carbiniers
> 2 halyards of proper size
> Any other halyard
> 1 -2 ft length 5/16 line
> 1 shackle
> 1- 6 ft length of 1/2 inch line
>
> Mechanical ascenders are used by climbers to attach to lines when
> rock/mountain climbing.  If you don't understand their operation, go to
any
> web site that sells them--they will be explained.
>
> Proceed as follows:
> 1. Attach 1 ascender to bosun's chair w/ 1 carbinier
> 2. Make a pair of foot loops out of your 6 foot length of 1/2 inch line
and
> attach to the other ascender w/ carbinier
> 3  Pass your 5/16ths line through the becket in your shackle and knot.
> 4. Attach shackle to bosun's chair
> 5. Cleat all halyards TIGHT.
> 6. Attach mechanical ascender on the chair on the first halyard and sit
down
> in the chair.
> 7. Attach mechanical ascender on the foot loops on the second halyard
> 8. Stand up in the loops.
> 9. Slide the mechanical ascender for the chair up, and sit down in the
> chair.
> 10. Slide the foot loops up, and stand in the loops.
> 11. Slide the mechanical ascender attached to the chair up, and sit down
in
> the chair
> 12. Repeat, (7,8,9,10,11) ETC, up the mast.
> 13. Descent is the opposite of ascent, for some strange reason.
> The line with the shackle is optional--it is a safety line. Attached to
the
> chair by the shackle and to a spare halyard with a prussic knot, it will
> slide up or down the halyard (or any other line) as long as it is not
under
> load. When loaded (ie., something else failed) it will hold fast.
>
> The art of traversing a halyard by means of mechanical ascenders is
> remembering VERY CAREFULLY where you are and what you are doing.  I have
> been up my mast many times in this manner--even once under way(which was
not
> really necessary--I just wanted to see how difficult it was. It was
> difficult--the motion of a mast under way, even at the spreaders, must be
> experienced to be fully understood).
>
> The benefit of this is that mechanical ascenders weigh a couple ounces and
> take up a space about 3x6x1 inch each.  I already had a chair and line and
a
> spare shackle.
>
> There is only one thing really important to remember--you are trusting
your
> life to your halyards.
>
> Rob


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 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
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