Climbing a mast alone

Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone including a new one that really works pretty well? I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it. Allen

Be safe Jim > On Sep 26, 2013, at 1:04 AM, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> wrote: > > Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone including a new one that really works pretty well? > > I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. > > http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php > > After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it. > > Allen > > >

Allen - First off I gotta tell ya that I really enjoy reading the articles you have on your site. I never would have gotten serious about soft-shackles and other things I am doing on Honu if it had not been for adding your articles to my research. Racing in the same beer-can races at Brisbane crewing for Sparky (who has also taught me a lot) has given me ample opportunity to watch Papoose and how well you guys sail her. One day I may bug you about crewing for you. In the mean time I have a couple thoughts to throw out there about climbing the mast, which I did recently on Honu. A: I agree about testing your rig before you ever do it on your boat. I would STRONGLY recommend it. Before I ever did it, I tried several ways in the garage off an eye-bolt and was surprised at how differently the different setups work. I nailed down my preference (block and tackle) and was quite happy. I have another way of getting the rest of the way to the top & will try it before sharing it. B: When the harness is for safety and not comfort (as when using a Bosun's Chair), you may want to check out a "Swiss Seat" (Googling it will get lots of hits). It is a quick way you can make a harness typically for rappelling out of some spare line. It doubles as a harness & not as comfortable as a $200 harness, but it will save some dinero & is safe. I have used one for rappelling more than a few times and they are dead easy to tie. My mast was just down for new standing rigging and I am slapping my head over some work I should have done in the yard. What the heck, going up last last time was kinda fun & it gives me an excuse to go up again. Later - Dyer Honu, 1969 Cal 2-30 (37ft mast) SF Bay. From:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Englert Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 4:27 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone Be safe Jim On Sep 26, 2013, at 1:04 AM, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> wrote: >Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone including a new one that really works pretty well? > >I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. > >http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php > >After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it. > >Allen > > PG&E is committed to protecting our customers' privacy. To learn more, please visit http://www.pge.com/about/company/privacy/customer/

Thanks for the kind words regarding my web site. I am still getting about 800 visitors a day even as the season runs down. Not too bad. That is 45,000 page hits a month btw. I have climbed up the 10 feet in my attic many, many times so feel comfortable in the system. I bought a climbing harness yesterday after testing hanging from a yacht harness. A yacht harness is fine for someone who falls in the water as there is no weight and keeping your head out is very important. The climbing harness will be a safe backup. My plan is to take a video of the climb and post it on YouTube. If it comes out, I will put the link on the page. Allen On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 8:46 AM, Dylan Crouch <dy… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > ** > > > Allen - > > First off I gotta tell ya that I really enjoy reading the articles you > have on your site. I never would have gotten serious about soft-shackles > and other things I am doing on Honu if it had not been for adding your > articles to my research. Racing in the same beer-can races at Brisbane > crewing for Sparky (who has also taught me a lot) has given me ample > opportunity to watch Papoose and how well you guys sail her. One day I may > bug you about crewing for you. > > In the mean time I have a couple thoughts to throw out there about > climbing the mast, which I did recently on Honu. > > A: I agree about testing your rig before you ever do it on your boat. I > would STRONGLY recommend it. Before I ever did it, I tried several ways in > the garage off an eye-bolt and was surprised at how differently the > different setups work. I nailed down my preference (block and tackle) and > was quite happy. I have another way of getting the rest of the way to the > top & will try it before sharing it. > > B: When the harness is for safety and not comfort (as when using a Bosun's > Chair), you may want to check out a "Swiss Seat" (Googling it will get lots > of hits). It is a quick way you can make a harness typically for rappelling > out of some spare line. It doubles as a harness & not as comfortable as a > $200 harness, but it will save some dinero & is safe. I have used one for > rappelling more than a few times and they are dead easy to tie. > > My mast was just down for new standing rigging and I am slapping my head > over some work I should have done in the yard. What the heck, going up last > last time was kinda fun & it gives me an excuse to go up again. > > Later - > Dyer > Honu, 1969 Cal 2-30 (37ft mast) > SF Bay. > > *From:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] *On > Behalf Of *Jim Englert > *Sent:* Thursday, September 26, 2013 4:27 AM > *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Subject:* Re: [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone > > > > Be safe > Jim > > > On Sep 26, 2013, at 1:04 AM, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> > wrote: > > > Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone > including a new one that really works pretty well? > > I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video > of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. > > http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php > > After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it. > > Allen > > > > > ------------------------------ > PG&E is committed to protecting our customers' privacy. > To learn more, please visit > http://www.pge.com/about/company/privacy/customer/ > ------------------------------ > > > >

All, Magic departs Friday morning for delivery to Biscayne Bay, Miami for the 59th Columbus Day Regatta. We are entered in ARC 2. Last year we missed 1st place in our class by 27 seconds after 27 miles over two days of racing. Unfortunately, Magic is the only Cal in the fleet of 75 or so boats. Michael

Hello Michael<br/>I wish you the best luck on the regatta, I'm going to be at the party at Elliot Key. <br/>Unfortunately my Cal is not in good shape for any race. :(<br/><br/>Walter<a href="http://overview.mail.yahoo.com?.src=iOS"><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone</a>

Walter, We are taking a slip at the Coral Reef Yacht Club Friday & Saturday nights. We are there for the racing with a full crew meeting us at the dock. The first and only time I took my wife (then girlfriend) there for the regatta we rafted up with a ketch. As we approached there was a woman sitting naked and smoking a joint at the stern. She (not the boat) looked like a new car with 100K+ miles... ridden hard and put away wet. Have fun at Elliot Key. I'm sure, as usual, it will be a wild time. Get your boat ready. The Miami to Key Largo race is in April, and it's a lot of fun down at Gilbert's after the race. Michael From: Walter March <ma… [at] yahoo.com> To: "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>; "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 1:59 PM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Columbus Day Regatta Hello Michael I wish you the best luck on the regatta, I'm going to be at the party at Elliot Key. Unfortunately my Cal is not in good shape for any race. :( Walter Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Michael D <md… [at] yahoo.com>; To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>; Subject: [Cal_Boats] Columbus Day Regatta Sent: Tue, Oct 8, 2013 3:49:26 PM All, Magic departs Friday morning for delivery to Biscayne Bay, Miami for the 59th Columbus Day Regatta. We are entered in ARC 2. Last year we missed 1st place in our class by 27 seconds after 27 miles over two days of racing. Unfortunately, Magic is the only Cal in the fleet of 75 or so boats. Michael

Walter, Take a look at this... http://www.floridabywater.com/event/event/2-columbus-day-regatta "Elliot Key is closed due to government shutdown." I don't know what effect it will have on the boaters there for "Columbus Day Weekend at Elliot Key". Michael From: Michael D <md… [at] yahoo.com> To: "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 2:23 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Columbus Day Regatta (Walter) Walter, We are taking a slip at the Coral Reef Yacht Club Friday & Saturday nights. We are there for the racing with a full crew meeting us at the dock. The first and only time I took my wife (then girlfriend) there for the regatta we rafted up with a ketch. As we approached there was a woman sitting naked and smoking a joint at the stern. She (not the boat) looked like a new car with 100K+ miles... ridden hard and put away wet. Have fun at Elliot Key. I'm sure, as usual, it will be a wild time. Get your boat ready. The Miami to Key Largo race is in April, and it's a lot of fun down at Gilbert's after the race. Michael From: Walter March <ma… [at] yahoo.com> To: "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>; "Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 1:59 PM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Columbus Day Regatta Hello Michael I wish you the best luck on the regatta, I'm going to be at the party at Elliot Key. Unfortunately my Cal is not in good shape for any race. :( Walter Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Michael D <md… [at] yahoo.com>; To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>; Subject: [Cal_Boats] Columbus Day Regatta Sent: Tue, Oct 8, 2013 3:49:26 PM All, Magic departs Friday morning for delivery to Biscayne Bay, Miami for the 59th Columbus Day Regatta. We are entered in ARC 2. Last year we missed 1st place in our class by 27 seconds after 27 miles over two days of racing. Unfortunately, Magic is the only Cal in the fleet of 75 or so boats. Michael

Hmm, reminds me of the time I corrected out over a highly modified McGregor 26, taking second over third place, by just one second, after a Catalina to Marina del Rey race several years ago, and that was a thirty mile, seven hour race! Shpritz and crew made it into Cat Harbor at half past ten PM Sat. nite, after tearing the rubber bushing loose from the propeller hub when we got just shy of the West End. We couldn't rev the engine much over idle speed without spinning the propeller drive shaft and making the OB bounce up and down on the scissors mount. We tried using super glue on it, but it didn't hold. But we got in in time to see all the pirate lads and lasses. We weren't going to fork over $30 for two hours inside to fortified dance area, but one security gate guy took pity on us and let us into the bar area if we promised not to wander off. Fortunately the next day we were able to pick up some 3200PSI Locktite epoxy in double syringes, and that, along with some judicious cleaning and sanding of the brass bushing and rubber insert, plus letting it cure for 18 hours, did the trick. We did get a chance to find Little Harbor and motor sail into it before sailing back to the Mainland. When we cleared the west end, the breeze built into the mid- teens in a broad reach, and we made a fast crossing in just shy of six hours. If I ever get back to the Island I plan to make another visit to Little Harbor and do some free diving. Jerry On Tuesday, October 8, 2013 11:00 AM, Walter March <ma… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: >Hello Michael >I wish you the best luck on the regatta, I'm going to be at the party at Elliot Key. >Unfortunately my Cal is not in good shape for any race. :( > >Walter > >Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > >________________________________ > From: Michael D <md… [at] yahoo.com>; >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com>; >Subject: [Cal_Boats] Columbus Day Regatta >Sent: Tue, Oct 8, 2013 3:49:26 PM > > > >All, > > >Magic departs Friday morning for delivery to Biscayne Bay, Miami for the 59th Columbus Day Regatta. > > > >We are entered in ARC 2. Last year we missed 1st place in our class by 27 seconds after 27 miles over two days of racing. > > > >Unfortunately, Magic is the only Cal in the fleet of 75 or so boats. > > >Michael > > >

Any follow-up? I hope the test went well. Harleigh Ewell From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Allen Edwards Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 1:05 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone including a new one that really works pretty well? I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it. Allen

I have climbed up the mast using two of the new ways I developed based on climbing gear. That basically means I have used 4 of the 6 methods reviewed in the article. The two new ones are both so much easier than the TopClimber I have or the 3:1 pulley setup with the hex ratchet. I have posted videos on my web site showing my first climbs. I am going today to try some improvements today. One way is fairly straightforward and works well. The other uses a device called a GriGri and is really easy both up and down but requires practice and a bit of skill or it can scare the daylights out of you. While I like it a lot, I cannot recommend it. Both took 10 minutes to go both up and down the 40 foot mast. The difference is that the GriGri method took 3 of the 10 minutes to re-rig at the top (something that I really don't like about it) so it is actually faster in the climbing part. Both methods took quite a bit of time to deal with the second safety line. The changes I made to the process and will try today should make both methods a fair amount faster. I will post the results. Allen On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 7:23 AM, Harleigh Ewell <hp… [at] hpewell.com> wrote: > ** > > > Any follow-up? I hope the test went well.**** > > ** ** > > Harleigh Ewell**** > > ** ** > > *From:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] *On > Behalf Of *Allen Edwards > *Sent:* Thursday, September 26, 2013 1:05 AM > *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Subject:* [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone**** > > ** ** > > **** > > Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone > including a new one that really works pretty well?**** > > ** ** > > I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video > of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic.* > *** > > ** ** > > http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php**** > > ** ** > > After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it.**** > > ** ** > > Allen**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > **** > > >

I finally tried out my new ideas and let's just say that what is on the web site is the best. The basic method I am going to use takes me 5 minutes to go either up or down my 40 foot mast and is just a little harder than climbing stairs. Today I ruled out a couple of other ideas that worked fine in my attic but on my boat... not so much. At the end I repeated the method described on the web page and it really is pretty easy. Allen On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com>wrote: > I have climbed up the mast using two of the new ways I developed based on > climbing gear. That basically means I have used 4 of the 6 methods > reviewed in the article. The two new ones are both so much easier than the > TopClimber I have or the 3:1 pulley setup with the hex ratchet. I have > posted videos on my web site showing my first climbs. I am going today to > try some improvements today. One way is fairly straightforward and works > well. The other uses a device called a GriGri and is really easy both up > and down but requires practice and a bit of skill or it can scare the > daylights out of you. While I like it a lot, I cannot recommend it. Both > took 10 minutes to go both up and down the 40 foot mast. The difference is > that the GriGri method took 3 of the 10 minutes to re-rig at the top > (something that I really don't like about it) so it is actually faster in > the climbing part. Both methods took quite a bit of time to deal with the > second safety line. > > The changes I made to the process and will try today should make both > methods a fair amount faster. I will post the results. > > Allen > > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 7:23 AM, Harleigh Ewell <hp… [at] hpewell.com> wrote: > >> ** >> >> >> Any follow-up? I hope the test went well.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Harleigh Ewell**** >> >> ** ** >> >> *From:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] *On >> Behalf Of *Allen Edwards >> *Sent:* Thursday, September 26, 2013 1:05 AM >> *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >> *Subject:* [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone**** >> >> ** ** >> >> **** >> >> Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone >> including a new one that really works pretty well?**** >> >> ** ** >> >> I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video >> of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. >> **** >> >> ** ** >> >> http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php**** >> >> ** ** >> >> After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it.**** >> >> ** ** >> >> Allen**** >> >> ** ** >> >> ** ** >> >> **** >> >> >> > >

What website, and which is the best? From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Allen Edwards Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2013 10:39 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone I finally tried out my new ideas and let's just say that what is on the web site is the best. The basic method I am going to use takes me 5 minutes to go either up or down my 40 foot mast and is just a little harder than climbing stairs. Today I ruled out a couple of other ideas that worked fine in my attic but on my boat... not so much. At the end I repeated the method described on the web page and it really is pretty easy. Allen On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> wrote: I have climbed up the mast using two of the new ways I developed based on climbing gear. That basically means I have used 4 of the 6 methods reviewed in the article. The two new ones are both so much easier than the TopClimber I have or the 3:1 pulley setup with the hex ratchet. I have posted videos on my web site showing my first climbs. I am going today to try some improvements today. One way is fairly straightforward and works well. The other uses a device called a GriGri and is really easy both up and down but requires practice and a bit of skill or it can scare the daylights out of you. While I like it a lot, I cannot recommend it. Both took 10 minutes to go both up and down the 40 foot mast. The difference is that the GriGri method took 3 of the 10 minutes to re-rig at the top (something that I really don't like about it) so it is actually faster in the climbing part. Both methods took quite a bit of time to deal with the second safety line. The changes I made to the process and will try today should make both methods a fair amount faster. I will post the results. Allen On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 7:23 AM, Harleigh Ewell <hp… [at] hpewell.com> wrote: Any follow-up? I hope the test went well. Harleigh Ewell From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Allen Edwards Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 1:05 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone including a new one that really works pretty well? I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic. http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it. Allen

http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php Note. This is my website and I wrote the article. As you will see, I have tried the TopClimber, block and tackle, and several climbing based ways of getting to the top. I prefer what I call a modified setup based on climbing ascenders but rigged differently to make it easy to get over the top of the mast. It also happens to be the cheapest of the methods considered although as I bought all of them in writing this article I certainly didn't save any money. I don't sell any of this so enjoy the article. Allen On Sun, Oct 13, 2013 at 10:16 PM, Harleigh Ewell <hp… [at] hpewell.com> wrote: > ** > > > What website, and which is the best?**** > > ** ** > > *From:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] *On > Behalf Of *Allen Edwards > *Sent:* Sunday, October 13, 2013 10:39 PM > *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Subject:* Re: [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone**** > > ** ** > > **** > > I finally tried out my new ideas and let's just say that what is on the > web site is the best. The basic method I am going to use takes me 5 > minutes to go either up or down my 40 foot mast and is just a little harder > than climbing stairs. Today I ruled out a couple of other ideas that > worked fine in my attic but on my boat... not so much. At the end I > repeated the method described on the web page and it really is pretty easy. > **** > > ** ** > > Allen**** > > ** ** > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 8:54 AM, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> > wrote:**** > > I have climbed up the mast using two of the new ways I developed based on > climbing gear. That basically means I have used 4 of the 6 methods > reviewed in the article. The two new ones are both so much easier than the > TopClimber I have or the 3:1 pulley setup with the hex ratchet. I have > posted videos on my web site showing my first climbs. I am going today to > try some improvements today. One way is fairly straightforward and works > well. The other uses a device called a GriGri and is really easy both up > and down but requires practice and a bit of skill or it can scare the > daylights out of you. While I like it a lot, I cannot recommend it. Both > took 10 minutes to go both up and down the 40 foot mast. The difference is > that the GriGri method took 3 of the 10 minutes to re-rig at the top > (something that I really don't like about it) so it is actually faster in > the climbing part. Both methods took quite a bit of time to deal with the > second safety line.**** > > ** ** > > The changes I made to the process and will try today should make both > methods a fair amount faster. I will post the results.**** > > ** ** > > Allen**** > > ** ** > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 7:23 AM, Harleigh Ewell <hp… [at] hpewell.com> wrote:** > ** > > **** > > Any follow-up? I hope the test went well.**** > > **** > > Harleigh Ewell**** > > **** > > *From:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] *On > Behalf Of *Allen Edwards > *Sent:* Thursday, September 26, 2013 1:05 AM > *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Subject:* [Cal_Boats] Climbing a mast alone**** > > **** > > **** > > Anyone want to proof an articles reviewing ways to climb a mast alone > including a new one that really works pretty well?**** > > **** > > I am going to climb my mast with it tomorrow and attempt to make a video > of the method. To date I have just climbed about 12 feet up in my attic.* > *** > > **** > > http://l-36.com/mast_climbing.php**** > > **** > > After I get the video and make corrections, I will publish it.**** > > **** > > Allen**** > > **** > > **** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > **** > > >