Yacht Forum UK

I can't find them online, but have heard there's a mast climbing ladder that you can simply hoist up the mast, using the track normally used for the sail.

Sounds like an ingenious solution to me.

Are they any good?

Where do you get them?

Ta

I bought a mast ladder last year.

So far had to use it four times. It makes getting up the mast easy.

But you still need a safety line. The good lady is able to winch up bosun's chair as I climb. In case I fall I have that safety factor.

At a push you could go up the mast alone, it has a belt at the top to tie yourself on and carry out the task.

The ladder uses the mast groove to keep it steady, also using the main halyard hoist it.

Mine was from Hurst-Marine, cost about £170.

Well worth it

Good luck

Mj

Brilliant, thanks for that.

I'm thinking that instead of a backup human, you could use two karabiners on two safety lines. Clip them alternately up the rungs of the ladder as you ascend.

I've got climging equipment, so could use my climbing harness and a few other bits and bobs with one of those ladders and I'll be sorted.

Thanks again, I'll go look at Hurst-Marine.

A short safety line sounds a good idea.

But a bosun's chair allows a better seat to carry out the task I would think.

Good to have someone in attendance I reckon,

Mj

The best one from a sailing mag. test was the DEFEE ladder, has sail sliders so goes up the track and solid treads so much nicer on the feet than the all webbing type. I share one with a friend with different sail sliders on each side so can be used on either boat. I've used it in conjunction with a harness and safety line double wrapped around the mast when I've got to the point I want to work at. I fitted a radar reflector to the mast this spring using this method.

Are you sure about the name of that ladder? It sounds great but I can't find it online anywhere.

It's deffee http://www.gdeffee.freeserve.co.uk/ . In tracking it down I found this list of alternatives http://cruisingresources.com/Going_Aloft__p2

Derek

I know it's an old thread, but George Deffee has changed his website to

http://www.deffees-yachtmastladders.co.uk/

(I'm currently ordering one for my Bavaria 30.)