I have a topclimber which works well once you have things figured out. However, my F 30 only has the single main halyard. I have ascended on the single halyard in the past but I recognize there is a risk not having a safety. Given we have a tapered mast with only one obstruction (lazy jacks and jib stay about 20 feet up), I wonder what you guys think about using a compression knot like a kleimheist or a prussik around the mast itself as a way to achieve a fall preventer in case of a main halyard failure. I’ve also looked at the “gripping sailors hitch” for the same purpose.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Mike;
My approach with the same unit (on an F38) is to use the jib halyard as my safety. Obviously when I get above the jib it doesn’t keep me from falling but I figure it keeps me from hitting the deck. Not perfect but . . .
On my F30 I installed a u-bolt through the overhang on the masthead fitting, and attached a block that carried a 1/8 inch line from and back to the bow pulpit. The line served as both a flag halyard and messenger line for a second (masthead) halyard. I could quickly pull a spare halyard to the masthead in case of failure of the main halyard or as safety line when going aloft. Mu main halyard did fail one time (second year I owned the boat), parting several inches above the shackle.
On my F38, there is a pair of small sheves (approx 1" diameter) located before and abaft the main halyard sheve - that again carry my flag halyard/messenger line. Because the line travels through the masthead fitting with one end exiting forward and the other aft, I pull the aft facing part of the line around the mast so I can secure both ends to the bow pulpit.
Hi Mike -
Here is a url for a guy climbing his mast with Klemheist knots made with webbing:
http://blog.unsinkable2.com/2008/09/klemheist-mast-climbing-system.html
I’ve got a Top Climber and just ascenders on a halyard; but prefer a four-part block & tackle hoisted by the main halyard and attached to a bosun’s chair with a safety line around the mast – much easier for an old pudgy guy.
I use a prussic knot backup tied to the bosuns chair that I slide up as someone pulls me up. I’ve gently put most of my weight on it just to test it and I’m fairly certain it would hold me if the halyard failed. I never really put my full weight on it because I think it would probably crush the aluminium mast track if it really tightened up from my full weight. I also think if I used it for real I would be in a bit of a fix because I would be dangling at the top of the mast without a really good way to get down.
Still, even having both of those problems would be a good tradeoff, because I am highly allergic to gravity!
Thanks for the many ideas. I have decided to try the kleimheist with 2 inch webbing as a safety. This will back up my top climber. I’ll push the kleimheist up as I go and I figure I’ll have no more than a 24 inch drop at any point should I run into trouble with the primary. I’ll probably have a heart attack during the 24 inch drop! I hope this will allow me to weight test the thing. The wide webbing should avoid undue compression of the mast track, we’ll see how it goes. I’ll take pics.
Regarding getting down if there is a failure, my strategy is to yell for help and wait for the fire department, Coast Guard helo or whatever. I figure at least I won’t be dead. I may be the laughing stock of the club for awhile.