How do I stabilize myself on the mast?

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Knotical

I tried wrapping my legs around the mast but it took a lot of effort and they started aching after a while, I want something that will keep me steady without much effort on my part, there are plenty of things I am doing anyway when up the mast.

Clip a sling around the mast.

[scareygary]

There are some interesting ideas here. I'd like to suggest that you might try to see if you can do a search for a video called "Going Aloft", made by a master rigger from Port Townsend, WA. Brion Toss, who just recently passed, though not from a climbing accident! The copy I have is old and just VHS, but it's filled with some great ideas. I use his method of using 2 ratchet blocks and a lot of line, allowing 4x1 purchase, I think. It works great, although I'm now too old to pull myself up, but I can easily hoist crew from the deck. With safety line, of course.
Brion was an icon up here in the PNW.... Good luck!

[Talbot]

There are two places that most people will want to climb a mast to do work, although some people install steps both sides of the mast all the way to the top.

1. Radar and deck floodlight - both normally can be reach while stabilising using the crosstrees.

2. The top of the mast - Most people who need to climb the mast , have to get right to the top and be able to work on the items that are there.

I was not a great fan of the steps all the way up the mast, but I installed two steps opposite each other just below the top of the mast, so that when standing on them, at least 1/3 of the body is above the top of the mast. My electrician loves them.
I used the folding type, so that they are unobtrusive when not needed.

[japawil]

[emoji848]

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by japawil

Attachment 244744[emoji848]

Lol, it’s not a sailboat, it’s a building in the shape of a sailboat 😊

Got some great ideas for next time, thanks a lot everyone, this forum is awesome. 👍👍