Page 287 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Mast Steps

Mast steps are a popular way to get aloft, “as easy
as climbing a ladder,” as the sales literature says.
But did you ever try to climb a wet, cold, slippery,
awkwardly-shaped ladder that was waving back
and forth in the air? For all but flat-calm condi-
tions, mast steps are no treat, and even in flat calm
you need to have a safety line attached to you and
tended on deck.
It makes much more sense to have an efficient
bosun’s chair routine set up, one that enables you
to go up in any conditions and to stay up there
without having to hang onto a “ladder.” And with-
out the weight, windage, and expense.
But there is one place—about 4 ⁄2 feet down
1
from the masthead—where mast steps are a really
good idea. Just a pair of them at this height gives
you a place to stand when you need to get at the
very top of the mast, higher than a halyard can
take you. Of course, if you are in a chair, stay
firmly seated, so you don’t pitch out. Another rea-
son to use a well-fitted harness.
3 ⁄4-inch plywood or
With gear and crew set, all that remains is to plank
test the halyards. The drill is to take up on the safety
until it bears most of your weight, then bounce hard
on it a few times to make sure it will hold. The shock
load you’re imposing here will be far heavier than
any normal load. So if the halyard and blocks hold
for the bounce, they’ll probably hold for the haul.
Ease off on the safety, have your crew take up on the
primary, and bounce on that.
22”
Going Up—In What?
You are about to ascend to dizzying heights; what 10”
are you sitting in? The traditional plank-and-rope
bosun’s chair is a marvel of simplicity, economy,
utility, discomfort, and danger. With the addition of
the back and crotch straps shown in Figure 7-5, the Figure 7-5. A traditional plank chair with a few new
plank bosun’s chair becomes something like safe, wrinkles: Roped sides are easier on legs and mast;
and it’s certainly the cheapest way aloft provided spliced-in back and leg straps provide security. Note
you know how to splice and seize. But a good can- in bottom view that the chair legs are crossed and
vas chair with wide adjustable back strap and leg seized so that one broken part will not drop the occu-
straps and with handy built-in pockets is altogether pant. The rigging bucket has a shackle on its lanyard
a better way to go. for hanging around mast or spreader, with an extra
Figure 7-6 and the accompanying sidebar show lanyard (bight showing) for intermediate attachment
a couple of the types of chairs that were available while the main lanyard is being passed.
when this book was originally published. You’ll find

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