Looking through my ‘book ‘o knots‘ recently, I noticed the Prusik knot was included. The Prusik knot is one that I used only a few times back in my rock climbing days. That knot wasn’t the only one that brought back memories of rock climbing, though. More on that knot in a minute.
Among others, the figure eight loop, tape knot and double fisherman’s knot were a few more also used in rock climbing. I had very intimate knowledge of the figure eight loop knot since we literally used it every time we attached ourselves to the climbing line. We’d tie a figure eight loop on the rope end the climber is to be attached to and then hook that into two opposing carabiners attached to the climbing harness. It’s a strong knot that held me many many times.
Figure 8 Loop Knot
We also used the fisherman’s and double fisherman’s knots several times to lengthen our ropes. They’re very handy knots. Easy to tie and easy to teach to others.
Locking Carabiner
Speaking of carabiners… I haven’t seen much about carabiners being used in boating. Maybe they are in use, but I just haven’t heard about it yet. It seems like they’d be a perfect fit for that type of environment, though. They’re extremely weather-resistant, have secure gates that are easy to operate even under conditions when hands are cold or wet. Carabiners are also very strong…working loads in the thousands of pounds! Are carabiners used in boating/nautical applications and I’m not aware of it? If not, why not?
Prusik Knot
Back to the Prusik knot for a moment. The reason this knot caught my attention is that I wondered if it might be useful in climbing the mast of a sailboat? It’s a great friction/ascention knot [also similar to a Bachmann knot] that is pretty easy to use. I’ve already heard about mast climbing devices, but aren’t they extremely expensive? Seems like this might be a safe alternative. Any thoughts?
Mike
Hey Mike, I hope I didn’t upset you with our diffence of opinion. I enjoyed the dialogue, neither of us was rabid or anything.
Allan
Ha! Of course not Allan. I always enjoy the debate, if not always the topic. I don’t know if an answer exists. It troubles me, though.
Hi Mike,
I used the Prusik on a back-up (last-resort) safety line with my mast-climbing gear.
Key Components of a previous boat’s my mast-climbing solution:
– Left and Right Ascenders (connected to safety harness and Bosun’s chair)
– Bosun’s chair (connect to both Ascenders)
– 2×4 ‘step’ connected below the Bosun chair
– safety harness (connected to the Prusik Knot)
Interesting, Kelvin. I’m trying to sort out a mental picture of what you describe…I think I’ve got it. Thanks.
I find light weight guys who will climb the mast for a twelve pack. I have spent the equivolent of 24 beers for my foolishness to this date.
Ha! That’s awesome, Allan. That sounds a lot cheaper, easier and definitely safer!
How about that, another Texas sailor with a climbing background. I had to replace my anchor light recently and prusiked up my mast with two slings. I turned the process into a C1 aid climb – easy peasy. I had two 5′ slings (webbing with a water knot) and a a couple of runners. I girth hitched the runners to the bottom of one sling that was hitched (with a prusik) around the mast and used them for my feet. With one on each side of the mast, I was pretty stable. The other sling went straight to a locking biner on my harness. That one was hitched above the one to my feet. I’d weight the top one, bend my legs up and slide the lower hitch up to the top one. Then I’d weight my feet and slide the top one up as high as I could reach. I carried a spare sling and just left the top one below the spreaders when I got to them, using the spare above. I did have to undo the lower set of slings and move them up over the spreader, but it wasn’t too bad. I had my wife add a belay off of one of the halyards. It was aid climbing 101 basically. It would have been easier to simply crank me up with a winch on the halyard, but my little boat doesn’t have halyard winches and the halyards don’t run back to the cockpit. (Something I’m working on fixing now that the heat won’t melt me to the fiberglass while I’m working on the boat.)
Sounds like a great method, Stan. I was actually thinking yesterday about a single-handed method of mast climbing.
I don’t know that I wanna work that hard, though…lol. I considered making my own ladder out of some webbing fitted with sliders that I’d just run right up the mast with the main halyard.
Where in Texas are ya?
Mike
If I could have just been winched up, I’d have done it that way. Unfortunately, The boat isn’t set up for that yet.
We are in Cibolo – just outside of San Antonio. We have our boat out at Canyon Lake.