I went up the mast using MastMate today, in order to repair the wind speed indicator. Here are my takeaways:
1) Ascent was much faster than using prusiks or a jumar, and did not require any winching.
2) The battens in the top steps made it easy to stand and get the work done.
3) I used the MastMate work belt to carry tools and a retrieval line in case I needed to haul up any additional tools or lower the MHU prior to climbing down. The strap around the mast provides a secure brace while working.
4) Next time I will probably use a chest harness clipped in to the halyard safety “belay” just in case I lost a grip on the steps above while climbing (avoiding a potential “topsy-turvy” situation.
Overall, a great product that will be my gold standard for ascending the mast from now on!
Thanks, Ken