I recently bought a "mast mate" mast ascender. It is made of nylon webbing with staggered foot loops and hauled up the main sail track via the halyard. I used the jib halyard and a climbing harness as a safety backup. The 27' mast mate fit the mast on my 7.60 nicely.
After seven trips up the mast I got pretty good at it. First trip was to assess the situation: windex destroyed by osprey. Second trip up I replaced the anchor light with an LED light and attempted to get the old windex off. Third trip I brought more tools and again fought with the windex, etc. Finally I was able to replace the windex and add a spike strip to keep the osprey and other birds from sitting there. I also put some line over the spreaders to keep the birds from sitting on those.
The mast mate felt reasonably secure. The foot loops are a bit uncomfortable but they work well enough. The only thing I would do differently is to also order their toolbelt. It's an extra $70 and also has a strap so you can lean back and use both hands. I had planned on using a loop of line for this but was in a rush to get it done.
http://www.mastmate.comhttp://www.downwindmarine.com/Internal-Flat-Slides-Nylon-p-90891442.html - slides for sail track (you will require about 18 for the 7.60 - make sure you buy enough! I was short a few). Mast mate provides a clip to clip the slide to the webbed ladder.
MARINE 14-1/2” SAILING WIND INDICATOR VANE FOR BOAT, W/BALLBEARINGS– FIVE OCEANS - from ebay $20 + postage
http://www.downwindmarine.com/Bird-Flite-Narrow-Spike-Strip-p-90892385.htmlhttp://marineledshop.com/navigation-bulb-aquasignal-25-barrel-festoon - you might have a different anchor light. This LED light was only $20 (free postage). Haven't really tested it yet but seems adequate.
Here are the lines I put on the spreaders. They keep the birds off but hum a bit in the breeze. Should have added more webbing to dampen them.
Locked
