Has anyone used a"Topclimber " system to climb the mast?

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Kinsale373

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Im looking at these on the net and it seems a reasonably easy and relatively safe way to get aloft. Has any experience of them? What do you think?

Regards, Kinsale 373
 
I have. Bought it in case I need to go up when single handed and only used once so far. Bear in mind lack of experience but it is quite fiddly and slow, and definitely difficult if wearing a lot of clothes. It felt safe and reliable and I certainly speeded up as I got used to the method of use. Glad I have it but much happier if someone there to pull me up
 
I've used mine to go up the mast. I had someone with a safety line but I could envisage using it single-handed. Easy to use, safer than most methods, doesn't rely on any deck-level muscle power, feels secure. Probably not the fastest way to climb but I'm happy to take it slowly and carefully.
 
I have had one for a few years.

I have used it a few times. Scares the s*** out of me - but that's about me and heights, not the kit. I think the kit is brilliant.

The ATN TopClimber was superseded by the MastClimber, which uses superior ascenders. I just checked though, as I was surprised you were referring to the former. Seems TopClimber is being marketed by someone else, yet it looks the same as the one I have and is not still listed on ATN's site. Perhaps someone knows how this is.

A while back, I did note this note of caution [ http://cruising.coastalboating.net/Seamanship/ATN/ATNTopclimber.html ] about the shackle at the top of the Topclimber. I still intend to do the fix to mine.

Real climbers have much cleverer ways of ascending a mast solo. But a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing where gravity and decks are involved, so I am more than happy to go with a climbing-for-dummies solution, and the TopClimber fits that bill for me.

I now tend to put a Prusik knot on a second halyard (also securely locked at deck level at the other end!), attached to a belt strap as a backup. I can slide it up and down as I ascend and descend.

It greatly helps to secure the halyard (both halyards) you're using at the base of the mast below you, and pull it/ them taut. This reduces the 'swing factor', making the operation feel much more secure.
 
The guy on the boat next to me has one. He went up the mast on his Fulmar in double quick time whilst I tended the safety line for him. He's in his 70s.
 
I have one.

My first attempt at using it was not very positive, and then I worked out how tight you need the rope to be.

Now I find it really easy to use and quite quick to get up and down the mast on.

There is a definite technique to using it, but once mastered it is a doodle to use and it feels a whole lot safer than most other methods I have used.

You need to get the right diameter rope for it though, and winch it up REALLY tight, otherwise it's difficult to push up with your feet.
 
Thats great guys , Thanks for all the feeback. Its convinced me to go for it. Ill take the advice and have somone on a Safety Line as well-always good to have someone to phone for help!

Kinsale 373
 
Personally, I just point at the top of the mast and my 14 yr old lad is up it like a rat up a drainpipe. We just grind him up on a winch.

A more comfortable technique I saw used by two old boys this summer in Falmouth was just two halyards and two cam cleats ... one halyard to the loop on the bosuns chair, the second to a board about 2 feet wide, running across the mainsail slot ... stand on the board, take in on the bosuns chair halyard ... when fully upright, put weight on the chair, raise knees nice and high as the board is pulled up the mast slot ... repeat.

Easy on the crew, no complications with ascenders, all the load is take on a couple of cam cleats and your legs do all the work.
 
Bobc said:
I have one.

My first attempt at using it was not very positive, and then I worked out how tight you need the rope to be.

Now I find it really easy to use and quite quick to get up and down the mast on.

There is a definite technique to using it, but once mastered it is a doodle to use and it feels a whole lot safer than most other methods I have used.

You need to get the right diameter rope for it though, and winch it up REALLY tight, otherwise it's difficult to push up with your feet.
Click to expand...

+1, had one 11 years, bought it for safety solo racing, spent two and a half hours in it once untangling a kite wrap...
 
We bought one and I went up with trepidation as I have a fear of heights. I was amazed how secure I felt and very happy. It takes a bit of practice to speed things up, and coming down is equally slow.
Eventually I realised that first mate (not strong enough to winch me up) could lower me by lowering the static line, whilst alternately lowering the safety line (ie lowering the safety line a few feet, securing it and then lowering the static line until the safety line tightens).
 
Pavalijo said:
We bought one and I went up with trepidation as I have a fear of heights. I was amazed how secure I felt and very happy. It takes a bit of practice to speed things up, and coming down is equally slow.
Eventually I realised that first mate (not strong enough to winch me up) could lower me by lowering the static line, whilst alternately lowering the safety line (ie lowering the safety line a few feet, securing it and then lowering the static line until the safety line tightens).
Click to expand...

An alternative to your lowering approach is to use a fit-for-purpose descender which the climber can operate him/herself.

If you do however proceed as described, make sure the slack line never has more than a couple of feet of slack in it. Even less if the halyards are low stretch where the risk of serious injury rises exponentially with even surprisingly short falls.
 
dom said:
An alternative to your lowering approach is to use a fit-for-purpose descender which the climber can operate him/herself.

If you do however proceed as described, make sure the slack line never has more than a couple of feet of slack in it. Even less if the halyards are low stretch where the risk of serious injury rises exponentially with even surprisingly short falls.
Click to expand...

Your point is well made, and indeed that is how we do proceed. It is still faster than descending without assistance using the TopClimber alone.
 
Again, Thanks to everyone for their inputs. Ill take it all on board. I ordered my Topclimber this morning from a site in Holland.
I plan some practice runs up to the first spreader to get into the swing of it!

Regards, Kinsale 373
 
Kinsale373 said:
I plan some practice runs up to the first spreader to get into the swing of it!
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. Since having to leave work I've put a l i t t l e weight on! I do have to get to the masthead when the weather improves to change the nav light bulb for an LED one. I've been up my mast about 15 times in the past. You will find it easier if you take several short climbs, and of course, you can stop whenever you like, come down and then go up again a little further. You will find it gets tougher the higher you go due to the standing rigging. I always wear my harness and wrap the safety line around the mast to give complete 'hands free' movement - and safety of course.
 
Like has been said, crucial to get the rope hefted up really tight or feet go one way and head the other. Progress up was slower than I thought but not helped when soloing by using a jumar as a safety device running on another halyard. But however done I'd always want a safety line of some sort
 
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