Topclimber

[tome]

I bought one of these some months ago and had occasion to try it for the first time this weekend. Brilliant! I was able to climb the mast unaided and without undue effort.

If you're not familiar with it, it's a 2 piece harness and footstrap arrangement which clips onto a 10mm static line. The static line is hauled to the masthead and made off tight with a halyard. To climb up, you sit down on the seat, raise the foot-stirrups and clutch and then stand up. Once standing, you slide the top harness clutch up the static line and sit down again. You keep doing this until you get to the top. Unlike a bosuns chair it allows you to work above the top of the mast and feels very secure. It has a rigid seat so is comfortable for long periods.

I also liked the way it stows into a neat bag which doubles as a tool-bag when going aloft.

The only complaint was that my legs were swinging about a bit. When I looked at the instructions more closely, I realised there was a webbing strap missing which constrains the legs. I contacted the UK distributor yesterday afternoon, and he turned up at my office this morning with a replacement lower harness!

He told me that Emma Richards (amongst many others) uses this for climbing and that she has been up the mast in F8 using this. Sooner her than me, but it is a terrific solution for anyone short or single handed and gets my 5 star vote.

The UK distributor is Charles Dodds at Yachstyle Tel 01276 675829 or email yachtstyle@tiscali.co.uk. Current price is £159.95. I have no connection with Charles or the company but am posting this as an efficient mast climbing solution is a holy grail to many of us.

Regards to all
Tom

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[tome]

Found this link which describes it better than I can:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.atninc.com/topclimber.html>http://www.atninc.com/topclimber.html</A>

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[Johnjo]

Does it say anything about what weight it is capable of holding ?
had a look at the website but could not see anything!

regards mike

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[oldsaltoz]

This link has a video of the topclimber in use


http://www.atninc.com/topclimber.html

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[WayneS]

Looks very good. Typically marine priced though....

Wayne

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[suse]

What about usage by the unfit middle aged?

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[Laurin]

Could make up something similar from climbing gear for about £100. 1 harness (£20) 2 ascenders (2x£25) 2 slings (2x£7) 2 or 3 Karabinas (£6 each). No wooden seat, or bag, to put it all in, but the harness could have gear loops to fasten things to! www.rockrun.com

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[tome]

So 160 quid all-in isn't too bad for a neat system with seat that all stows in a bag? I see that it's considerably more expensive in the US.

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[tome]

Apparently the guy in the photos is in his 70s. It does take some effort to climb, but then so do mast steps.

First time I tried it I tried to climb the mast using it until I got the hang of it - it's designed to be free-standing and there's definitely a technique involved. You need to lean back on the seat to get your knees up high otherwise you make slow progress. Once you get the knack it isn't difficult at all (I'm 48 but reasonably fit).

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[qsiv]

I'm not sure thats quite fair in this case, so if we break down the individual componenents:-

Descender £ 45
Ascenders £ 60
Harness £ 120

So far thats £225, and we still havent got the footstraps or carry bag, nor any caribiners or quickdraws if they are supplied.

All in all, I think it's a fair price for a low volume pre assembled bit of kit. I bought mine as 'components' from regular mountaineering shops, and the costs arent that different.

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[Laurin]

where do you go shopping for mountaineering gear?????

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[qsiv]

I note you havent included a descender - I wouldnt want a non expert cliber swinging around at the top of the mast relying on descending using an 8 or similar! I think a failsafe braking descender is essential.

I'm pretty concerned at the concept of a £20 harness. Even super light sport harnesses tend to cost around £50. Personally I went for an 'industrial' harness on two counts - they tend to have thicker, more padded belts and leg straps and as such are much, much more comfortable. They are also slightly 'safer' to put on by non experienced crew members as they have been designed with Health & Safety legislation in mind.

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[qsiv]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gear-zone.co.uk/index.html>http://www.gear-zone.co.uk/index.html</A>

or cotswold outdoors are places I've used in the past. Just dont tell them it's for marine use as otherwise they wont sell it to you as it's being used outside it's design environment. I had to wait 10 days, and reorder by phone ...

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[Laurin]

DMM alpine sit harness, very reputable company, just a good deal at the moment. (Should be £38) Usually I find if you shop around you can get a fully adjustable sit harness for £20 to £25 if you are prepared to accept last years model (usually a different colour or something). Yes industrial harnesses are safer, particularly if you have the potential to swing upside down and don't have female hips, but the one on the topclimber appears to be the equivalent of a sit harness... wouldn't particularly like to swing upside down in that. As for a descender, good point, but a gri gri instead of one of the ascenders would only add another £25. Didn't quite work out how you got back down with the topclimber.

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[qsiv]

Nor me. After reading Mike Goldings article, I actually send two lines to the masthead - I climb on one, and descend on the other. As MG points out you need slack to lock the descender onto the rope - and this is tricky if you are hanging from it. I accept your point on style - doesnt bother me, but I needed a good harness in a bit of a hurry for a race, so took what I could find. Ihave to say the Vario I bought is much more comfy than any other harness I have used thanks to the ample pads on the straps.

As you rightly said, a key attribute of climbing harnesses are the clipping points scattered round the waist - these have have obvious uses for toolbags, but I always clip a few quickdraws on, that way I can hook myself fairly rigidly in position whilst I'm working.

I also carry a light helmet - but I've never needed to go aloft when it's anything other than calm, so it is still unused.

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[tome]

Return to earth

Both parts of the harness have sprung-loaded clutches so that you release the top one whilst standing then sit down (taking weight on the upper clutch) whilst you release and slide down the lower. This saves having to have seperate descenders or a second line. You cannot release the clutches under load.

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[jonjo]

Re: Ladder or Climber

Ho hum, more options to consider!

I was preparing to send off a cheque to Mr Deffee in Wales for one of his mast ladders, now this thread has got me re-thinking my options.

http://www.gdeffee.freeserve.co.uk/

What would the panel recommend for an average 40 year old who wants to do some occasional solo in-harbour mast maintenance and who would never sail more than 120 miles single-handed?

Not done any rock climbing before.

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