ATN Top Climber

Status
Not open for further replies.
gpd955

gpd955

.
Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
Anyone have any experience with the ATN Top Climber?? I have been looking at buying one and tried it out at the S/S show this w/e. It was fairly easy and seened pretty safe. Any input before I fork out the $$ is appreciated! Sorry if anyone has read this on some other forums but I want to get a variety of opinions!! Jack Manning s/v Victim of Fate Atlantic City, NJ
 
R

Rich

ATN climber

I've been very satisfied with the ATN climber. I probably use it on an average of 3 to 5 times per sailing season so it has more than paid for itself. What's nice about it is the fact that you can pull yourself to the top of the mast and then stand and be above the mast. This allows for you to work comfortably and safely, (of course I always use a spare halyard as a safety back-up). Another nice feature is that, unlike a mast attached ladder, you can swing yourself out to the end of the spreaders. This makes a task like replacing a spreader light bulb for example, an easy job. For me, it proved to be a worthwhile investment!
 
T

Tony

ATN

I agree with Rich. A nice piece of equipment compared to a bosun chair. My son likes it also, which makes it even better. Now he sometimes volunteers to go up. I would wear a safety belt attached to a second halyard for safety. Have not had any problems with it at all.
 
Paul4414

Paul4414

.
Aug 6, 2006
49
Hunter Legend 37 Severna Park, MD
I couldn't agree more with the comments of Rich and Tony. I havwe had mine for four years and have evwen made money going up other people masts to do work. It is by far the easiest way to go up a mast. I have tried other systems that were a real pain in the a--. I had a friend borrow mine for a trip to Tortola. He had to use it out in the ocean and had no trouble. He likes it so much he bought one when he got back. It is well worth the cost. Paul s/v Lady Sara Legend 37
 
gpd955

gpd955

.
Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
Thanks

for your replies! Tony, I planned on getting an ascender and caribiner and putting them on a short piece of webbing then attaching that to the chest ring on the ATD using the ascender on my main halyard as a safety. If the b/u halyard fails at least I'll still be attached to something. If that halyard fails, the Admiral promised to catch me!!
 
D

Daryl

I vote yes

Had mine several years and it's the only way this fat 50 year old guy could get up a 50' stick without help (but it is overpriced)
 
Alan

Alan

.
Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
Save yourself....

.... a good deal of money. Buy a pair of ascenders and a climbing harness. Mountain and rock climbers use them and they work under the same principle at less than half the cost. You can pick up both on Ebay. I bought my setup for about $100. Works exactly the same except its safer because you can't fall out of the harness. I'm 60 and use it regularly.
 
Sequitur

Sequitur

.
Jul 3, 2006
108
Wildschut skûtsje Carcassonne
I'll second Alan's recommendation.

I climbed very seriously through the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Rock climbing gear is safer, more thoroughly tested, invariably CE certified, more comfortable, easier to use and much less expensive. There is a wide assortment of gear at REI and MEC, and an outfit should cost in the $100 to $130 range depending on US or Canadian dollars.
 
Brian D

Brian D

.
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Alan and Sequitur...

Good points all around. But remember, one must have the knowledge to put something together. When that is not available, then the only option is to purchase something pre-made. Before I bought my ATN I did the "look on the net for info" with the rock climbing gear and found very limited usable data. Well, limited to me because I don't know the rock climbing lingo and every discussion was in "rockese". So I went with something pre-made. It was an expensive option, but one readily available.
 
BobD17833

BobD17833

.
Jul 25, 2005
43
NULL NULL Boston
Which climber's parts

Alan and Sequitur Which climber's parts do I ask for? Two Ascenders? A body harness with a central carabiner or ring? Length of line for main climbing line? What about the foot pieces like on the Top Climber? I'd much prefer to go the REI climber's way if it is safe and performs similar to the ATN. Just need to know what to ask for. Thanks Bob D Boston
 
D

dmagnus

ATN TopClimber

I bought the Top Climber last summer and used it twice. I hated my old bosnu's chair because it was very uncomfortable to use and required a couple of other people to haul me up and belay the safety line. The first time I used it, I cut my hands up on something sharp on the ascenders, I would recommend using gloves. I was also pretty badly out out shape, but I was able to haul myself up with some effort. I am now about 45 lbs lighter and working out, so I think it will be a very easy job next season. I do have a friend who has a climbing gear store and I could have gotten the equivalent from him for probably about a $100 savings. I really like the chair/harness on the Top Climber and it does allow you to stand above the top of the mast as advertised. I recommend it.
 
Alan

Alan

.
Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
BobD Brian D

To answer your question about "parts" Ascenders come in left and right hand variety. You will need one of each and a locking carabiener. Also needed is a short (6') length of rope. Of course, whether you are using the ATN or any other device you NEVER climb the main halyard so you will need a dedicated climbing line (7/16" x mast height + 30') The short line is tied to produce loops(stirrups) at each end large enough to fit your foot and long enough to reach from your feet to the your crotch. This line is run through the right hand ascender(if you're right handed). The other ascender is attached to your harness with the carabiener. The two ascenders are attached to the dedicated climbing line, after it is hoisted via the main halyard, to the masthead. The right hand ascender is attached below the left. The climbing line is tensioned via a snatch block and lead to any winch. At this point the climber simply sits in the the harness and draws his feet up. Then moving the right hand ascender up to the bottom of the left, you stand up in the stirrups. The left ascender is then moved up as far as it will go. Then sitting again this process is repeated until you reach the top. Voilà! To descend you can have a crew member ease you down via the main halyard or simply reverse the ascending process.
 
BobD17833

BobD17833

.
Jul 25, 2005
43
NULL NULL Boston
Alan - got it, Thanks

So it's one each - Left and Right ascender to match the climbing line. A body harness. A locking carabiener. A length of line for the foot stirrups. A length of line for the main climbing line. The people are very knowledgable at REI. With your setup description they'll set me up and show me the knots to use for the application. Bob D Boston
 
Alan

Alan

.
Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
Yes

You got it. I'm not sure if the ATN unit recommends using a dedicated climbing line or not, but I would strongly advise you use one in place of climbing the halyard itself. It is really a very simple process and once you've done it a couple of times you will realize that going aloft is 'no big deal'. Cheers
 
gpd955

gpd955

.
Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
not using existing halyard

They do. They also don't recommend tying that line of the the shackle on the jalyard. They say to tie the two lines together using a sheet bend or some other acceptable knot.
 
Alan

Alan

.
Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
gpd955

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand what you are referring to. Could you please explain with a little more detail?
 
Brian D

Brian D

.
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
gpd955 is referring

to the ATN instructions stating that a separate line tied, and not clipped, to the halyard be used. This will prevent damaging the halyard. This was already mentioned in this thread I think.
 
DannyS

DannyS

.
May 27, 2004
932
Beneteau 393 Bayfield, Wi
REI

I went through all of this last year, I looked at the ATN and even used one, but in the end I bought the ascenders and harness from REI. Be aware however, and you may not have this experience, I was told by the climbing "experts" at REI that they could not physically show me how to use the ascenders/descenders. They could sell them but the REI lawyers and management forbid them from showing people how to correctly use them, I'd have to take a class through an unaffiliated rock climbing course...the guy I was working with did however, show me a book with the diagrams and explaination of how and what was needed. I guess most of the people that buy these things are roofers and construction workers and they (REI) have had to defend themselves in court for improper use by the roofers.
 
Alan

Alan

.
Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
So,...

....are you saying that a 'dedicated' climbing line is being used?
 
gpd955

gpd955

.
Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
Dedicated Line

I did look into the DIY version after people started mentioning it but I would probably spend the entire time on the mast hoping I didn't screw it up!! I am not the most mechanically inclined person and although I am getting better at it every year, I'm still not comfortable making something which my life is ENTIRELY dependent upon!! I can hear the admiral now as I plunge to my death impaling myself on the wind vane I was installing, "I told you to buy it!" And yes, a dedicated line should be used. One of the reasons is that if you have a snap shackle on the halyard you can't get the ascenders onto it because they are "feed through". It is also recommended so you can get the TC line all the way to the top of the mast to get the TC as high as possible. There is also the concern that the ascenders will cause wear on the halyard, which could cause a problem when sailing. There were no other safety reasons cited when I spoke with the inventor.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom