I need to climb the mast to install things and wondering which way to go. I am thinking the mast mate looks very good but what about the top climber or bosun's chair. Does any one have one of these and how do you like it,what pros and cons. nick
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Nick, I like our chair because I feel safe and ...
comfortable in it. It takes two experienced skippers to hoist you up; one on the main halyard and the other on the backup topping lift. Terry
comfortable in it. It takes two experienced skippers to hoist you up; one on the main halyard and the other on the backup topping lift. Terry
Terry, where did you find a comfortable chair?
Using mine is like being drawn and quartered! We use your method but without the back up topping lift. Linda picks me up using a halyard that is tied directly to the chair. Rope only. The halyard is led to the cockpit, through a stopper. The stopper is activated so it is one way only. Then the line goes to a snatch block and to the winch. She takes me right up....
Oh yea, the winch is engine driven hydraulic.
Using mine is like being drawn and quartered! We use your method but without the back up topping lift. Linda picks me up using a halyard that is tied directly to the chair. Rope only. The halyard is led to the cockpit, through a stopper. The stopper is activated so it is one way only. Then the line goes to a snatch block and to the winch. She takes me right up....
Oh yea, the winch is engine driven hydraulic.Lots of other options
The Mast Mate makes it pretty easy to get up the mast, but then you still have to consider how to support yourself once you get up there. So you still need a chair or a harness to be really comfortable - just standing on a web ladder does not feel very secure. But there are lots of other options. Check out the link for more. Steve Christensen
The Mast Mate makes it pretty easy to get up the mast, but then you still have to consider how to support yourself once you get up there. So you still need a chair or a harness to be really comfortable - just standing on a web ladder does not feel very secure. But there are lots of other options. Check out the link for more. Steve Christensen
Mast Mate works for me
nick I've had a Mast Mate for 3 years and it works great for me. My First 345, tall rig, is about 45 feet tall and I'm 60 years old. I've checked antennas, wired spreader lights, removed and installed the radar unit, and replaced light bulbs. I wear a harness on a halyard for safety and to lean back on. My wife tends the halyard around a wench. No problems, no issues. Cliff
nick I've had a Mast Mate for 3 years and it works great for me. My First 345, tall rig, is about 45 feet tall and I'm 60 years old. I've checked antennas, wired spreader lights, removed and installed the radar unit, and replaced light bulbs. I wear a harness on a halyard for safety and to lean back on. My wife tends the halyard around a wench. No problems, no issues. Cliff
Fred, I could say ours is a recliner chair...
but it is the standard rigid bottom bosun's chair. I was up for about an hour and I was fairly comfortable all the while. The topping lift backup is more for personal assurance purposes. Being 62 feet up it fit my comfort zone. We used the electric windlass for the muscle work. Terry
but it is the standard rigid bottom bosun's chair. I was up for about an hour and I was fairly comfortable all the while. The topping lift backup is more for personal assurance purposes. Being 62 feet up it fit my comfort zone. We used the electric windlass for the muscle work. Terry
Top Climber Wins
Having tried several types of Bosun's seats, I bought a Top Climber at the Annapolis boat show in 2002. After returning to Seward and using it on my 35s5 "Good Omen". I highly recommend it. Matter of fact, it has migrated to our new 47.7 "Freedom". This from a 6'5" 260 plus pounder with a "bad back" and the scars to prove it. Wouldn't have anything else to get me to the top! Tom Dooley Anchorage, AK tpdooely@gci.net
Having tried several types of Bosun's seats, I bought a Top Climber at the Annapolis boat show in 2002. After returning to Seward and using it on my 35s5 "Good Omen". I highly recommend it. Matter of fact, it has migrated to our new 47.7 "Freedom". This from a 6'5" 260 plus pounder with a "bad back" and the scars to prove it. Wouldn't have anything else to get me to the top! Tom Dooley Anchorage, AK tpdooely@gci.net
I have all three and ....
without a doubt the Top Climber beats the chair or any mast ladder. I can get up and down the 45' stick in a few minutes without any help. The mast ladder is not safe and I need help using the chair.
without a doubt the Top Climber beats the chair or any mast ladder. I can get up and down the 45' stick in a few minutes without any help. The mast ladder is not safe and I need help using the chair.
Thanks Terry, good info here. Must be the old
bod that's the problem. I think I'll check into some of these suggestions. Tom, the Top Climber, does that mean, using your legs? I have a bad hoof.
bod that's the problem. I think I'll check into some of these suggestions. Tom, the Top Climber, does that mean, using your legs? I have a bad hoof.
Top Climber
I bought the top climber myself. Fred is right, the guy climbing it in the video certainly makes it look easy. I can tell you for sure that it ain't that easy! I used it once, it's now relegated to the storage shed in the back yard. If you're over 21 or 175 lbs., you've got a LOT of work to get to the top. I bought the Mast Mate to replace it, but haven't had a chance to use it yet.
I bought the top climber myself. Fred is right, the guy climbing it in the video certainly makes it look easy. I can tell you for sure that it ain't that easy! I used it once, it's now relegated to the storage shed in the back yard. If you're over 21 or 175 lbs., you've got a LOT of work to get to the top. I bought the Mast Mate to replace it, but haven't had a chance to use it yet.
Top Climber..... Oh NO!
I bought the Top Climber at the boat show here in Houston. The guy from the video was there and showed me how to use it. I must be stupid because it nearly killed me to get to the top of my 50ft mast. Once I got up there I couldn't do a thing because I was tethered to the climbing line. Then (Oh GOD) I had to inch worm back down and that was even harder because I was already exhausted. Thankfully I didn't throw my gantline away when I bought the TC. I paid $285.00 and sold it happily on Ebay for $200.00. I'm 6"1" and 210lbs.
I bought the Top Climber at the boat show here in Houston. The guy from the video was there and showed me how to use it. I must be stupid because it nearly killed me to get to the top of my 50ft mast. Once I got up there I couldn't do a thing because I was tethered to the climbing line. Then (Oh GOD) I had to inch worm back down and that was even harder because I was already exhausted. Thankfully I didn't throw my gantline away when I bought the TC. I paid $285.00 and sold it happily on Ebay for $200.00. I'm 6"1" and 210lbs.
Top Climber Usage
I bought mine used from a guy who tried it one. The first time up was slow but I got up myself in 25 minutes. I'm 50 years old and 220#. Each time I went up it got easier and faster. Be sure to secure the end of the climbing line with a lot of tension. I don't think I would have bought one for $300 but I couldn't pass it up at $150
I bought mine used from a guy who tried it one. The first time up was slow but I got up myself in 25 minutes. I'm 50 years old and 220#. Each time I went up it got easier and faster. Be sure to secure the end of the climbing line with a lot of tension. I don't think I would have bought one for $300 but I couldn't pass it up at $150
Steve - Give a yell
If you want to make room in your shed and 'shed' yourself of your top climber, send me an e-mail at dkrunnfusz@wowway.com.
If you want to make room in your shed and 'shed' yourself of your top climber, send me an e-mail at dkrunnfusz@wowway.com.
id like to have one too!
sorry fred, i guess im spoiled witht the cable hook up, you tend to take it for granted.
sorry fred, i guess im spoiled witht the cable hook up, you tend to take it for granted.
Rescue harness
Nick I bought a ROCO rescue harness to climb my 65' tall mast...and this harness is a dream...very comfortable for long hangs. I use 2 assenders...the first hooked to my harness and the second to a dual leg sling and inch worm my way up a static line..(same concept as topclimber)..I use the main halyard as a saftey and someone down below for belay....... A good investment is Byron Ross video for going aloft. good luck and saftey first.
Nick I bought a ROCO rescue harness to climb my 65' tall mast...and this harness is a dream...very comfortable for long hangs. I use 2 assenders...the first hooked to my harness and the second to a dual leg sling and inch worm my way up a static line..(same concept as topclimber)..I use the main halyard as a saftey and someone down below for belay....... A good investment is Byron Ross video for going aloft. good luck and saftey first.
What rock climbers and cavers do
We've often climbed our mast using ascenders (Jumar, Clog, Petzl or whatever) and a climbing harness. I tie an 11 mm climbing rope onto the main halyard, use the main halyard to hoist the climbing rope to the top of the mast, secure everything so that it's bomb-proof (halyard through a rope clutch and tied off), then ascend the climbing rope. It's much better than trying to have someone haul me up with one of the winches. You can find out how to do this by reading most any of the books about (aid) rock climbing or (vertical) caving. It seems very secure and is a self-sufficient way of getting to the top of the rig.
We've often climbed our mast using ascenders (Jumar, Clog, Petzl or whatever) and a climbing harness. I tie an 11 mm climbing rope onto the main halyard, use the main halyard to hoist the climbing rope to the top of the mast, secure everything so that it's bomb-proof (halyard through a rope clutch and tied off), then ascend the climbing rope. It's much better than trying to have someone haul me up with one of the winches. You can find out how to do this by reading most any of the books about (aid) rock climbing or (vertical) caving. It seems very secure and is a self-sufficient way of getting to the top of the rig.
nick,,,sorry
The author is Brion Toss.. here is a link to the video. http://shop.store.yahoo.com/armchairsailorseattle/goingaloft.html
The author is Brion Toss.. here is a link to the video. http://shop.store.yahoo.com/armchairsailorseattle/goingaloft.html
Gary, any back -up system
if the halyard fails? I know that rock climbers rely on a single rope ( well there is a double rope method, but a single is the standard). So do you put a sling around the mast or have a second halyard tied into the harness?
if the halyard fails? I know that rock climbers rely on a single rope ( well there is a double rope method, but a single is the standard). So do you put a sling around the mast or have a second halyard tied into the harness?
Backup
Because my halyard is new, and climbing rope is fairly new with no falls, I personally don't have a backup. I tie the climbing rope to the halyard directly (NOT via any shackle). If there were any doubt about either the halyard or climbing rope, I could (and would) ask my wife to provide an additional backup belay with the spare halyard.
Because my halyard is new, and climbing rope is fairly new with no falls, I personally don't have a backup. I tie the climbing rope to the halyard directly (NOT via any shackle). If there were any doubt about either the halyard or climbing rope, I could (and would) ask my wife to provide an additional backup belay with the spare halyard.
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