I have used the Top Climber but the line I used to go aloft is an old halyard and stretches making it harder to use. What type of line should I use? Can you purchase at other than boat stores? Thanks.
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rock climbing gear
You can get rope designed to be used with mechanical ascenders at any rock climbing store like REI for instance. This rope is designed to not streach so it is not good for fall protection but it is perfect for climbing. It has an outer core that is abrasion risistant. They also have the best hardware for getting up your mast. The best piece of hardware is a rappel device for a fast controlled trip back down the rope. It is also nice to have a 3-point climbing harness that is impossible to fall out of in any position and double redundency on your back-up lines. It sucks to fall.
You can get rope designed to be used with mechanical ascenders at any rock climbing store like REI for instance. This rope is designed to not streach so it is not good for fall protection but it is perfect for climbing. It has an outer core that is abrasion risistant. They also have the best hardware for getting up your mast. The best piece of hardware is a rappel device for a fast controlled trip back down the rope. It is also nice to have a 3-point climbing harness that is impossible to fall out of in any position and double redundency on your back-up lines. It sucks to fall.
It's not the fall....
...it's the sudden stop! ;D Seriously, halyards by there very design should have as little stretch as possible. Sail shape is partially controlled by the tension in a halyard. If it stretches with increasing tension it is not doing its designed job. More importantly do you want to trust your life to a used halyard?? Dedicated climbing lines are the only way that I would consider going aloft.
...it's the sudden stop! ;D Seriously, halyards by there very design should have as little stretch as possible. Sail shape is partially controlled by the tension in a halyard. If it stretches with increasing tension it is not doing its designed job. More importantly do you want to trust your life to a used halyard?? Dedicated climbing lines are the only way that I would consider going aloft.
Therapy Line
Here is a website that sells sensory therapy equipment for people with special needs. My son is autistic and we have bought the suspension hardware for different types of hanging and compression chairs. These are meant to be hung from the ceiling and use almost identical height adjustment ascenders as the ATN Topclimber. The line is quite stiff, much moreso than climbing line and/or halyards and you can buy it by the foot with an eye splice and swage. The line is $1.25/ foot and the eye splice and swage is $13.50. Hope this helps.
Here is a website that sells sensory therapy equipment for people with special needs. My son is autistic and we have bought the suspension hardware for different types of hanging and compression chairs. These are meant to be hung from the ceiling and use almost identical height adjustment ascenders as the ATN Topclimber. The line is quite stiff, much moreso than climbing line and/or halyards and you can buy it by the foot with an eye splice and swage. The line is $1.25/ foot and the eye splice and swage is $13.50. Hope this helps.
Line should be ...
Line should be double braid polyester(i.e. Sta-Set)ideally "pre-stretched" (i.e.Sta-Set X). Diameter of 7/16ths or 1/2 inch. You could go to something like the Dyneema or Amsteel if you have tons of money to spend. Do not use polypropolene or nylon, too much stretch in either of these. I bought some Petzl ascenders and 1/2 Sta-set, climbing harness & various webbing straps to become a "top-climber". I spliced an eye in one end that I shackle into the rope/wire halyard and hoist to masthead. I will use a second halyard attached (slightly slack) as a backup. cheers, Craig
Line should be double braid polyester(i.e. Sta-Set)ideally "pre-stretched" (i.e.Sta-Set X). Diameter of 7/16ths or 1/2 inch. You could go to something like the Dyneema or Amsteel if you have tons of money to spend. Do not use polypropolene or nylon, too much stretch in either of these. I bought some Petzl ascenders and 1/2 Sta-set, climbing harness & various webbing straps to become a "top-climber". I spliced an eye in one end that I shackle into the rope/wire halyard and hoist to masthead. I will use a second halyard attached (slightly slack) as a backup. cheers, Craig
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