If you are a bit leery of heights, working on mast isn’t so bad given a good bosun’s chair and a strong and attentive deck crew. But what if you have to replace a bulb at the masthead and have to work above where you can reach with a bosun’s chair? Worse than that, what if you are singlehanding or don’t have anyone in the crew who can crank you up the mast? Sailing products manufacturer ATN Inc., has a bosun’s chair called the Topclimber with foot loops that allow you to stand and work at the masthead. Better than that, the Topclimber has a double ascender units that allow you to hoist yourself up a dedicated line. It is a pretty cool product that ATN has been making and selling for years. It does solve the double whammy of working at the masthead when you are alone on the boat.
From the press release: Maintenance at the top of the mast can be performed single-handedly – and safely – with the Topclimberâ„¢ from sailing products manufacturer ATN.
Simple to use and easy to install, the rugged Topclimber allows you to quickly hoist yourself above the masthead, using your leg muscles, without any help – even when the boat heels.
Inspired by equipment used for mountaineering, caving and cliff climbing, the ATN Topclimber is operated by alternatively sliding its 2 ascenders, wormlike, up a dedicated line. The ATN Topclimber is conceived to allow you to climb your mast by yourself, and its comfortable bosun chair will allow you to spend time aloft, without cramps or discomfort. Its tool bag is large enough to accommodate a drill and multiple tools.
Since it rides onto a static line, taut between the deck and the mast head, Topclimber prevents you from swaying away from the mast even if the boat heels over.
The MSRP of US $430 includes a bos’n’s chair with back rest, one-way jammer and leg straps. You’ll also need 7/16″ to 1/2″ low stretch static line, available from ATN, or your local boating supply store.