Don,
How does your system differ from the ATN Topclimber system.  I have one of those and used it a couple of times, but I may have consumed more good food, and wine than you.  I found that system very difficult, primarily to get enough tension on the old halyard I use to ascend.  No matter how much tension I put on that rope I always sink back to the mast.  I finally put mast steps on the main mast and use those steps with some one just taking up slack on the halyard attached to the ATN chair and no longer use the ascenders.

On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 8:38 PM, Syringa wrote:

I am in my early sixtes and will passed my prime due to my love of good food and wine and my wife does not have the strength to haul my fat ass up the mast. So for the last year I have been using Petzl Ascenders to go up my mast. I hook one to my bosen chair and one to a set of foot straps. I haul up a (old but good) halyard to the top of the mast and up I go. This saves any wear and tear on my working halyards. Once I am done with my job I have my wife lower me back to the deck. I guess I'm still worth more alive to her at the moment. Anyway they are rock solid any easy to use even if you're not in the best of shape.

Don Gardner
S/V Syringa #124

/)+/)+~=:)

—
Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com

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Don,
The ATN ascenders were never the problem, probably are very similar to the Petzl.  Entiene (AKA ATN) was a rock climber like a  lot of the French solo sailors.  The Topclimber instructions said to terminate the climbing rope near the bow, which is probably why I always sagged toward the mast.  I never tried it secured to a mast cleat.  I'll give that a try.  Thanks.
The mast steps work fine, except when I need sit up there for awhile.  Then I need someone on deck to control the bosum chair.  If I can get the Topclimber to work for me I won't need that additional person.
The mast steps do grab the main halyard, but it is normally only a problem when raising sail down wind.  I've considered using the monofiliament line to prevent the halyard from wrapping the steps.  I hadn't considered the noise factor.  Thanks for that info.  Saves me one counter-productive boat project.

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 10:42 PM, Syringa wrote:

John

I have never used the Topclimber system so don't know how good their ascenders are. mine is about the same but uses Petzl ascenders they are made for rock climing, caving & mountain climbing/ they don't slip and go up the line with ease. I winch my halyard to the top (Hard) then sit in my chair to get any stretch out of the line. I have my wife tie off the bitter end of the line to a mast cleat to remove most of the slack.

I had mast steps on my Gulfstar 37 and like them pretty well but the halyard likes to get stuck between the steps at the worst time, so I put a 150# fishing line on the outside of the steps which keeps the halyard from between the steps, but the line would start howling when the wind got above 15 knots and would scream at 30 or more (I like my sleep and don't want to hear about a little wind at night.)

Don Gardner
S/V Syringa #124

/)+/)+~=:)

—
Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com

Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

John and Don,

We have used the top climber system for ~4 years now and find that for the most part it works fine Even before I lost the 40 lbs post heart attack. Now being a svelte 220 at 6″ 7″ its even easier. Don is right about one thing: having used both, the Petzl ascenders are much easier on the hands and just inspire more confidence. I have been intending to change over to them but its one of those jobs that just hasn’t risen to the top of the list. Don is also correct regarding the climbing line set up. Good tension on that line is probably the single most important factor in making the climb easier.

Dave Jones
SV Doris E. #178

Syringa wrote:

John

I have never used the Topclimber system so don’t know how good their ascenders are. mine is about the same but uses Petzl ascenders they are made for rock climing, caving & mountain climbing/ they don’t slip and go up the line with ease. I winch my halyard to the top (Hard) then sit in my chair to get any stretch out of the line. I have my wife tie off the bitter end of the line to a mast cleat to remove most of the slack.

I had mast steps on my Gulfstar 37 and like them pretty well but the halyard likes to get stuck between the steps at the worst time, so I put a 150# fishing line on the outside of the steps which keeps the halyard from between the steps, but the line would start howling when the wind got above 15 knots and would scream at 30 or more (I like my sleep and don’t want to hear about a little wind at night.)

Don Gardner
S/V Syringa #124

/)+/)+~=:)

Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

I have been using an arrangement similar to Don’s for about 5 years now. Petzl Ascenders and foot straps. I use a climber’s seat harness instead of the bosun’s chair. I also wear my sailing chest harness to prevent me from flipping incase I go unconscious for some reason. The way I have incorporated the chest harness is to rig the lift line from the seat harness through the front ring of the chest harness to the upper ascender.
I use the halyard when going up the mast. The shackle end is cleated to the mast cleat and the other end made taught with the halyard winch and then cleated. I do not see any wear on the halyard due to the ascender action.
I find that the taughtness of the climbing line isn’t a significant issue in calm water like at the dock because in order to stand on the foot straps I need to hold myself to the mast with one hand anyway. With any swaying motion of the boat a really taught halyard would somewhat restrict your motion while in the seat aloft.
I am very happy with the arrangement as I can independently climb and descend the mast. If I hit the deck I have no one to blame but myself.