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The ATN Topclimber - Simple, Easy, Safe! If going up the mast is a scary proposition, try this new bosun's chair from ATN.
The "TOPCLIMBER" is a great system as it uses the leg muscles to climb, allowing you to reach the mast head not exhausted by the climb, and since it rides onto a static line, taut between the deck and the mast head, it prevents you from swaying away from the mast, helplessly, even if the boat heels over.
The "TOP CLIMBER" consists of 2 parts, a bos'n's chair with back rest and one-way jammer, and leg straps, with loops for the feet, with one-way jammer.
The Top Climber allows you to hoist yourself safely and quickly using only your leg muscles even when the boat is heeled. To operate the Topclimber, stand up on the two leg straps; slide up the one-way jammer of the chair seat. Now sit down and slide up the one-way jammer of the leg strap. Repeat these movements until the desired height is reached. To descend the mast, reverse the procedure.
The ATN Top Climber rides a 7/16" to 1/2" low stretch line (static line).
Use a piece of line dedicated for the ATN Topclimber, longer than the mast is tall, + 10' to reach a winch.
The best thing to do with the top end of the static line is to bowline it through the spliced eye of the halyard: bypass the snapshakle , not only for safety reasons, but also to gain a couple of inches where you'll need it most, at the masthead.
The best thing to do at the deck end of the static line is to feed it through a snatch block, at a stanchion base on the rail for example , and then onto a winch: you'll find that the static line is best tight and stiff, and that it is better to be at an angle going up, away from the mast, which explains why it is better to fasten the snatchblock away from the mast step...
Sailrite recommends using 1/2" Sta-Set Double Braid Rope by New England Ropes for the static line.
Watch the video and see how easy it is to use the Topclimber from ATN.
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ATN Top Climber Bosun's Chair is a railroaded pattern |
Reduce Seaming with Railroaded Fabric
Most upholstery fabric is 54 inches wide and, if it features a pattern, the pattern is run down the length of the bolt. When upholstering, it generally looks best to run a patterned fabric from the top to the bottom of the piece and from the back to the front. This requires seams every 54 inches on larger pieces like sofas and long boat cushions. Alternatively, a Railroaded fabric pattern can be used to eliminated unwanted seams. The patterns in Railroaded Sunbrellas run across their widths. This makes Railroaded Sunbrella perfect for these longer projects.
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In this illustration, the fabric rolls out to cover the cushions without need for a seam. |
This is a photo example of the railroaded fabric coming off the roll.
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This is a photo example of fabric that is not railroaded coming off the roll.
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In this illustration the fabric rolls out vertically, and for this type of single cushion, would require several seams to cover the couch.
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