Tacker by ATN

[JohnWms]

North sells a slightly cheaper but similar device called a Tack Strap. It's made without the hard plastic parts of the ATN.

I have one that I use with a symmetrical spinnaker when shorthanded. It works great and is easy to set and douse singlehanded along with the help of a Snuffer. With the symmetrical spinnaker carried out to leeward you will certainly death-roll when the wind builds. Much sooner than when using a pole. I don't know if the asym spinnaker has the same characteristics.

There's a short snippet of one in use in the video trailer at: Sailing America - Cruising the San Juan Islands: Friday Harbor, Victoria & Port Townsend

I also have an ATN Topclimber that works very well.

[Gallivanters]

that one doesn't actually need someone tending.

I made mine a long time ago with a pair of climbing ascenders and a torso harness... the kind bridge workers wear.

Total material cost was about half that of the store-bought kine. And it's MUCH safer, too.

Of course - the safest way is to have someone tending on another halyard.

[JohnWms]

When I go up using the Topclimber I also wear a regular sailing harness that is attached to a second halyard via an ascender. It's a little bit of extra work tending the ascender on the way down but the extra margin of safety is worth it.

I feel this rig is safer than using crew on deck tending winches. If you're singlehanded there is no viable alternative, in my opinion.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Gallivanters

But the whole point with the Topclimber is that one doesn't actually need someone tending.

Right. That's exactly why I'm interested in buying/making one. In the past, I've been at the mercy of crew below. My expectation for the ascender device is self-sufficiency when shorthanded, and reducing the role of crew on deck (when available) to tending a backup belaying halyard.

[Jimske]

I'm wondering if anyone has been using the ATN Tacker or similar since this last post? My Serunner 31 tri really needs a light air sail. Now that I have a roller furling with a 120 I may be able to use my symmetrical with a tacker. I don't currently use the spinnaker since I single hand and have a difficult time by myself with it. This wold allow me to not have to buy another sail.

Comments? Particularly from tri sailors.

J

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Jimske

I'm wondering if anyone has been using the ATN Tacker or similar since this last post? My Serunner 31 tri really needs a light air sail. Now that I have a roller furling with a 120 I may be able to use my symmetrical with a tacker. I don't currently use the spinnaker since I single hand and have a difficult time by myself with it. This wold allow me to not have to buy another sail.

Comments? Particularly from tri sailors.

J

Why not hook the asym tack to harness that is attached to the ends of each ama? Seems like that would give you more control and adjustability than using the tacker.