Indoor storage
Mast climbing
Magic-Mat: The Easiest and Safest Way to Climb the Mast on Your Own
A comfortable and secure platform at the top, reinforced with polyethylene, ensures maximum safety and comfort while working aloft.
The ladder is available in 3.7 m or 9 m lengths, delivered in a large storage bag. It is modular, with 2.3 m and 7 m extension sections available, allowing it to be adjusted to the exact height of your mast.
Thanks to the included safety kit — featuring a work harness and fall arrest system — you can safely perform all kinds of tasks up the mast: replacing lights, working on the spreaders, installing a wind vane, and more.
The Concept
Magic-Mat Ladder : The Easiest and Safest Way to Climb the Mast Solo
Featuring alternating rungs and a reinforced platform at the top, all lined with polyethylene, the Magic-Mat ladder ensures maximum comfort and safety while working aloft.
Outils Océans has developed Magic-Mat as a solution for all sailors, racers, and cruisers who need to climb their mast.
This mast ladder addresses three key “S” values.
S for Simple : Hoist it, tension it, climb!
Designed for ease of use, the Magic-Mat only requires you to adopt the “coconut tree” climbing technique to go up the mast and replace a light or install a wind vane.
Once you’re done, the ladder is easy to lower and stow onboard.
S for Solo : No assistance needed.
The installation and climbing technique require no external help — whether at sea or on land.
The sailor climbs independently and with complete autonomy.
S for Safe : Resilient materials and robust accessories.
The mast ladder is unbreakable and made from flexible, durable materials.
Equipped with a safety harness and fall arrest system, the sailor is fully protected from the risk of falling.
Hoist. Tension. Climb.
To choose the right ladder combination for your boat, simply refer to the mast height to determine the ideal configuration.
How to Choose the Right Ladder or Ladder + Extension Combination ?
To select the appropriate ladder or ladder + extension setup for your boat, you’ll need to know the “P” measurement.
P is a sailboat rigging measurement that corresponds to the distance between the masthead and the boom.
Your sailmaker can provide this information.
The Magic-Mat ladder is available in 3.7 m or 9 m lengths.
It comes in a large storage bag and is designed to be extended using 2.3 m or 7 m extension modules, so it can be perfectly adapted to the height of your mast.
With this system, you can perform all essential mast work:
replacing navigation lights, servicing spreaders, installing a wind vane — all while staying safe thanks to the additional equipment, including a work harness and fall arrest system.
Ladder + Extension Combinations to Match Your Mast Height
| P MEASUREMENT | LADDER | EXTENSION 1 | EXTENSION 2 | EXTENSION 3 | EXTENSION 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 m | 9 m | 7 m | 7 m | 7 m | |
| 26 m | 9 m | 7 m | 7 m | 3 m | |
| 25 m | 9 m | 7 m | 7 m | 2 m | |
| 24 m | 9 m | 7 m | 3 m | 3 m | 2 m |
| 23 m | 9 m | 7 m | 7 m | ||
| 22 m | 9 m | 7 m | 3 m | 3 m | |
| 21 m | 9 m | 7 m | 3 m | 2 m | |
| 20 m | 9 m | 7 m | 2 m | 2 m | |
| 19 m | 9 m | 7 m | 3 m | ||
| 18 m | 9 m | 7 m | 2 m | ||
| 17 m | 7 m | 7 m | 3 m | ||
| 16 m | 9 m | 7 m | |||
| 15 m | 9 m | 3 m | 3 m | ||
| 14 m | 9 m | 3 m | 2 m | ||
| 13 m | 9 m | 2 m | 2 m | ||
| 12 m | 9 m | 3 m | |||
| 11 m | 9 m | 2 m | |||
| 10 m | 7 m | 3 m | |||
| 9 m | 9 m | ||||
| 8 m | 3 m | 3 m | 2 m | ||
| 7 m | 7 m |
Installation
- Attach the halyard (main, spinnaker, or genoa halyard) to the top eye of the ladder — on the side where the rungs are positioned face to face.
- Hoist the ladder using the halyard, unrolling it from the bottom as it rises.
- Secure a line to the bottom eye of the ladder. This line should be fastened to the gooseneck fitting or any mast base fitting.
- Tension the ladder firmly using a winch.
Safety First
- Install the fall arrest device by sliding it onto a free halyard.
- Put on the safety harness.
- Connect the fall arrest device to the harness.
You are ready to climb !
Climbing Technique
Use the “coconut tree” technique to ascend safely and efficiently:
- Grip the mast with your hands.
- Place your feet against the mast for support.
- Push upward using your legs, alternating sides:
- When your right foot pushes, your body shifts slightly to the right of the mast.
- When your left foot pushes, your body shifts slightly to the left.
- This creates a gentle rotational movement around the mast as you climb — a natural rhythm that improves balance and control.
This method allows for a smooth, stable ascent using the body’s core strength and coordination.
At the Masthead
- Place your feet securely in the two opposing rungs that form the platform.
- Wrap your lanyard around the mast and adjust your position for maximum comfort and stability.
- With your back supported by the harness, your hands are free to work.
You’ll no longer tire your arms, as you are positioned above your work area, making all tasks easier and more ergonomic.
Download the Technical Datasheet and User Manuals
Stay Safe: The Safety Kit
To ensure both autonomy and maximum safety, Outils Océans recommends using the Safety Kit, which includes two essential accessories for climbing, working at the masthead, and descending :
- A work harness
- A fall arrest device
These two components are key to securing yourself at every stage of the operation, allowing you to work with complete confidence — whether at sea or ashore.
The harness combines the features of both a bosun’s chair and a climbing harness, ensuring safety and comfort during mast operations.
It allows you to stand securely on the ladder platform, supported by both feet, with your back resting against a wide support belt.
A lanyard wrapped around the mast lets you adjust your position for greater ease and stability while working.
Its harness-style design also lets you sit comfortably, suspended from the halyard via the fall arrest device, just like in a traditional bosun’s chair.
This gives you the freedom to rest comfortably between tasks, to reach out to the ends of the spreaders, to descend along the backstay or forestay…
Originally designed for climbing, the fall arrest device is both reliable and easy to use.
It is attached to a free halyard, or to a line that you’ve previously hoisted along with the ladder.
During ascent, it follows your movement naturally, offering complete freedom — while ensuring immediate arrest in the event of a fall.
During descent, the system requires manual downward adjustment, step by step, providing controlled and secure movement all the way down.
