Boatswain's Chair

A boatswain’s chair is a short board or fabric seat slung from a halyard so a sailor can be hoisted up the mast to inspect or repair the rig. On a yacht the chair is shackled to a main or spare halyard, raised by a crew tailing a winch, and backed up by a second halyard as an independent safety line. Modern versions add leg straps, a chest harness, and tool pockets. The name comes from the boatswain (bosun), the rating responsible for deck and rigging work.