Topping lift rigging

[brackish]

Need to change my topping lift setup.  Currently I'm using the starboard masthead sheave down to a stand up block/organizer/clutch.  I'm using this because it was available, but now I want to use that (with the exception of the sheave, that will continue to be for the topping lift) for my spinnaker halyard.  Lift only really needs two settings, loose for sailing and tight for dropping the sail and supporting the boom before the pigtail is hooked, about a foot of total line adjustment.   

How have you set up your topping lift? I'm thinking maybe just a camcleat on the side of the mast that I can reach from the companionway, but what have others done.

[capt_nemo]

brackish,

On my Sun Cat I fixed the line at the end of the boom, ran it up to a sheave on the mast, down along the mast to a turning block at the base and back to a cam cleat on the cabintop. Although the line requires an extra minute to secure when lowering and stowing the mast, it has the distinct important advantage of being easily adjustable FROM THE COCKPIT no matter where the end of the boom may be! My mast is pretty far forward on a Catboat.

Your proposed method of camcleat on the side of the mast, REACHABLE FROM THE COCKPIT sounds both simple and effective.

capt_nemo

[Shawn]

"Lift only really needs two settings, loose for sailing and tight for dropping the sail and supporting the boom before the pigtail is hooked, about a foot of total line adjustment.    "

I didn't bother running it down the mast. Fix it at the top of the mast and put a Ronstan fairlead V-cleat at the back of the boom. Easy to adjust, works well and was very inexpensive.

Shawn 

[kickingbug1]

   on my 16 i put two rings (from key fobs) tied on the topping lift about 6 inches apart. then i attached a carbiner clip to the rear of the boom using the nut that holds the mainsheet block. all you do is clip on the the higher ring when at anchor or moored and the bottom one when under sail. part way up i have a flag that looks super under sail.

[Bob23]

Well, I cheat and use my unused jib halyard. It also does double duty by hoisting my anchoring sail part way up the backstay. Also nice on the 4th of July to fly a nice big Old Glory from.
bob23

[Salty19]

I remember Shawn talking about his V cleat idea..sounds pretty cool. Refresh my memory..that cleat doesn't allow the line to slip out, right? Any pics?

I copied kicknbug on this one but with one ring tied to the line and a snap shackle at the boom.  Line is tied to the base of the shackle so the boom will never fall unintentionally. Unclip to lower boom, clip to raise.
There should be a small hole on your masthead for this 1/8" line.  Amsteel or amsteel blue is pretty nice for this application..strong and resists chafe (but it does slip a bit with poor knots).

[brackish]

Thanks guys, some good ideas.  You jogged my memory about the double ring approach and Shawn's v-cleat (pic would be good here to see where and how mounted).  I'm going to play with some of these ideas.  I like the idea of eliminating the topping haylard down the mast, gets rid of some mast clutter, but will have to wait for the next time the mast is down to do that.  Part of this rigging transition is to run everything that has to do with the spinnaker to the cockpit.  That includes the control lines for the Chute Scoop.  Got some ideas from Gary Shaw (from Chute Scoop) on how to do that. Want to be able to set it up at the dock with a turtle in the bow pulpit and then never have to go to the foredeck to raise, deploy or douse it.

Bob, that's how mine is set up now except a much smaller line, but it is a lot of expensive hardware and overkill for a topping lift. It is there so I used it, not needing the hardware because of the CDI furler.  But now I need it for the asyspin stuff.

[Shawn]

"Refresh my memory..that cleat doesn't allow the line to slip out, right? Any pics?"

As long as you put a stopper knot on the topping life line it can't pull through the V-cleat.



That is all there is to it along with the 6:1 outhaul. If you wanted to get slightly more fancy one could put just a fairlead at the end of the boom then run the topping lift line more forward on the boom so it could be adjusted easier on more points of sail. I really only just use it to lower the boom when sailing and to raise it up at the dock or at anchor.

Shawn

[wes]

Dude, I think it's time to clean up that shop .

[Bob23]

Looks like my office!

[capt_nemo]

Shawn,

Looks like my workbench in the background - well used and well cluttered! But I know where everything is I tell whoever asks.

Agree with comment about leading the lift line more forward on boom so it is reachable on more points of sail. With my long Sun Cat boom I brought it down the mast and to the cabintop 'cause it just isn't reachable for releasing once the sail is up and out under pressure, or tightening when dousing the main or reefing in a blow.

capt_nemo

[brackish]

two plans under consideration:

1. Cheek block at the end of the boom and fairlead v-cleat on the boom across from the jiffy reef cleat.  Already have both components in my extra stuff box.  Trade lines between the chute scoop control line (shorter) and the current topping lift line (longer and extra length needed to bring the chute control line back to the cockpit).

2. Set the boom down haul permanently by passing it through the eye of the cleat on the boom, putting a stopper knot in it and adding a snap shackle at the top end to attach to the boom (this for quick separation of the boom and mast when dropping it).  Cleat the topping lift on that same cleat with a ring the appropriate distance above that can be slipped over the the lower ear when the main is not up.  This one requires no new holes drilled or tapped and saves the hardware for another purpose.  I think I can reach everything easily by standing on the companionway step.

I never adjust the down haul and don't have a cunningham just tension the main luff with the halyard, can't think of any reason it cannot be permanently set, probably should have already done so.  Unless someone can offer a reason for not doing so.

These options to be perused on the next sail and to see if i can one hand that ring onto the cleat lifting the boom a touch.

Yep, Shawn, my shop looks just about like that.  I clean it up and put everything away at least once a year whether it needs it or not.