Hi friends
I have a question about the topping lift. Mine is the standard wire cable terminating in a block, with a line tied at the aft end of the boom that runs through the block, back to the boom end, through a cheek block and forward inside the boom.
I wonder why it needs to go forward? Mine doesn't even return to the cockpit but ends at the front end of the boom. I can reach the boom from the cockpit and lift it at least 18 inches; why wouldn't I have the TL line simply terminate right where it starts on the aft end of the boom and run it through a cam cleat or even around a small cleat? Not only would that remove a bunch of line, but it seems it would also permit me to adjust the lift from the cockpit rather than having to go forward. I'm in the process of bringing all my main controls to the cockpit, but rather than extend the TL I think I could shorten it.
Thanks for any suggestions.
nick
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA
I have come to the same conclusion - my next topping lift will be adjusted from the aft end of the boom. Another alternative is to set up the topping lift like a second main halyard, which has some benefits in redundancy but of course requires an extra 100 feet of line. The issue with doing it at the end of the boom is that if for some reason it needs adjusting while the sail is up and the boom is eased out off the wind, you won't be able to reach it. This is probably not a frequent occurrence.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Yes,i have mine on a small block and cam cleat at the end of the boom,works great.
"Sailing Still" 1990 C36 M25 wing
Sail Canada/Transport Canada training
Gibsons Harbour BC
www.landsendbc.ca
Boats with full canvas can't do that, it's bloody hard to reach the aft end of the boom at the best of times unless you use the traveller to pull the boom to the side. Ours is led back to the cockpit and it needs to be there so I can reef the main while sailing without leaving the cockpit. Personally I want everything led back to the cockpit.
In light winds, you may wish to use the topping lift to raise the boom and put a big belly in your sail. This is for "very light" winds where releasing the boom vang would not resolve the problem.
2000 C36 MKII 1825
Just saw this thread and curious what you did? Do you have pictures of the final solution? Trying to figure out how to improve my topping lift since right now it's not the best to have the line coming back to the mast.
Ludovic François
Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA
[quote=ludo] ... Trying to figure out how to improve my topping lift since right now it's not the best to have the line coming back to the mast.[/quote]
There is a second sheave at the top of the mast facing aft (for a spare main halyard, apparently). See the owner's manual on page 21.
We dropped a line down, fished it out of the exit plate at deck level, and ran it back to the cockpit. (So our topping lift goes from the boom end to the sheave at the top of the mast, thence down through the mast, then back to the cockpit). This was needed anyway for our Dutchman system on the main, but it make it easy to adjust the topping lift from any point of sail.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
Hi Ludo,
I am not at the boat, so cannot include a good pic at the moment.
The new topping lift is controlled at the aft end of the boom, where I attached a small cleat. The wire has a bungee taking up some slack to reduce shock.
- nick
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA