I plan on replacing the continuous topping lift for my Dutchman system on my tall rig. It has seen its day and it is impossible to tell what was the original size line used. I would welcome recommendations as to the best make of rope, size and length overall.
Thank you,
—
Tony Cullen
s/v Sceptre
1995 C-36 MkII 1449 TR/FK
San Diego, CA. (Chula Vista Marina)
A friend on a C38 made a great mod to his topping lift to make for much easier control of the Dutchman guide lines. See photos of his installation below.
A rigid vang makes the topping lift is redundant, so its only job is to tauten and slacken the Dutchman lines. He added a simple - and cheap - block and tackle rig at the boom end of the topping lift, so that he could slack and tauten the lines at will. I copied his design on High Flight and I love the mod. Now I just tie off the topping lift "permanently" at the mast, and adjust only the boom end when I need it. It's a snap!
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
I've been having issues with my Dutchman lines. They tend to not keep a decent tension to accommadate both sailing and susequent flaking.
I think this may be becuase I have a loose-footed main. This block ans tackle arrangement looks interesting. Anyone use a Dutchman system with a loose-footed main and have some suggestions?
Triatica (GlennF)
s/v Blown Away
Sammamish, Wa
Hull #971
1989 Catalina 36
Universal M25xpb
Glenn, you probably know this, but I'll state it for folks that are new to Dutchman flaking...
The Dutchman guide lines are taut ONLY for the time the sail is [U]on the way up[/U], OR for the time the sail is [U]on the way down[/U]. When the sail is up, or when the sail is down, the lines are slacked.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Larry, I would be in the "new to dutchman flaking" category since I have zero experience with this system. It looks quite complicated. We packed up the main sail with the dutchman lines all in place so hopefully it will be fairly straightforward to set up this spring.
So I take it then that the topping lift is released once the main is fully up?
We don't have a boom vang, hard or soft, so I assume the topping lift is tightened and left tight when the sail is lowered?
Bud, I am answering your question in a new thread, Dutchman Flaking, in the General Forum. I figured this topic was worthy of being split off from the topping lift thread.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Larry,
What size line did you use for your modified topping lift?
Tony Cullen
s/v Sceptre
1995 C-36 MkII 1449 TR/FK
San Diego, CA. (Chula Vista Marina)
I'm away from the boat, but if memory serves it was 1/4". But because the boat has a rigid vang the topping lift is used only for the Dutchman. The greatest load would be if I forgot to slack the Dutchman under sail, then the billowed sail could place tremendous pressure on the Dutchman guide lines, and thus on the topping lift.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Larry, I am currently "vangless", my Dutchman is incorporated in my topping lift. Do you recommend using 7/16" line?
Thanks,
Tony Cullen
s/v Sceptre
1995 C-36 MkII 1449 TR/FK
San Diego, CA. (Chula Vista Marina)
Tony, all lines - their types, sizes and lengths - are specified in the Catalina 36 Owners Manual...if you still have it. Alas, my Manual is on the boat, 250 miles away. And so is my Tech Notes CD, which has the Manual PDF'd on it. I should have copied the CD to my desktop, then I would be able to give you an authoritative answer immediately. Sorry.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Was at the boat this weekend, up in Canada. My manual says the topping lift is 5/16" Dacron.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B