H34 topping lift

[h34]

Does anyone have a picture of the original topping lift of the H34 that they can share?
and how it is attached to the end of the boom and the blocks used for it.

Thanks,

 

[splax]

I don't have a picture of the original, but it is my understanding that the topping lift was attached at the masthead to the main halyard block support and ran down around the block at the end of the boom, then forward through the boom to the block and jam clamp on the boom at the mast. The topping lift was wire rope at the masthead then changed to 3/8" line about 5 feet above the boom so that line was used around the blocks and at the clamp.

 

[capt62]

Thers's a block on lower end of wire topping lift to make a two part purchase. The line is secured to pin at end of boom , run through the block, back down through at turning block on end of boom, forward to a cleat on starboard side of boom, about 18 inches aft of gooseneck. Can't remember upper connection, believe its shackled to a pin on mast head.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Here is a picture of mine:

 

[rardiH36]

Just thought to "throw out" that one doesn't necessarily need to maintain the original Hunter arrangement. The attached url links to an SBO thread (by chance also started by an H34 owner!) where members discuss their setups/modifications and the pros/cons. Note that the thread has several pages:

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1065964&highlight=topping

 

[kloudie1]

I found that with my current mainsail, I could tie the topping lift up high enough to have the boom out of the cockpit, yet go slack when the main is up and tensioned. I used 5/16 high tech line in a 2:1 tie.

 

[Mark48]

My set-up is similar to RBs, but the clam is at the end of the boom with a single pully and line to lift the mast so you can snug the line in the clam cleat. I keep it about 4 inches above the dodger and when the main is up full or reefed it still rides above the dodger. I will be at the boat tonight and try and take a picture. Very simple rig.

 

[YVRguy]

With regard to this, any thoughts on how often you H34 owners use your topping lift and outhaul? I'm embarrassed to say I rarely touch either of them.

 

[Allan12210]

With regard to this, any thoughts on how often you H34 owners use your topping lift and outhaul? I'm embarrassed to say I rarely touch either of them.

I use my topping lift all the time. When I reef, I pull the end of the boom up real high so I can pull the reef clew down tight with no resistance. When I drop the sail, I do the same thing to clear the bimini and my head when walking around.

I'm going to the boat tomorrow for some maintenance. I'll take a picture of how I set up my topping lift. Its the same as described above but different.

 

[kloudie1]

I think I remember adjusting the topping lift once last year....
The outhaul, I adjust at least once on every sail and release it when the sail comes down.

 

[Mark48]

Ditto to Allan

 

[YVRguy]

I use my topping lift all the time. When I reef, I pull the end of the boom up real high so I can pull the reef clew down tight with no resistance. When I drop the sail, I do the same thing to clear the bimini and my head when walking around.

I'm going to the boat tomorrow for some maintenance. I'll take a picture of how I set up my topping lift. Its the same as described above but different.

Hmmm... What I've been doing when I reef is just getting someone to push the boom up so I can snug the reefing line tight. This leaves some slack in the topping lift that I will often just ignore or sometimes tighten up. Should I be taking some of the weight of the boom with the topping lift?

 

[Allan12210]

Hmmm... What I've been doing when I reef is just getting someone to push the boom up so I can snug the reefing line tight. This leaves some slack in the topping lift that I will often just ignore or sometimes tighten up. Should I be taking some of the weight of the boom with the topping lift?

In my case that someone is too short to reach the boom, so while she drives, I adjust the topping lift first before going to the mast to deal with the reefing lines. Actually first is to dump the mainsheet and the boom brake which I also use a a vang. My old vang is now a Cunningham that is almost always on the 2nd reef luff cringle. I don't use the Gooseneck hooks anymore. My topping lift is a 3:1 purchase with a little aluminum clam cleat screwed to the back of the boom. The excess line is about 6 feet long so I can grab it and elevate the boom. When under tension it automatically cleats itself.

So in a word, should you take the weight off the boom?....yes.

 

[rardiH36]

With regard to this, any thoughts on how often you H34 owners use your topping lift and outhaul? I'm embarrassed to say I rarely touch either of them.

To continue on the theme of Alan's that the using the topping lift to raise the boom when reefing makes for an easy job of getting the reef clew tight up against the boom ...

... Also do this for raising and lowering the main sail in the normal full hoist mode. By doing this, no tension is on the leach when the sail is raised so the sail slugs have no (little anyway) friction in the mast channel. You should be able to pull the sail up to the top by hand. Then tension with the winch. Then release the tension on the topping lift. The boom will fall down a few inches until the sail itself tensions to hold it up. Of course, the mainsheet and the boom vang need to be slack as well in order to raise the boom with the topping lift.

 

[YVRguy]

Life-long learning

Thanks gents!

 

[Allan12210]

Life-long learning

Thanks gents!

And, one more. I took these shots yesterday.

Since I use my topping lift quite a bit, I came up with the solution in the pictures. The topping lift I have is for a Dutchman system, but I used it before when I just had a fixed wire from the masthead to about 1 1/2 feet above the boom. There is a block with a becket that gives me a 3:1 purchase. Then I screwed an aluminum clam cleat to the back end of the boom. The cleat was longer than that end cap as you can see, so I drilled and tapped the upper hole then used a U shaped strap probably from another block to act as a clamp for the bottom mount of the cleat. That strap was tapped, so the lower screw threads right into it.

It works well as it self cleats in whatever position I release or pull the topping lift line to. For extra security you could tie an overhand knot in the line a little below the lowest expected height you want the boom so it can't fall on your head. My line is extra long because I thought I might go to a 4:1 purchase, but haven't needed to.

 

[rardiH36]

Allan:

I like your creative use of your jam cleat choice. I will give thought if I can adapt to my arrangment. Seems better than the cam cleat I have adopted.

My pics are below. After I have hoisted my sail, I like to completely remove the topping lift from the boom end which my arrangement allows. Then no need to constantly adjust the amount of slack nor does the roach of my main sail get worn as it rubs against the topping lift. At the end of my outing, I re-attach the snap shackle to the bail at the end of the boom. (The bail affords a big target so I usually don't miss!) Then put the tail-end through the cam cleat. For security, the line is then wrapped around the standard cleat. Like your block and tackle, just a pull down on the line raises the boom withut much effort.

 

[h34]

Thank you for all your help. I made a topping lift from new England Ropes Dyneema 1/8 and I bought the topping lift kit from sail Care.
http://www.sailcare.com/toppingliftkit.shtml