2015 Oceanis 31 Topping lift

[RichLear]

Hi all,

I have just bought a 2015 Oceanis 31but due to circumstances did not see the boat until the mast was down. On stepping the mast I noticed a shackle on the end of the boom as if for a topping lift. However, there is no mention of a boom topping lift in the manual. Anyone any idea whether a topping lift is necessary/desirable/superfluous?

Thanks

Rich
B31 Moon Dance
Lossiemouth
Scotland

 

[DougM]

If the boat is equipped with a spring loaded vang, the topping lift is probably not a necessity. However, its always good to have as additional support for a boom tent or a hoisting line. With a sufficient strength line, it can be used as a safety line when goin up the mast with a bosun’s chair or top climber.

 

[sail sfbay]

Ditto DougM!! ..............I also use it as a safety line when climbing the mast AND it also useful when making measurements for a new main or head sails, which I just used it for.

 

[Ron20324]

And , an extra mast-top line makes a great flag (burgee) halyard.
If you need to lift someone or a dinghy out of the water, you can add a short line to the boom end, then swing the boom out like a crane.

 

[RichLear]

Thanks all. It sounds like the line is not really needed for anything specific - just as well as it is well jammed somewhere in the mast! I went up yesterday as I thought it had simply come off the sheave but alas it must be tangled around something else as it is absolutely refusing to budge. One more question - does anyone have a note of the correct way to rig the boom vang tackle?

Thanks

Rich

 

[sail sfbay]

...................One more question - does anyone have a note of the correct way to rig the boom vang tackle?...............

Like this.........you can also do an internet search for rigging your specific vang.

 

[SoSound]

Is that your boat in your avatar?
I have a 2014 Oceanis 34 with a conventional rig. I do have a topping lift, it's a small gray line which is secured and coiled at a small general purpose cleat located just below the gooseneck on the starboard side of the mast. Sorry, no decent photos of that.

You might try contacting Beneteau support regarding documentation. I have both a printed and PDF version of the owners manual, which includes pages on the rigging for both the conventional and furling setups.

Here are a couple of photos of how my vang is set up;
End of line at the top of the vang, below the boom.

Then run down the outside of the vang and through the sheeves

Exiting from the base of the vang, through a deck organizer (next to the mainsheet), and back to a line clutch in the cockpit.

 

[RichLear]

Great info, thanks very much. I can see now that I have my vang set up incorrectly which would explain why I cannot compress it more than a few cm.

 

[Mechone]

Using the topping lift while in the slip will add years to the spring life. Keeping the spring compressed over time can end up with the vang not lifting the boom enough. It happened on my boat and others I have seen.

 

[RichLear]

Good point, thanks

 

[Caboteur]

If you anchor or are on a mooring, the swinging movement of the boom will make noise enough to make you crazy. If you tie off the boom to one side without a topping lift the boom will compress the vang to create the oscillatory movement. With the topping lift and boom tied off to one side... silence. Just don’t put too much pressure on the topping lift or you will get a loud humming: the guitar string effect!