calling all h33 owners
- Thread starter rufus1138
- Start date
Below is a cut-and-paste post of mine from about nine months ago with pictures when a general question about topping lift configuration arose on the Hunter Big Boat Forum. Shows one of several ways to rig. (I've included below the url to the complete thread if you are interested in reading about more variants.)
A couple of additional thoughts when I re-read my post: 1) No reason why a rope line can't be used for the topping lift instead of a wire. Thin high strength Amsteel might be a good choice. (But do your own research on this.) However if the roach on your sail makes contact with the topping lift, then keep an eye for chafe on the topping lift "rope". 2) My arrangement works well for me because I am 6'3" and can easily reach up to the cam-cleat and cleat that are mounted on the boom end while I stand on the cockpit floor. The boom level is above head height. So no risk of injury if the boom did sway one way or another while removing/attaching/adjusting the topping lift.
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" Noticing that some have included info about their useful/elegant topping lift management modifications, I thought to include another variant on the theme. Photos attached, but here also a description:
I've got SS wire affixed to the mast top. About two-three feet above the boom end, the wire converts to a rope block and tackle (3:1). Pulling down on the line, the boom goes up. On one side of the boom end, I've installed a cam cleat. The line is first seized off on this -- but only very temporarily. On the other side is a normal cleat for the more secure tie-off. The bottom end of the block and tackle is fitted with a snatch shackle. To give me a larger target to attach the snatch shackle, I installed a boom bail extending past the end of the boom. After I raise the sail, I unwrap the line from the standard cleat, then release it from the cam cleat. The boom drops a few inches to the natural sail support level. Then I pull the release line on the snap shackle and remove the topping lift assembly from the boom completely. On my port side split back stay, I've installed a cleat and eye. The topping lift is attached to that and tightened enough so it doesn't flop around during the sail. When sailing, the topping lift now is further aft than the leach/roach of the mainsail so I no longer have to bother with adjusting the thing all the time depending on sheeting angle and main sheet tension.
At the end of my sail and with the boat pointed into the wind for sail dowsing, the boom is centered and sheeted tight. The snap shackle is removed from the back stay cleat and re-attached to its boom fitting. The rope line is pulled tight through the cam cleat then brought over to the the standard cleat for full secure. The sail can then be lowered without the boom falling down.
Sounds a bit "Rube Goldberg", but it does work well in practice. The process takes but a few moments and is now part of the routine -- several hundred times now. And done from the safety of being in the cockpit.
As already mentioned -- there is no fussing with the topping lift during the sail. I recognize that in very light winds, one might raise the boom with the topping for better sail shape. But unless racing, or concerned about just a few minutes better performance during a normal day sail, my lack of this feature isn't much of a downside."
(link to the orginal thread http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1065964&highlight=topping lift
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