Greetings to all. I'm new to the forum. I just purchased a 1985 Hunter 23 this winter, and my family and I have been fixing and cleaning for the last two months. The forum and archives have been valuable sources of information. And now, I have a question of my own: My Hunter 23 has a Kenyon mast and boom. Apparently, the previous owner rigged the topping lift using one of the reefing lines attached to the top of the mast. The reefing line, now topping lift, was cleated off using one of the cam cleats in the boom near the gooseneck... Is this right?? There is a third pin at the end of the boom, which appears to have been used for a fixed-length topping lift. If this is right, what kind/size of line was used? (I can't find any specs) What is the correct length of the topping line? (I'd like to get it made up before I get down to the water and put the mast up.) Does anyone have any upgrade ideas for topping lines? If you're on the Chesapeake this summer, keep an eye out for "VITESS." Paul
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Darrel Richards
Topping Lift
Hi Paul, I have a 1988 h23 and sail in coastal waters off Southeast Florida. The topping lift on my boat also starts at the top of the mast, comes down to a roller at the outboard end of the boom, continues inside the boom and exits at the goose neck. The jaws built into the goose neck exit did not always hold the line secure while under sail, so I added a small cleat to the boom and tie it off there. The only times we touch this line is to drop the boom when the main is put up, and raise the boom to increase head room in the cockpit after the day of sailing is over. This seems to work great and keeps the line just tight enough to stop it from fouling the back stay adjuster. The other option I am considering is a boomkicker or solid boom vang, then no topping lift is necessary. We race our little 23 in sailing club races and have a lot of fun. You know the drill, good sails, clean bottom, great rating and you'll take home some trophies. Have a great summer and enjoy this great little boat. Darrel Richards S/V Wind Dancer
Hi Paul, I have a 1988 h23 and sail in coastal waters off Southeast Florida. The topping lift on my boat also starts at the top of the mast, comes down to a roller at the outboard end of the boom, continues inside the boom and exits at the goose neck. The jaws built into the goose neck exit did not always hold the line secure while under sail, so I added a small cleat to the boom and tie it off there. The only times we touch this line is to drop the boom when the main is put up, and raise the boom to increase head room in the cockpit after the day of sailing is over. This seems to work great and keeps the line just tight enough to stop it from fouling the back stay adjuster. The other option I am considering is a boomkicker or solid boom vang, then no topping lift is necessary. We race our little 23 in sailing club races and have a lot of fun. You know the drill, good sails, clean bottom, great rating and you'll take home some trophies. Have a great summer and enjoy this great little boat. Darrel Richards S/V Wind Dancer
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Sean Coerse
What part of bay
I sail a 240 out of Little Creek in Norfolk. Do you sail on the southern end of the bay?
I sail a 240 out of Little Creek in Norfolk. Do you sail on the southern end of the bay?
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Greg Stebbins
23 topping lift
Paul, I have a 23 but with a Z-Spar Mast/Boom. On my boat, the toping lift is 1 of the 3 lines internal to the boom. The other 2 are the outhaul and reef line. My current configuration is reef line on the starboard side, outhaul center and topping lift port. There should be 3 sleeves on the end cap of your boom. If you are missing one, it should be easy to replace. I've replaced my original topping lift with a 26-foot plastic coated wire version. I have about 18 inches of line coming out of the boom, ending in a snap shackle. I can disconnect the topping lift to remove the boom. There's really a lot of "stuff going on inside the boom of a 23. Be sure none of the lines in there are fowling with any others. Good luck, Greg Gstebbins@aol.com
Paul, I have a 23 but with a Z-Spar Mast/Boom. On my boat, the toping lift is 1 of the 3 lines internal to the boom. The other 2 are the outhaul and reef line. My current configuration is reef line on the starboard side, outhaul center and topping lift port. There should be 3 sleeves on the end cap of your boom. If you are missing one, it should be easy to replace. I've replaced my original topping lift with a 26-foot plastic coated wire version. I have about 18 inches of line coming out of the boom, ending in a snap shackle. I can disconnect the topping lift to remove the boom. There's really a lot of "stuff going on inside the boom of a 23. Be sure none of the lines in there are fowling with any others. Good luck, Greg Gstebbins@aol.com
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Greg Stebbins
One more thing...
Paul, You already know this but, The main reason for the topping lift is to allow you to remove pressure from the sail when reefing. It's very useful to be able to pull the boom up from the gooseneck, Lower the sail, and reef, pretty much all from the mast. Greg
Paul, You already know this but, The main reason for the topping lift is to allow you to remove pressure from the sail when reefing. It's very useful to be able to pull the boom up from the gooseneck, Lower the sail, and reef, pretty much all from the mast. Greg
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Jim Kolstoe
Another use for topping lifts
Paul, I'll add to Greg's list, the fact that in very light air, you can slightly raise the boom with the topping lift to create more draft, and therefore more power out of what little wind you've got. It may be that Greg is spoiled with too much wind in his area - we experience light or no air until about 4p.m. during August. Of course the wind during late afternoon on those same days often requires reefing the main, which the topping lift is very handy for. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Paul, I'll add to Greg's list, the fact that in very light air, you can slightly raise the boom with the topping lift to create more draft, and therefore more power out of what little wind you've got. It may be that Greg is spoiled with too much wind in his area - we experience light or no air until about 4p.m. during August. Of course the wind during late afternoon on those same days often requires reefing the main, which the topping lift is very handy for. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
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Greg Stebbins
Texans with "wind"!!!
Yes I use the topping lift to shape the sail in light wind conditions. I've also been known to throw a bucket of water on the lower part of the main to add weight and help it bag. As for wind conditions here in Texas, during the summer, I match your sad conditions any day and I got the sail locker to prove it. We don't mind it much though with it being 110 in the shade, we just sit in the cockpit and wait for the hallucinations to start.
Yes I use the topping lift to shape the sail in light wind conditions. I've also been known to throw a bucket of water on the lower part of the main to add weight and help it bag. As for wind conditions here in Texas, during the summer, I match your sad conditions any day and I got the sail locker to prove it. We don't mind it much though with it being 110 in the shade, we just sit in the cockpit and wait for the hallucinations to start.
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Jim Kolstoe
110 in the shade!!!!?
Greg, I've heard it was hot in your part of the country, but that's excessive. What do you guys do in that heat, hold egg frying contests on the sidewalks? Watch the northen tourists melt? Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Greg, I've heard it was hot in your part of the country, but that's excessive. What do you guys do in that heat, hold egg frying contests on the sidewalks? Watch the northen tourists melt? Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
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MikeY
In Chesapeake Too
I also am in the CBay, starting out in the Rhode River, out the West River, then a little north-easterly sailing will get us to Thomas Point. We brave souls (mainly me !) sailed almost all winter, we had to break thru some ice at one excursion. No sailing that time though, just motoring. Wind can be good, bad or ugly. I prefer about 12-15 knots. I've been out in 20-25 but even with a reef and 50% or so it's hard to sail as it gets very gusty. One second it'll be 20/doable, the next 30/let it go. Of course you can usually see it coming on the water and pre-release. Another thing abt the CB is you can be out there in 5 knots, and all of a sudden a squal comes from somewhere, and you're in 20 knots. Be prepared to reef/tie all sails up QUICKLY.
I also am in the CBay, starting out in the Rhode River, out the West River, then a little north-easterly sailing will get us to Thomas Point. We brave souls (mainly me !) sailed almost all winter, we had to break thru some ice at one excursion. No sailing that time though, just motoring. Wind can be good, bad or ugly. I prefer about 12-15 knots. I've been out in 20-25 but even with a reef and 50% or so it's hard to sail as it gets very gusty. One second it'll be 20/doable, the next 30/let it go. Of course you can usually see it coming on the water and pre-release. Another thing abt the CB is you can be out there in 5 knots, and all of a sudden a squal comes from somewhere, and you're in 20 knots. Be prepared to reef/tie all sails up QUICKLY.
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Greg Stebbins
110 in the shade - time to go!!
Here in Dallas area, reality forces most to sail from dawn till 11:00a. Temperature range then is mid-80s to low 90s. After that it’s just to hot. Even the water is luke warm. July-August we spend as much time as possible at our second home in the Colorado Rockies. There the temperature range is 28 to 71. Much better. The kids get to build snowmen in August and I fly fish. Don’t sail there though.
Here in Dallas area, reality forces most to sail from dawn till 11:00a. Temperature range then is mid-80s to low 90s. After that it’s just to hot. Even the water is luke warm. July-August we spend as much time as possible at our second home in the Colorado Rockies. There the temperature range is 28 to 71. Much better. The kids get to build snowmen in August and I fly fish. Don’t sail there though.
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Jay Hill
Trying to be positive...
...there is a major advantage to the 110-in-the-shade days here. It makes for a great land breeze in the evenings. One can sail in the morning (I'm not an early riser) or really enjoy the evening/night sails up to about 1am. After that the wind falls off again to just 3-8K which is good for anchoring. When the sun beats down early next morning, voila, more great breeze until about 1100. So, that's why I usually work 10-7 or 11-8 in the air conditioning and end up with more "night life"
...there is a major advantage to the 110-in-the-shade days here. It makes for a great land breeze in the evenings. One can sail in the morning (I'm not an early riser) or really enjoy the evening/night sails up to about 1am. After that the wind falls off again to just 3-8K which is good for anchoring. When the sun beats down early next morning, voila, more great breeze until about 1100. So, that's why I usually work 10-7 or 11-8 in the air conditioning and end up with more "night life"
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Greg Stebbins
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Paul Behnke
Thanks
Thanks to all for the advice, and for the entertainment. I'm planning to run the topping lift though the boom and cleating it off near the mast in order to facilitate reefing. For those who asked, I'll be sailing out of the Middle River this summer. Good Sailing, Paul
Thanks to all for the advice, and for the entertainment. I'm planning to run the topping lift though the boom and cleating it off near the mast in order to facilitate reefing. For those who asked, I'll be sailing out of the Middle River this summer. Good Sailing, Paul
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Geoff Kloster
Don't forget...
to use the topping lift to keep the boom off your mate's head when you lower the main. I ran my halyards to the cockpit and exited the topping lift more aft on the boom so that too was accessable from the cockpit. A simple cam cleat on the boom and an exit port is all that is needed. Geoff
to use the topping lift to keep the boom off your mate's head when you lower the main. I ran my halyards to the cockpit and exited the topping lift more aft on the boom so that too was accessable from the cockpit. A simple cam cleat on the boom and an exit port is all that is needed. Geoff
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keith smoot
Get rid of your topping lift
(1) Remove the topping lift from the masthead and boom. (2) Install the small(36") BoomKicker under the mast. Follow instructions. (3) Install a second reefing point in your mainsail. (4) Use the old topping lift hardware in the boom to run the second reefing line. (5) Sail comfortably in 20-25 mph winds.
(1) Remove the topping lift from the masthead and boom. (2) Install the small(36") BoomKicker under the mast. Follow instructions. (3) Install a second reefing point in your mainsail. (4) Use the old topping lift hardware in the boom to run the second reefing line. (5) Sail comfortably in 20-25 mph winds.
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