oday 23 topping lift

HukilauMike · Feb 24, 2015

It's a dead head connection at the mast head. No sheaves.

Indysailor · Feb 25, 2015

Mine is a quarter inch line, connected to a pin in one of the masthead slots.

HukilauMike · Feb 25, 2015

MikeKan said:
Thanks..that helps!

Any idea what I will need to do to attach to mast head...can I just
tie it on a fitting or will it be more complicated or require hardware.

Appreciate your assistance...Just want to be prepared, so I can drop and restep
rather quickly.

Mike

It's just a clevis pin with a cotter. If you have a spare cotter pin, you're good. If you really want to be careful, have a spare clevis too, although the pin gets such a light load from the topping line that I can't imagine it needs to be replaced absent significant corrosion (which seems unlikely).

HukilauMike · Feb 25, 2015

It also helps if your new line has an eye spliced into it. Makes it really easy to attach to the clevis at the mast head. My line is also 1/4 inch. I think it's the only line on my boat that I haven't replaced in the 15 years I've owned the boat.

Jackdaw · Feb 25, 2015

Here's some quick advice.... be prepared for ANYTHING.

Have tools ready to deal with most things you might find. Lots of years and lots of previous owners you never know whats up there. Have ready:

Drill and metal bits
Pop riveter and rivets
Hacksaw
Screwdrivers
File
Assorted SS mounting straps (U shaped)

Then you will be ready for anything. Nothing worse then getting the pole down and not having what you need.

Ron20324 · Feb 25, 2015

TAKE PICTURES of all the mast fittings and blocks and openings and attachments. Then the next time, you have a reference or when others ask the same questions.

Brian S · Feb 25, 2015

I know it's a smaller and different boat than the 23, but on my 192, I use 3/16" double braid polyester for the topping lift. It's tied to the backstay clevis pin up at the masthead crane, and led down to a 2:1 purchase on the end of the boom. That purchase is led forward about 3/4 along the boom to a clam cleat. This arrangement allows for less weight aloft, and ease of adjustment down below (except when the sail is flaked on the boom.

)

I have it set so that I can store the boom level, or I can hoist the end of the boom high enough to provide standing room at the tiller for motoring or lounging around the cockpit. Yet I can still reasonably adjust the boom height to balance it against the vang and provide vang sheeting and set proper main twist.

I don't know that a 23 boom and mainsail would be that much heavier than 3/16" double braid could handle, but 1/4" would definitely get the job done as well.

Brian S · Feb 27, 2015

Ha! MikeKan, you're working on a boat... You'll always have to deal with surprises, no matter what you do!