Purpose of extra fixed line on mast

[Christian Dean]

My O'Day 19 has an extra fixed line running from the top of the mast. It is not a halyard, since it does not run through a block, and it is smaller in diameter than the two halyard lines. It looks stock. I suspect that it might be intended as a boom topping lift. Can anyone suggest what this might be used for?

 

[R.W.Landau]

Christian

I think you have it right. Pull the line back to the stern end of the boom and see if it was meant for that purpose.r.w.landau

 

[Mike]

That's what it is on the 23

It is a topping line (as opposed to a lift) on the Oday 23. I set mine by letting the boom down to its resting (main furled) level, and tieing off the topping line so that the boom is supported and level. When I raise the main, the topping line goes slack and stays out of the way all by itself.

 

[Ed V.]

What's the difference ?

...between a topping lift and a topping line ??

 

[Mike]

One moves....

...the other doesn't. A topping lift typically will run from the end of the boom through a sheave at the top of the mast and be lead down to blocks and/or a cleat. You can raise or lower it. A topping line is attached to a fixed point at the top of the mast and is then attached to the end of the boom. You control the length of the line only by where you tie it off to the boom.