Topping lift for 26M

[pewwind]

I purchased a 26M and would like to set a topping lift from the top of mast to the end of the boom. Previous owner used the jib halyard when he wanted to lift up boom when anchored. Appreciate all suggestion and pictures. Thanks
pewwind

 

[centerline]

a google search for topping lift will give you all kinds of ideas... type it into the browser and then click on "images" a couple inches down on the left side of the browser window...

there are a couple different setups... one is rigged almost identical to the main halyard, and connected to the aft end of the boom. the working end of the line can be cleated at the mast, cabin top, the end of the boom or at the foot of the backstay.... this line can be made to serve other purposes as well...
the other is a dedicated topping lift that has a small 3/32 wire (or whatever size you want) coming down from the chicken head and stopping about 4ft short of the aft end of the boom with a small block hanging from it....then a 10ft piece of 3/16 or 1/4 sta-set is tied to the boom, ran up and thru the block, and back down the the boom, and tied off....

you can be as creative as you want when attaching the line to the boom... with either a knot or cleat, but an eye strap, a small cheek block and a small cam cleat come to mind.

use the eye strap for the termination point of the line, and mount the cheek block close to the end of the boom on the opposite side from the eye strap...... as the line returns from the upper block, run it thru this cheek block to turn it forward on the boom, and mount the small cam-cleat where its convenient for you to run the topping lift from.... then you can easily adjust it as you desire.

personally, I like and use the dedicated method with the wire as there is less stretch in the line and the boom is solid when its on the lift.
I used to have the line going up and back down the mast for a topping lift, but there was too much stretch in the line for my taste and the boom always felt a bit spongy.... maybe some super low stretch line would have helped, but this current setup was more affordable and seemed like a better idea..... and it has proven to be for my needs

 

[THECUSCUS]

Here is a pic of what Centerline was describing.

 

[finding41]

Here is a pic of how someone added a block for my topping lift.
If you use a double block you could use one side for lazy-jacks.
White line is the main sheet and the red line is the topping lift.

 

[tkanzler]

Here's a recent thread on the Trailer Sailors side.

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1019642

 

[stephenronning]

it's really easy...goto wal mart. they have a 50' line there for $3.36cents. it's blue and they sell them back by their boating stuff. tie it off at the back of the top of your mast..there is already a hole there.
AND THAT'S IT!! just bring it down to the back of your boom and your done...cut to fit..put a loop inline a couple feet above your boom so when you cut to the length you want you can double back the line towards the top of your mast and run through the loop and put a quick release hitch in it. very very basic....those $3.36 50' lines come in so handy! they aren't nylon either...they are decent line and they work on these lightweight macgregor's for almost any of your rigging you may wanna add...
take care...email me directly if you want me to take a picture and show you or if you wanna meetup and rendezvous and i can show you on my boat what im talking about...2013 macgregor 26M s/v valhalla.
of course if you think for some reason you need a block or something fancy spend a bunch of money. i keep things basic and cheap. total cost of this is less than $4.00. it cheap and easy and works great. make sure your line is long enough so that when it's not in the topping lift position holding your mast up that you have enough to 'let out' so that your sail hangs free and your topping lift is 'slack' at the end of your boom so you can still get the correct sail shape.
again. it's just the way i prefer to do it...other's will probably have a lot of other ideas...
thx.
Stephen Ronning

 

[Sumner]

We have the "from the back of the boom to the top of the mast and back down the mast" Where it is cleated off.

... The main, the jib halyard (not used with the CDI furler), the single line reefing, the lazy jack lines the topping lift and a second topping lift for the anchor sail all tie off to separate cleats on the mast. We use sta-set line and haven't noticed any stretch.

We are cruisers not racers so flexibility and ease of use are more important to us than weight aloft. You might decide which you are.

I started with a single block at the top of the mast for the topping lift but...

...changed it to a double block (bottom left arrow) when I added the second topping lift for the anchor sail.

The Endeavour has the wire type topping life and it works fine on the boat as the boom is high enough over the cockpit to never be in the way. On the Mac we like the topping lift going to the mast so we can raise the boom a lot higher while on anchor. Also there we use the traveler and main sheet to move it over to one side and using one of the preventer lines ...

...keeps it from swinging around.

All of these mods can be found here..

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/rigging-index.html

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[pewwind]

THANKS, I ALWAYS TRY TO US THE KISS METHOD.
Joe

 

[Chris & Lenore]

I think my system is the simplest. Have used it for 5 seasons and love it.

Topping lift is fixed to the chicken head - no line down the mast.

Threads through a small block on the end of the boom and attaches to a snap shackle.

Position of shackle is adjusted to give proper slack when sailing (shackle stops line going through block).

When not sailing, snap the shackle to the main sheet bail. This raises the boom quite high for at anchor. Also we "park" the boom off to one side using the traveller.

Simple "two position" system - one hand operation - eliminates a line down the mast and cleat (or block, organizer, clutch if you want to adjust in cockpit).

Previous system had line down the mast. When slack (sailing) it has been know to tangle around the reefing lines and/or lazy jacks (my jacks are the eze type that retract to the mast under sail and deploy with a single line only when needed).

Chris

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Sumner - how effective did you find the riding sail on your 26S?

I have started using a "Y" bridle (bowline on a bight brought to the opposite chock) and find it helps but "less swing is better).
Was it worth the effort?

Chris

 

[Kestle]

I think my system is the simplest. Have used it for 5 seasons and love it.

Topping lift is fixed to the chicken head - no line down the mast.

Threads through a small block on the end of the boom and attaches to a snap shackle.

Position of shackle is adjusted to give proper slack when sailing (shackle stops line going through block).

When not sailing, snap the shackle to the main sheet bail. This raises the boom quite high for at anchor. Also we "park" the boom off to one side using the traveller.

Simple "two position" system - one hand operation - eliminates a line down the mast and cleat (or block, organizer, clutch if you want to adjust in cockpit).

Previous system had line down the mast. When slack (sailing) it has been know to tangle around the reefing lines and/or lazy jacks (my jacks are the eze type that retract to the mast under sail and deploy with a single line only when needed).

Chris

Those are some really good ideas, thx.

Jeff