Topping lift for Vision 32

[Balwin60]

HI I have recently puchased a 1991 Vision 32. Even though it has a solid boom vang I would like to install a topping lift to raise the boom a little to clear the dodger.
I note that the top of the mast has a spare pulley that is not used.

Is it possible to install a topping lift that would utilize this pulley and can another hole be drilled in the lower mast without compromising the integrity of the mast? This could also be used as a spare halyard for the main as well.

Roman

 

[Seattle Scott]

Roman,, the other thing you can do is terminate the topping lift at the top of the mast rather than run it through the masthead sheeve, down the mast and out back to the cockpit. Even though I have an extra sheeve at the mast head, my topping lift terminates at the mast head, then runs to about two feet short of the boom end with a single block on the lower end of the toppng lift. Then there is a short line that terminates on the end of the boom, runs up through the block on the lower end of the topping lift, then back to a cam cleat on the end of the boom. The topping lift is slacked or hardened at the end of the boom. Works geat.

 

[Balwin60]

Thanks a heap Scott.

Roman

 

[Don Guillette]

Baldwin60: At first I thought you wanted to add the topping lift merely to support the boom when the sail is flaked, which is the actual purpose of the topping lift but now I think you want to use the topping lift on all points of sail. This is a bad idea from a sail shape standpoint. Next i thought why not just reposition the boom vang to get the needed clearance but that is as bad as the topping lift idea. It is a sail boat and sail shape is everything.

How about redoing the dodger instead?

 

[Balwin60]

Don, Thanks for your comments. No I do not want a topping lift for any points of sail as the boom vang can do this quite nicely. The boom just barely scrapes on the top of my dodger. Even to raise the boom a few inches when the sail is not is use would be helpful

Roman

 

[jtm]

Have you checked out a boomkicker K-1500 with a boom track- that should get the boom up and out of the way at dockside and anchor.

 

[Steve Dion]

I suggest that you look at a Garhauer boom vang. The ones that were install on the boats are very poor quality and have very limited range. I think that these units will lift the boom enough to clear your dodger.

I have the OEM one on our HV'36 and plan on replacing it with a Garhauer in the next season.

 

[Rick D]

As you probably already know, Steve, they will make it custom to fit the existing tangs on the mast and boom as they did for me...

 

[Steve Dion]

Yes! I am planning on being down there in Feb. and may bring my old one with me to have the fabricate a new one.

 

[schowy]

How about using your main halyard when motoring or at dock? Clip it to the end of the boom and hoist a bit?