Topping lift not adjustable??

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Greg Sampson

The topping lift on my H33 doesn't seem to have a line coming out anywhere, does anyone know where the other end is? if there is one, right now I just cinch it down to the mast. Thanks, Greg
 
D

Doug T.

Confused

Huh?? A "topping lift" goes from the masthead to the aft end of the boom. It holds the boom up when the mailsail is not in use. What line are you cinching to the mast??? How can a line NOT have two ends??
 
T

Terry Arnold

H33 topping lift

Greg, my H33 had just a fixed length of wire from top of the mast with a clevis on the lower end so that it could be disconnected. I had what I think is the same trouble that you describe, what to do with the flopping wire or line when the sail is hoisted. One solution is to shorten the wire or line acting as topping lift and insert a tackle in the lower end so that it can be adjusted. In refitting my 79 H33, I put an extra halyard in the second sheave top of mast on the aft side of the mast and now use it also for a topping lift which can be lengthened or shortened and secured as the main halyard is.
 
G

Greg Sampson

Doug, I figure it is just secured to the top....

of the mast, and a fixed length like terry is talking about....after the main is up I undo the clevis, and run some of the extra line from the boom through the end of the topping lift and cinch it to the mast. It isn't a big deal but it looks liks shite. do you understand? Terry...thanks, I'll put that on the long list for the winter. Greg s/v Lady Faith
 
E

Ed Schenck

A before winter fix.

I just finished what Terry describes, added a spare halyard which is rigged as the adjustment for the topping lift. I disconnected it at the top of the mast and attached it to the new halyard. The boom end of the wire is attached with a clevis pin. But in prior seasons I had shortened the boom end of the topping lift and installed a lightweight set of 4:1 blocks so I could adjust it from the cockpit. This works OK except when you forget to tighten it and are on a reach, you have to bring the main back in to adjust it.
 
D

David Michaels

Fixed topping lift too short

The topping lift on my (new to me) H27_75-84 is also too short, it's a fixed wire rope attached at the masthead and the end of the boom with clevis pins. With the current config (factory?) the roach is always too full on a close reach, the sail cannot be flattened. I had decided to extend the length of the wire rope so the sail could be flattened, just hadn't gotten to it yet. The idea of the spare halyard seems like a good one, I have a spare rigged and rather than go up the pole at this time, I will remove the current lift at the boom clevis and secure it to the mast, then attach the halyard shackle to the boom in it's place. This will give me an adjustable lift. Thanks for the idea - I've been wondering about the best fix since last week-end. Hadn't thought about using the spare halyard. Any opinions to the contrary welcome, I'm new to this boat and still learning the setup.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Cheap Fix.

David: An easy fix for your topping lift (without using a halyard). Cut the existing topping lift line about 10-15 shorter than it presently is. Attach a small block. Then put an eye on one side (port) of the boom. Put a small cheek block on the opposite side of the boom and a cleat about 12-24" forward of the cheek block. Run a line from the eye through the block, down through the cheek block and cleat it off on the cleat. This allows an easy way to lengthen or shorten the topping lift. It is all on the boom. This is a good solution when you are not rigged back to the cockpit anyway.
 
D

David Michaels

Good Idea, Steve.

Yes, that makes a lot of sense, leaves the backup halyard free, and doesn't add a lot of hardware to the boom. I actually have an aft port side strap on the boom just waiting to be used in this fashion. After posting I considered using 2 - 3:1 blocks (as mentioned previously in this thread) with a cam, but your installation is less expensive and has much less hardware in the air. Great suggestion! Thanks.
 
C

Carl Foster

Adjustable topping lift

Steve Dion's solution is very simular to mine and works very well. I shortened topping lift wire and swaged a block in, then spliced a 1/4"line on pin at end of boom. 3" cleat at aft side of boom completes it. As somebody stated, you are unable to adjust on broad reach without bringing boom in,but, think ah e d
 
Status
Not open for further replies.