M
Mike Misko
On my H23 the topping lift is attached to the top of the mast and runs down to a cheek block (I think that is the right term....the kind with a V shaped slot to jam the line into). It is a PITA to use. I can't run it through the boom to tie off forward because the internal tracks in the boom are occupied with 2 reefing lines and the outhaul. I could run it along the outside of the boom, but it's already busy there with my lazy jacks setup. The routing could be reversed - boom to mast top then back down to mast base. Although that would give us an extra halyard, it would be external to the mast. I do want a topping lift independent of the jacks. On my previous boat with a split backstay, a short line came down from the split to the end of the boom. This would work on my H23 and could be easily made adjustable. Here's the question....would this idea put undue strain on the backstay? Should I just stop being cheap and get a boom kicker?