Topping Lift

[Pete Staehling]

I am planning to put a topping lift on my C22. My plans are to use 3/16" "Dacron Yacht Braid". Attach it on the masthead next to the backstay. Put a small cheek block near the aft end of the boom. Pass the line through the cheek block and forward along the boom to a cleat.Is that a reasonable way to go?Is just tying a bowline at the masthead good enough?Aluminum poprivets for the cheek block?What kind of cleat? Maybe share the existing cleat with the reefing line?Any other suggestions?Thanks,Pete

 

[John Visser]

I don't think so.

1. I think dacron braid will be too stretchy - the boom will bounce up and down on it. Use either vinyl covered 7x19 wire with a yacht braid tail, or Kev-cord. I used Kev-cord on my C-36. I seized it onto stainless steel thimbles on both ends.2. I would use stainless steel pop rivets. I don't think aluminum pop rivets will be strong enough. jvlink to C30 topping lift detail drawing from Catalina:

 

[Pete Staehling]

Really?

When will it bounce?In port?When in port I would still use the pigtail on the back stay.While sailing?I figure that it is only used in light wind conditions so sea state isn't very rough while it is in use. I also figure that the vang will be snug enough to keep some tension on it.Given that, do I still need something more than 3/16" dacron? That is what I think I see on other C22s at the marina (some could be kevlar).Pete

 

[Will]

I can't say that anything is wrong

with your plan, but I think the more conventional approach would be to rivet a block aside the masthead, tie one end of the line to the end of the boom and cleat the other end at the base of the mast. Then you have an extra halyard if you ever need it. That's what I had on my C22.

 

[Shane]

I agree

I have a block at the top of my mast and a shackel attached to the end of the boom. It is all ran aft to the cockpit so it is easy to handle and always there for a spare main halyard.

 

[brad]

A bunch of ways to skin a cat

on my previous boat....a Cat 22....I had a line coming down from the mast head as you propose. But it stopped about 3 feet short of the boom. At the end of that line I had a pully. On one side of the aft part of the boom, I secured a small guide of some sort....just something to tie a second line, about 10 or 12 feet long to. Then, with that second line secured to that that side of the boom, I ran it up and through the pully then back down to the other side of the boom where I secured the turning block. from the turning block, the line ran forward to a clam cleat about mid-boom. I could then control the lift by adjusting that line mid-boom and never leave the cockpit or helm. The whole configuration would give you a real skinny looking letter "A" with both feet at the aft end of the boom and the top of the "A" at the pully.I think if you only run a line from the masthead to the one side of the boom to a turning block, the boom will want to roll over just a tad.Good luck,Brad

 

[Geoff A.]

What I did

What I did was tied some cheep homedepot 1/4 line at the top of my mast. Ran it down to the end of the boom and tied a clip at the end of that. I just keep it on and when I raise my sail the boom moves up and loosens the toping lift. I have had mine this way for about 2 years and it works for me. I just my pig tail when docked. It cost me about $5 but is does have a lot of stretch. I can still tighten my mainsheet to keep it from moving. The boom is not that heavy.