On my 1979 Cat 30 there is a cable that runs along the port side of the mast up to the top. Is this for running a spinnaker? It's connected to the blue line and cleated off on the jib halyard cleat. Thanks for any info. The boat is new to me.
What is this cable for?
- Thread starter Abarb
- Start date
I think it's a halyard too. The blue white flecked line it is attached to, maybe is just extending the halyard enough to tie to the horn cleat. Maybe the halyard tail isn't long enough? Kind of a messy arrangement that could stand improvement. It should be a jib halyard which usually exits the mast and is cleated on the port side of the mast. You normally wouldn't use a wire halyard for a spinnaker - because a little stretch is good when a collapsed spinnaker re-inflates and you don't need that kind of halyard tension.
The white red flecked line could be a main halyard tail but conventionally the main halyard exits the mast and is cleated on the starboard side of the mast.
The white red flecked line could be a main halyard tail but conventionally the main halyard exits the mast and is cleated on the starboard side of the mast.
As far as I can tell it does not connect to any halyards. It does not run internally on the mast as the jib halyard does. I think it might be fixed to the top of the mast but am not sure.
The red and white line is the jib halyard and runs internally in the mast. The main halyard is on the starboard side of the mast. This picture is the port side of the mast. And yes I think the blue white line is used to extend the cable to the cleat.
Maybe this. The previous owner installed a boom kicker and maybe this is the leftover topping lift?
Abarb, I do believe also that it is the old topping lift, particularly after your comment that it might be fixed near the top of the mast. Simple to verify: take it off the horn cleat, walk it around the spreaders and shrouds and go towards the end of the boom. There is probably something that it previouslay attached to.
I asked this to see if it could be off the aft of the mast head and serve as a topping lift for the boom.
A topping lift for the bow is less likely, yet it could be for a spinnaker pole. Especially if it only goes partway up the forward side of the mast.
If you can not move it when you pull down then a logical assumption is it is fixed.
Climbing the mast would resolve your wonder.
A drone flight surveying the Masthead, may also resolve the conundrum.
I'll have to take a further look when I'm at the boat tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions.
It does come off the aft of the mast at the top and is fixed. However, it does not reach all the way back to the end of the boom. It's about 16" short.
I think it's part of the topping lift. I'll leave it in place since it might be useful at some point.
The topping lift on my C-30 is rigged like this. I’m pretty certain that is the answer to the original question.
It's definitely the topping lift. It is short because it typically has a line, blocks and a cleat to use for adjusting the angle of the boom. Even with a boom kicker, I would use the topping lift and get it off the mast. That thing must clank like the devil when other people at the marina are trying to sleep. Besides that, the abrasion of the metal on the mast can't be attractive, either.
Quote': ''It does come off the aft of the mast at the top and is fixed. However, it does not reach all the way back to the end of the boom. It's about 16" short.''
It definately is a topping lift. Being shorter by about 16'' is simply because a block with a line must have been attached to it to allow height adjustment of the boom, i.e. as per the attached pics.
And to quote ScottT-Bird, I would certainly get it off the mast and re-attached where it belongs to save on the wear and tear on the mast and the annoying clanging.
It definately is a topping lift. Being shorter by about 16'' is simply because a block with a line must have been attached to it to allow height adjustment of the boom, i.e. as per the attached pics.
And to quote ScottT-Bird, I would certainly get it off the mast and re-attached where it belongs to save on the wear and tear on the mast and the annoying clanging.
