[Public-list] topping lift

[Gordon Laco]

Good point - I forgot to mention that.  We have a large snap shackle on the
lower end of the main sheet so that it is quickly released.  That way we can
dump the main halyard to take the power out of it, release the shackle and
swing the boom outboard.  The shackle and mainsheet hanging off the boom
then become a lifting crane or davit to help get someone aboard.

Once we used that setup to get off a sand bar.  We flooded the dinghy,
attached the mainsheet to a bridle on it and tried to lift it.  Of course
the boat just heeled over and off we went.  Seamanship manuals suggest using
an anchor, which works, but you have to stop and get the anchor... By using
the dink you can bring your 'anchor' with you and skeddadle away from the
scene of your embarrassment much quicker.

Gord #426 Surprise







> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:30:33 -0500, Gordon Laco wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Hi James - 
>> 
>> The elements of a good lift are: 1) adjustability
>> whatever the position of
>> the boom 2) strength and stretch resistance.
>> 
>> We hung a light block on the after side of the
> masthead
>> casting and ran a
>> 1/4" prestretched braided line (the type intended for
>> halyards) from a clam
>> cleat (captive type) on the mast at chest level, up to
>> the top block and
>> back down to a shackle on the end casting of the boom.
>> 
>> We put a few stitches of twine in the line at the
>> position it is best held
>> in so that it is slack when the main is set, and the
>> boom is in the right
>> position when the main is furled.
>> 
>> Doing things that way gives us an adjustable lift that
>> is also an emergency
>> main halyard should we need one.
>> 
>> Cheers - Gord #426 Surprise
>> I used 5/16 line and have the same rational as Gord
> plus the boom is part of my manoverboard retrieval
> system so the extra breaking strength helps
> John Boor
> MAHSEER #380
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> Any suggestions on what size line, and what type, to
>> use for the topping
>>> lift? The previous owner had a cable running from
> the
>> masthead which I
>>> removed when I took the mast down at the end of the
>> season. Awful
>>> arrangement. 
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> James Schueler
>>> 'Oddyseus' #170
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