[Public-List] #56 Topping Lift Question
via Public-List
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Mon Sep 25 07:00:35 PDT 2017
Quest (433) has an Offshore rigid (spring) vang that was installed by Annapolis Rigging about 20 years ago. It is attached to the bottom of the mast with a strong stainless collar and on the bottom of the boom by a bracket that has a contour that matches the shape of the bottom 1/4 of the boom. The vang is a four to one purchase and is led by turning blocks at the base of the mast through deck organizers to the cabin top clutches. It has enough purchase to allow full adjustment without the need for the winch.
The vang allowed me to eliminate the toping lift. When not sailing the mainsheet and mainsheet blocks are removed with snapshackles and stowed out of the weather in the cockpit locker. The boom end is then clipped to a 6" pigtail swaged to the aft stay and the vang tightened. This arrangement is quite secure and works well.
The vang provides full adjustment on all points and I have not had any issues at the gooseneck. I believe the riggers replaced the fasteners at the mast track. As Don mentioned the geometry of a rigid vang essentially fixes the boom at a set point on the mast. Mine still uses the boom car but there is a drilled hole in the track for the pin that is set to the proper height relative to the hoist and the proper range and horizontal boom position. It's possible to (semi) permanently raise or lower the gooseneck by moving the vang's clevis pin forward or aft on the boom bracket which lets you raise or lower the gooseneck to a new (semi) permanent position while maintaining the boom in a horizontal position.
I have been very pleased with this arrangement and it has been trouble free. I think that has a lot to do with it being well made product that was installed by riggers who understood the loads involved and knew what they were doing.
Richard Hazlegrove
Quest 433
Mobjack Bay, VA.
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Campbell via Public-List [mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org]
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2017 9:44 AM
To: Joseph Balderson; Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
Subject: Re: [Public-List] #56 Topping Lift Question
Yes. There is one in the Canadian fleet. It is a Garhauer and there were problems setting it up initially. It was fine for the ability to hold the boom and sail up but on a run, because it was also bing used to hold the boom down as a vang , it put such force on the track that held the boom that it pulled the screws holding the track to the mast. The solution was to have Garhauer make a bracket to hold the boom to the mast and affix it with better fasteners. Therefore the boom is now in a fixed position above the deck. It appears to be working well now.
Don Campbell
-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Balderson via Public-List
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2017 7:20 AM
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all ; James Cowhey
Subject: Re: [Public-List] #56 Topping Lift Question
Does anyone use a mechanical boom vang of the type which will support the weight of the boom?
On Sep 23, 2017 5:31 PM, "James Cowhey via Public-List" < public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> Thanks, everyone. I think I'll stick with what I have and maybe
> upgrade to a slightly bigger diameter next season or so. My
> experience had been with wiring so this small braided line was of
> concern but I understand while I'm might be slightly undersized it should keep working properly.
>
> James Cowhey
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Sep 22, 2017, at 10:49 AM, Mike Lehman via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >
> > Plus...remember that the old wire lift was adjusted from the boom
> > end
> which
> > you could not reach when running down wind.
> >
> > On Sep 22, 2017 8:54 AM, "Gordon Laco via Public-List" <
> > public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Good morning –
> >>
> >> We use ¼” polyester double braid for our main topping lift, which
> >> starts with a snap shackle at the outer end of the boom, goes up to
> >> a swivel
> block
> >> at the masthead, then down to a clamcleat on the mast. It’s tail
> >> is
> coiled
> >> onto the small spar cleat fitted lower down at the factory.
> >>
> >> Wire was once common for lifts, I think because of the small
> >> windage
> they
> >> afford, but on the other hand the wire is thought to beat hell out
> >> of
> the
> >> stitching on the leach of the mainsail, so people used to resort to
> >> the awkward expedient of attaching the lift to a ring on the
> >> backstay. I
> never
> >> liked that set up because to replace the lift one had to first
> >> catch the end of the boom. And of course in heavy air when one
> >> wants to reef, re-attaching the lift to support the boom during the
> >> procedure can be dangerous.
> >>
> >> A rope lift doesn’t bother the sail much, can be very easily
> >> adjusted
> from
> >> the mast, and on two occasions over thirty years with two boats...
> >> that lift has served as an emergency main halyard.
> >>
> >> Gord
> >> #426 Surprise
> >>
> >> On 2017-09-22, 12:04 AM, "Public-List on behalf of George Dinwiddie
> >> via Public-List" <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org on behalf
> >> of public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> James,
> >>
> >> 1/8" seems a bit small, but it could be that the block at the
> masthead
> >> was designed for wire. I think 3/16" or 1/4" line is more common.
> >>
> >> The ones I've seen with wire rope have been fixed at the
> >> masthead and
> >> have a braided line tackle between the wire and the boom. That seems
> >> overkill, to me, as stretch really isn't an issue.
> >>
> >> - George
> >>
> >>> On 9/21/17 10:52 PM, James Cowhey via Public-List wrote:
> >>> This is my first post since taking ownership of #56 Mo Cuisle,
> >> formerly Inherit the Wind. I'v already learned a few things from
> >> the listserv. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get to know her.
> >>>
> >>> A previous owner rigged the topping lift with 1/8 inch braided
> >> line. I this a racing modification? The line runs from the end of
> boom to
> >> a block at the masthead to a cleat near the bottom of the mast.
> >> The
> line
> >> seems too stretchy, but I've only ever seen wire rope topping lifts.
> What
> >> is the preferred or OEM rig for the topping lift on these boats?
> >>>
> >>> I haven't owned a boat in over fifteen years, and I ended up
> >>> buying
> >> this one in July and it was the first one I looked at when I
> >> considered ownership again. These are special and beautiful boats.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks.
> >>>
> >>> James Cowhey
> >> --
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> >> ----------
> >> When I remember bygone days George
> Dinwiddie
> >> I think how evening follows morn; gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
> >> So many I loved were not yet dead, http://www.Alberg30.org
> >> So many I love were not yet born. also
> see:
> >> 'The Middle' by Ogden Nash
> >> http://idiacomputing.com
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> >> ----------
> >>
> >>
> >>
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