[Public-List] #56 Topping Lift Question

Jonathan Bresler via Public-List public-list at lists.alberg30.org
Mon Sep 25 11:32:02 PDT 2017


Richard,

Thank you.  Good description.  Believe that I can visualize most of it.
Some of the details are escaping me, I'm sure.  Could you send photos (has
to be direct, the list will remove photos) or a link to photos that we
could see?

Jonathan

On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM, via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> 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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-- 
Jonathan M Bresler
S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
Annapolis/Eastport MD



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