dinghy topping lift

[solent clown]

I sail our Torch dinghy single handed a fair bit, especially as a river taxi to go and pick up the wife - it saves her a long walk home if I meet her upriver and we sail back.
The main bugbear I have is the tangle I always seem to get in with the boom dropping when I drop the mainsail. I would like to fit a topping lift, nothing fancy or highly adjustable.
The mast is aluminium.
I was thinking of just using a piece of shock cord attached at the top of the mast and a small carabiner to attach it to the boom end.
Am I missing something obvious or will that do the trick?

 

[lw395]

I'd use a rigid bit of line rather than shock cord which will have the boom bouncing around.
maybe just adjust it at the clew end of the boom with a tent runner or something?
So long as it doesn't go tight when you sheet in, it will be fine.

Personally I like the boom and sail to drop into the cockpit out of the wind, but there are times when your option would be nice, like when we sail in under jib alone with the sail on top of the helm and the boom jamming the tiller.....

 

[solent clown]

I'd use a rigid bit of line rather than shock cord which will have the boom bouncing around.
maybe just adjust it at the clew end of the boom with a tent runner or something?
So long as it doesn't go tight when you sheet in, it will be fine.

Personally I like the boom and sail to drop into the cockpit out of the wind, but there are times when your option would be nice, like when we sail in under jib alone with the sail on top of the helm and the boom jamming the tiller.....

yea, I wrote shock cord, I meant para cord which I have tons of :encouragement: though it might be fun to have a bouncy boom

 

[Kukri]

Actually shock cord is useful on a topping lift - a length of say two feet seized onto it about a foot or two above the boom stops it flapping and bashing the sail when set.

I agree a topping lift is well worth having. If you have a spare sheave on the mast, run it down it.

 

[solent clown]

Actually shock cord is useful on a topping lift - a length of say two feet seized onto it about a foot or two above the boom stops it flapping and bashing the sail when set.

I agree a topping lift is well worth having. If you have a spare sheave on the mast, run it down it.

hey, I could bungee karen out of the water after a swim with a few whips of the boom No spare sheave so I was just going to tie it off up top and use a caribiner below so I can dismantle for trailering

 

[richardabeattie]

Even on a 10ft dinghy I have fitted a simple topping lift. A cord from the masthead down round the boom, up the other side through a mini block or bullseye at the masthead and down to the bottom of the mast not only lifts the boom, it gathers the sail.

 

[Greenheart]

Don't mess about Mr Clown, go the whole distance and fit lazyjacks...every time I go out, I'm very glad I did.

I know using the system places me in a fairly small minority...(it's just me, if I'm honest)...but the lazyjacks cost me next to nothing, yet allow some yacht-like versatility and ease of handling in a big dinghy that I really couldn't otherwise sail singlehanded.

Don't worry about how it looks. It works.

 

[solent clown]

Don't mess about Mr Clown, go the whole distance and fit lazyjacks...every time I go out, I'm very glad I did.

I know using the system places me in a fairly small minority...(it's just me, if I'm honest)...but the lazyjacks cost me next to nothing, yet allow some yacht-like versatility and ease of handling in a big dinghy that I really couldn't otherwise sail singlehanded.

Don't worry about how it looks. It works.

I reckon you are right, I have a huge roll of paracord so I will go the whole hog

 

[Greenheart]

I reckon you are right...

Are you sure? I don't think I've ever read that, on the forum.

You're an engineer I believe, so I certainly needn't tell you how best to fit lazyjacks...I expect you can tell me how to do mine, better...

...but if you'd benefit by hearing how I fitted mine together, I'll be delighted to explain in detail.

Somewhere there's a picture of me rowing the boat with the sail atop the boom, high enough overhead not to bump my head...

...and another photo of SWMBO and self enjoying a biggish picnic, sailing under genoa alone, with the main tidied neatly overhead.

Most of these pictures were taken at Ashlett Creek, but on several different years. The one thing that hasn't changed is my enjoyment of not having to endure 100sq ft of sail and a 10ft boom flapping and slamming around in the cockpit.

 

[stevebrassett]

You will either need to make it adjustable, or be careful with the length. You don't want it slackening the leach of the mainsail.

 

[prv]

maybe just adjust it at the clew end of the boom with a tent runner or something?

I'd put a small cheek-block at the end of the boom, and a simple jamming cleat part way along it. Pull forward to raise the boom, release to drop it.

Pete

 

[solent clown]

Dancrane, thanks for the pics and explanation of your brilliantly well sorted dinghy. I am an engineer of some small repute, but sailing is still quite new to us, so trust me you are way ahead of us on this! I like your oar locations too

 

[solent clown]

I'd put a small cheek-block at the end of the boom, and a simple jamming cleat part way along it. Pull forward to raise the boom, release to drop it.

Pete

sounds like a plan!

 

[solent clown]

You will either need to make it adjustable, or be careful with the length. You don't want it slackening the leach of the mainsail.

Yes, I will bear that in mind, adjustable it is then

 

[lw395]

I'd put a small cheek-block at the end of the boom, and a simple jamming cleat part way along it. Pull forward to raise the boom, release to drop it.

Pete

Whatever falls to hand. I'd probably use a clamcleat intended for a trapeze adjuster, because I found one in the spares drawer today!

 

[solent clown]

Whatever falls to hand. I'd probably use a clamcleat intended for a trapeze adjuster, because I found one in the spares drawer today!

yep, it will be that tomorrow when i it it together. If the wind abates a bit then karen will sail the dinghy after i pick her up while I have a go at sailing the flubber sail conversion. We will stick an engine on the torch so she can rescue me against the wind

 

[Greenheart]

...your brilliantly well sorted dinghy...

Take care, sir. I can lap up flattery till the cows run dry.

I'm not ashamed to admit that while the boat may look sharp in photos, she's decidedly creaky on close scrutiny. Like her skipper.

Everything I've done was in response to how unequal I am to the Osprey's challenges. Sailing alone as I usually do, I'm too small, lightweight, old, weak and short of hands to sail her as her designer intended...but with patience, trial and frequent error, I've brought the controls, both of Mr Proctor's original sailplan, and of my own curious retrofitted accessories, within reach of the helm.

If anyone notices what appears to be a topping lift there, it's actually a second outhaul, ready-rigged to the reef clew.

I used 6mm red braided line for my lazyjacks as I had enough lying about to lead both sides up to the 'tangs' either side of the mast, above the spreaders, where I put plain-bearing mini-blocks...so the line returns to the deck beside the shrouds, bottom right...

...through those port and starboard deck-blocks and a couple of tiny clamcleats (designed to hold very narrow line, which few can), so the whole set-up is adjustable. The LJs can also be tidied along the boom, through a loop at the gooseneck and up the mast when sailing, reducing the potential for tangles in the event of capsize.

On breezy days, with breakers slamming the beach, I get the mainsail down well offshore and leave enough genoa unrolled to give the boat steerage way, knowing that as I approach the slipway, I can pull the furler-line and douse all sail, giving me time to point the heavy hull into the wind, lift centreboard and rudder out of danger, and judge my jump into water that isn't inconveniently deep.

I've seen so many uncontrolled landings by singlehanders in tiny boats who haven't learned the benefit of dropping all sail. Not that you need lazyjacks to lower sail, but they do keep the cockpit clear, the billowing mass under control, and the boom on the gooseneck.

Of course, it could just be that I wanted a yacht more than a dinghy, and am endeavouring to make the one feel like the other.