External topping lift

[dgadee]

My topping lift goes to a block at the top of the mast then back down again. All external. I have plenty of sheaves at the bottom of the mast to take an internal line.

Question is how best to get the topping lift line inside the mast. I have used stainless fittings lower down where there is a straight run from inside to outside. But at the top there couldn't be a straight run. The line would have to avoid the slot for the sail.

Any suggestions?

 

[Refueler]

Why would you want to change ? Many boats have external Topping Lifts ... simple to replace / look after.

If you really want to install an internal ... then you use an existing line internal such as halyard ... you connect two light lines to the 'halyard' you will use to draw the lines up mast. Why two ? One is to be used to pull the topping lift line up mast after 'hooking' light line to the required sheave. Second light line is to pull the halyard back down again ....

 

[dgadee]

Why would you want to change ? Many boats have external Topping Lifts ... simple to replace / look after.

If you really want to install an internal ... then you use an existing line internal such as halyard ... you connect two light lines to the 'halyard' you will use to draw the lines up mast. Why two ? One is to be used to pull the topping lift line up mast after 'hooking' light line to the required sheave. Second light line is to pull the halyard back down again ....

Because the external line could come out at the mast base sheave is why I want it. Neater, less likely to bang about, ...

Mast is off so I would use a plumber's fish tape rather than mousing lines.

 

[Daydream believer]

Normally there is more than one sheave at the top of the mast that you could use such that the topping lift sits to the side of the grouve. Do you not have a sort of mast crane that extends the pulley out a bit beyond the mast?

 

[dgadee]

Normally there is more than one sheave at the top of the mast that you could use such that the topping lift sits to the side of the grouve. Do you not have a sort of mast crane that extends the pulley out a bit beyond the mast?

Yes, and it is used by the main halyard. The topping lift is at the end of that same crane. There is not a double block.

 

[Daydream believer]

Without an additional pulley to lead the topping lift over the top of the mast & down inside you are stuffed.
Cutting an access a little lower down the mast like a halyard exit (but upside down) which often sits at the bottom so you can come off the pulley then into the mast about 12 inches down may be an option

 

[Channel Sailor]

Headboxes : Seldén Mast AB

The page Head Box and the page Sheaves might help demonstrate how on a modern mast two aft facing sheaves are usually installed side by side and how two forward facing sheaves could be configured as jib or genoa halyard and a masthead spinnaker halyard. This turning of the halyards is going on at the level of the top plate or head box, which is above/beyond the groove used for the mainsail.

Your set up could well be different.

 

[dgadee]

Headboxes : Seldén Mast AB

The page Head Box and the page Sheaves might help demonstrate how on a modern mast two aft facing sheaves are usually installed side by side and how two forward facing sheaves could be configured as jib or genoa halyard and a masthead spinnaker halyard. This turning of the halyards is going on at the level of the top plate or head box, which is above/beyond the groove used for the mainsail.

Your set up could well be different.

Yes, that is the ideal. On mine there is only one sheave width.

Daydream Believer's option is what I am thinking of but wondering whether it is feasible.

 

[William_H]

On my probably smaller boat than OP I just use a fixed topping lift. ie attached at the back stay attach. I only use topping lift for bending on or removing main sail when I lift the boom up to attach the topping lift to the end of the boom. I remove back to attach to back stay for sailing. No I don't use topping lift for reefing. This might give OP food for thought. ol'will

 

[Refueler]

As per William .... I only use Topping lift for holding boom up when sail is down.

There is one other use - but so rare as to be barely worth a mention ... but scandalising the main ... useful if you lose your engine and need to sail onto mooring !!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Yes, that is the ideal. On mine there is only one sheave width.

Daydream Believer's option is what I am thinking of but wondering whether it is feasible.

Do you have a chunky main halyard? How wide is the sheave? Could you fit 2 slimmer sheaves instead, and use dyneema for the halyard and topping lift? If your halyard isn’t dyneema now, that would be a good upgrade. If it is, just strip the cover.

 

[Daydream believer]

On my first boat I had a small 4:1 block & tackle with a cleat at the boom end of the topping lift. So when hoisting the sail or reefing, I just pulled the 4mm line on the tackle & it took the weight of the boom. Then I flicked it out of the cleat & it dropped down again such that the sail supported the boom & the topping lift was just slack

 

[Chiara’s slave]

On my first boat I had a small 4:1 block & tackle with a cleat at the boom end of the topping lift. So when hoisting the sail or reefing, I just pulled the 4mm line on the tackle & it took the weight of the boom. Then I flicked it out of the cleat & it dropped down again such that the sail supported the boom & the topping lift was just slack

This is a proper facepalm moment. Why didn’t we all think of that? No need for anything down the mast at all.

 

[ashtead]

As my sail is rarely off and have a boom strut the topping lift is largely redundant -it’s at a mast cleat which also limits need to use . I can see a use for lifting a dinghy or sail bag but otherwise ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

True. Our boom is entirely supported by the lazyjacks, until I bring the halyard to the boom end. We have no topping lift at all. We’d never need to use it to bring anything aboard, obviously, the ‘deck’ is only 40cm above the water

 

[dgadee]

I don't know how you all manage without a topping lift. I have always used one. Very handy option. Even as a backup main halyard.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Below the topping lift block, cut a new slot in the mast and fit a sheave box. This is how my spinnaker halyard is mounted, block at front of mast, then lower down, below twin genoa sheaf boxes, there is a single slot with sheave box. About a meter of spinnaker halyard at the top is outside the mast.

No reason why a similar arrangement could not be used for a topping lift.

 

[flaming]

I don't know how you all manage without a topping lift. I have always used one. Very handy option. Even as a backup main halyard.

Haven't sailed with a topping lift in nearly 20 years.

Boom strut when sailing / reefing etc. Main halyard to the end of the boom when at rest. In 20 years I've never once wished there was a topping lift on the boat....

 

[dgadee]

Haven't sailed with a topping lift in nearly 20 years.

Boom strut when sailing / reefing etc. Main halyard to the end of the boom when at rest. In 20 years I've never once wished there was a topping lift on the boat....

Ah, but you have a boom strut. If course you don't need a topping lift - the role is played by the strut.

 

[dgadee]

Haven't sailed with a topping lift in nearly 20 years.

Boom strut when sailing / reefing etc. Main halyard to the end of the boom when at rest. In 20 years I've never once wished there was a topping lift on the boat....

Yep, that is what I am thinking of doing.