The square of the hypotenuse......

[Amari]

Misread windguru.cz forecast (got day/date muddled) so staggered into Pythagorian (Samos) marina against Force 7 on the nose. SHMBO pronounced that I must renew topping lift with longer version which will reach cockpit clutches, instead of me needing to clip on and crawl to the mast. But what length will I need? I know mast height and boom length and am in birth place of Pythagoras. Elementary my dear Watson!
BTW, this marina, long in its gestation, now has family run taverna, small chandlery, dry groceries, coin laundry. Still very few boats and showers etc not up to Turkey marina standards.

 

[Tallon]

2X (mast height + boom length) should be enough, leaving a bit for splicing on shackles etc.

You could measure what you have already then add on what ever you need to feed it back to the cockpit.

Tom

 

[KenMcCulloch]

[ QUOTE ]
2X (mast height + boom length) should be enough, leaving a bit for splicing on shackles etc.

You could measure what you have already then add on what ever you need to feed it back to the cockpit.

Tom

[/ QUOTE ] The latter is a good strategy but I think 2x m+b might be far more than you need. the simple formula would be (the square root of the sum of the squares of m and b) plus m plus b plus deck-boom height. Add on whatever is needed as a tail and then think about the scenario where you have to drop the boom on deck because of a damaged sail broken gooseneck etc.

While you are pondering this enjoy Samos. A lot of the best tavernas will be closed but the island is good value. Evpalinos' tunnel is the most remarkable feat of bronze age engineering, very close to Pythagorio.

 

[tangomoon]

Bit of string and tie it on to match - what's up u go to simple skool

 

[Mudplugger]

3-4-5....3x3=9,4x4=16, 5x5=25, the sum total of the previous two.....so if you have two of the measurements, should be able to arrive at the third....HTH

 

[Anonymous]

(hypotenuse)**2 = (side a)**2 + (side b)**2

So hypotenuse = Square root of [(side a)**2 + (side b)**2]

Now you have the hypotenuse, just add the mast height and the length you want from the base of the mast to the cockpit, plus allowance for making fast to the boom, etc.

 

[William_H]

What do you want a topping lift for anyway? I find that i can reef by dropping the halyard by stages taking up the tack reef line by stages to keep the boom up out of the water. I prefer to lay the boom on the cabin top when left on the mooring to reduce movement of the traveller.
So I only use a piece of fixed string to hold the boom up when hoisting the main or when flaking the mainsail. So i reckon I could manage quite well without a topping lift. olewill

 

[Amari]

A belated thanks folks - have been on the high seas for few days. We went to the tunnel Ken but found it closes at 1430 each day!