Topping lift mod

[Lady Campanula]

I'm looking to modify the conventional topping lift on a conventional boat, such that 'topping up' is achieved from standing in the cockpit, and avoiding a trip to the mast.

I don't intend to run the t/l lift down the mast, around a deck-sheave, and back to the cockpit, due to existing clutter.

I'm considering a small multi-part tackle between the end of the existing t/l line and the boom end, with a Camcleat jammer.

Any better ideas?

 

[Robin]

We had a gas kicker on our last boat but it didn't hold the boom quite high enough with the sail dropped so the topping lift was still needed yet unlike all the other lines didn't go back to the cockpit. I added a short line from the boom end up through a small block on the topping lift and back to the boom end and through a cam cleat with a fairlead and used that to raise the boom an extra 18".

 

[savageseadog]

It could work but you have the danger that when slack the blocks could whip around and injure someone

 

[l'escargot]

I had a similar arrangement on last boat which worked well, the other end of the topping lift was just left made off at the mast.

If you are concerned about loose blocks flicking around, although if you are that near the end of the boom you probably have other worries, you can just fix a small block with a jamming cleat to the boom end. Make the end of the topping lift off at the block and bring the other end back from the mast and through the block and jamming cleat. It means one less line at the mast if you have a limited number of cleats.

 

[Conachair]

I run mine through a block at the masthead then down a backstay (twin backstays on my boat) onto a cleat attached to the backstay. Works a treat, one of the best little mods on the boat.

 

[tinkicker0]

I'm looking to modify the conventional topping lift on a conventional boat, such that 'topping up' is achieved from standing in the cockpit, and avoiding a trip to the mast.

I'm considering a small multi-part tackle between the end of the existing t/l line and the boom end, with a Camcleat jammer.

Any better ideas?

You are a kinky one Campanula.


wot the bleeding ell is a topping lift?

 

[fireball]

You are a kinky one Campanula.


wot the bleeding ell is a topping lift?

Its the thing that keeps your end up init ....

 

[jamesjermain]

An alternative is to attach/splice a short length of line to the backstay with a snap shackle at the free end. The height and length of this would be such that, when the shackle is snapped to the end of the boom, it is held at the right height. This makes a good harbour stow because the boom end is held central. I would not work at sea for, for example, taking the weight off the boom when reefing, when i would need to be out over the quarter.

 

[photodog]

I'm looking to modify the conventional topping lift on a conventional boat, such that 'topping up' is achieved from standing in the cockpit, and avoiding a trip to the mast.

I don't intend to run the t/l lift down the mast, around a deck-sheave, and back to the cockpit, due to existing clutter.

I'm considering a small multi-part tackle between the end of the existing t/l line and the boom end, with a Camcleat jammer.

Any better ideas?

That sounds like a tidy idea... could also double as a MOB hoist as well very easily.... either disconect from the boom and hoist on the end of the T/L... or drag the T/L down to the boom.... disconect the tackle from the line but leave it attatched to the boom... swing out and recover.

 

[Blueboatman]

Had exactly that on 28 ft. Don't forget the stopper knot at exactly the right place so when you let the light line off the wee jammer the slack in the toplift is exactly right for sailing.
Iirc I riveted the jammer right over me head when standing at the helm.

And it was so successful I then went for a loose footed main and did the same on the other side of the boom for the leach outhaul.

Agree there is far too much stuff coming back from the mast along the decks already, often enough.

 

[[3889]]

Some great ideas here - never thought of, or seen, a boom-end TL before.

 

[PaulR]

what you are considering is exactly what is on our dehler 34 - the topping lift is fixed at the masthead (eye in that end of tl secured by pin through mast head fittings) and the boom end has a tackle with cleat - we have a plastic bead thing (ball with hole in it from chandlers) which is set so that with it uncleated enough slack to allow boom not to hit sprayhood but slack enough not to interfere with set sail - simply take up slack and cleat it when needed to support boom and we usually back up the tl with the main halyard when leaving the boat - stop halyard tapping on mast and doubles up support for boom- simple and works

 

[Robin]

It could work but you have the danger that when slack the blocks could whip around and injure someone

The block, and only one is required, is on the topping lift end which is higher than the boom to allow the tackle to be inserted, so nowhere near capable of hitting anyone or any thing.

 

[Gordonmc]

I found an old mainsheet with double blocks off a dinghy at a boat jumble.
After hoisting the main I would drop the boom by releasing the line from the jammer. Getting the length of the topping lift right took two or three tries, but once set it was fine. I never had the mast-end off its cleat from then on.

Until some light-finger walked off with it.

 

[DaveS]

I'm looking to modify the conventional topping lift on a conventional boat, such that 'topping up' is achieved from standing in the cockpit, and avoiding a trip to the mast.

I don't intend to run the t/l lift down the mast, around a deck-sheave, and back to the cockpit, due to existing clutter.

I'm considering a small multi-part tackle between the end of the existing t/l line and the boom end, with a Camcleat jammer.

Any better ideas?

BB (for I assume it is you): Maybe a bit late given all the earlier comments, but with my previous boat I did exactly that. I used a bit of dinghy tackle which I had acquired by means now forgotten. It had one of those "trumpet" cleats to hold the line.

 

[Humblebee]

Camcleat?

Perhaps I haven't quite grasped what you are proposing, m'lady, but if you are thinking of holding the boom up with a rope jammed into a camcleat then I wouldn't trust it. Too easily knocked free from an open camcleat and then it all would come crashing down. Could you fix the topping lift off to a proper cleat instead? I think it would be more secure.

 

[Conachair]

camcleat

Perhaps I haven't quite grasped what you are proposing, m'lady, but if you are thinking of holding the boom up with a rope jammed into a camcleat then I wouldn't trust it. Too easily knocked free from an open camcleat and then it all would come crashing down. Could you fix the topping lift off to a proper cleat instead? I think it would be more secure.

This is how mine works down the backstay, goes round a block at masthead then down to the boom. Works a treat, very secure. Maybe less important in UK but going down the backstay means you can use the topping life easily to pick up the centre of the sun awning, and release it easily when it rains to fill up the tanks a bit.

 

[Adonnante]

Perhaps I haven't quite grasped what you are proposing, m'lady, but if you are thinking of holding the boom up with a rope jammed into a camcleat then I wouldn't trust it. Too easily knocked free from an open camcleat and then it all would come crashing down. Could you fix the topping lift off to a proper cleat instead? I think it would be more secure.

Having had my wife knocked out by the inadvertant release of the wrong jamber, the one holding the topping lift I can agree with the dangers of holding the topping lift in an easily released jamber.

As an alternative solution, it may not work on all boats, we have two separate sets of lazy jacks (built in redundancy) to guide the main. These are sized so that when the main is hoisted the load is off the lazy jacks and they are slack when lowering or reefing they support the boom. Hence there is no need for a topping lift, the end of the boom is supported by the main halyard once in harbour. It is neccessary to use Dyneema lines for the lazy jacks to overcome stretch in the system.

Peter.

 

[pugwash60]

Coming down the backstay is also good for scandalising the main when single handed, I occasionally bring mine back from the mast temporarily when approaching a mooring. (Although to be honest it's easier to drop the main and come in under jib if the boat will tack with just the jib which mine is happy to do).

 

[Conachair]

Coming down the backstay is also good for scandalising the main when single handed, I occasionally bring mine back from the mast temporarily when approaching a mooring. (Although to be honest it's easier to drop the main and come in under jib if the boat will tack with just the jib which mine is happy to do).

Just remembered, rerouting mine freed up a masthead shieve so i could have a spare main halyard rigged all the time. Worth it for that reason alone.