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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

topping lift

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Tupelo Honey
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/10/2002 : 11:29:34

when i purchased my boat, used, it was not rigged with a topping lift. i notice that a few boats in my marina do not have one, either. am i missing something? i realized yesterday that it would have been handy to have in order to keep a deeper pocket in my main in a 5 knot wind. any input? is it worth striking my mast (ouch) in order to set one up or shall i wait til next season?

thanks so much,
david

Catalina 250WB
Long Island Sound
"Tupelo Honey"

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 23:42:45

I hear that rigid boom vangs are all the rage and easy to install.
http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=40

Don Lucier, North Star
C25 SR/FK

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Tupelo Honey
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2002 : 09:20:46

instead of a topping lift? would i use that to "push" the mast up, then?

hmm.

d

Catalina 250WB
Long Island Sound
"Tupelo Honey"

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jguyot
1st Mate

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USA
97 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2002 : 21:05:05

The Topping Lift's main purpose in life is to hold the "Boom" up when you don't have your sails up. The "Rigid Boom Vang" acts as a Topping Lift (without a rope coming from the top of the mast) as well as a boom vang. It just holds the boom up from underneath.

Hope this helps......

Jerry Guyot
2001 250WK #586
"Sail La Vie"

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Tupelo Honey
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 15:02:04

that's its only use? (holding the boom up when there's no sail?) there's already a clip for that on the backstay. is there any sail set that i'm missing out on by not having a topping lift?

d

Catalina 250WB
Long Island Sound
"Tupelo Honey"

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MarkTM
Navigator

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USA
178 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 17:41:29

Yes, that pigtail is used to hold the boom up . . . but not when you are about to raise the sail. Nor when you lower the sail. If you use the pigtail during these times, you are likely to encounter a wild ride if the wind fills your sail before you can lower it (or raise it and unclip the pigtail, as the case may be). The pigtails use is to hold the boom up while the boat is in your slip or on the trailer.

Mark Melchior
C250wb "Lorelei" #384
[url="http://www.texassailor.com/"]<img src="http://www.texassailor.com/texas.gif " border=0>[/url]
<font size=1>(click flag to visit Central Texas Sailor)</font id=size1>

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 18:49:04

David - there is an alternative (and cheaper) solution than a "boomkicker" rigid vang. Go up the mast and attach a shackle to the rear of the masthead. From this run a 3/16" line down to about 2' above the end of the boom and attach a small bullet block with a becket. Attach a fiddle block V-jam cleat to the end of the boom and reeve a line from this to the bullet block and back to the V-jam, leaving about 2' as a tail. Now, when the main is fully hoisted you can use this topping lift to adjust the sail shape by raising or lowering it. In good wind you let it out all the way so the boom is fully weighed on the main and in light air you tension the topping lift to gain sail shape. (When parked in the slip you tension it all the way and it lifts the boom out of the way!).
(I'm a great believer in the K.I.S.S. principle...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>)
Derek on "This Side Up"

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MarkTM
Navigator

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USA
178 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 18:54:55

Actually, Derek, our boom (C250) is setup to accommodate a topping lift . . . with a clam cleat on starboard side of the boom where the topping lift line exits the boom. One of the sheaves on the end of the boom is reserved for the topping lift. Couldn't be easier.

Mark Melchior
C250wb "Lorelei" #384
[url="http://www.texassailor.com/"]<img src="http://www.texassailor.com/texas.gif " border=0>[/url]
<font size=1>(click flag to visit Central Texas Sailor)</font id=size1>

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2002 : 21:37:28

Mark - that sure makes the argument about not getting a boomkicker!
Derek

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2002 : 08:10:07

My addition to the good thoughts here is that hull numbers at least prior to 224 had the extra sheeves...but didn't have the slot for topping lift exit or clam cleat on the boom.

Its not a hard project to drill a series of holes and then file it clean to make the slot (match the outhaul) and add the clam cleat.

Last, its also possible to have a double ended topping lift allowing setting it either on the starboard side of boom as Mark outlines... and adding a cheek block and cleat on the port side of boom well aft as Derick suggest. This settup allows adjustment either on the coach roof while reefing...or in the cockpit (after you come back to cockpit and have forgotten to release the lift after reefing <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>).

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.