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Can't figure out fixed main 'halyard'

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Ella
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/24/2007 : 21:08:54

OK. Here's a dumb question. I'm in my second season on a standard rig, fixed keel 1979 Cat 25. Love the boat. When I got her in the water this summer I noticed a wire with a closed eye loop at the end hanging down from the mast. It is permanantly fixed to the top of the mast with no line leading to the deck. It barely reaches the boom when it is up all the way. I tried attaching it to the boom but doing that made handling the boom a total pain when I was trying to raise the sail. What is this thing and how can I make it work for me?
Ella

Ella

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2007 : 22:20:26

My guess is that you have a CDI furler and that the rope section of your unused wire to rope halyard is missing, that would leave an eye at the top of the mast on the aft side and the wire rope and shackle at the end hanging down the front of your mast. Or, your PO is using the wire section of an old halyard as a topping lift and you simply do not have the rigging on your boom to connect to it. A fixed line several feet short is common and then a purchase on the end of the boom connects to the topping lift.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 09:18:08

If by "permanently fixed" you mean to a pin at the back of the masthead casting, I'd say it's a topping lift, and as Frank says, a short line with one or two blocks and a cleat would go between it and the boom, giving you an adjustable lift. Is there a little line-and-block combination like that lying around somewhere in the boat? (A topping lift is a very nice thing to have, unless you have a rigid vang.)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/25/2007 09:20:31

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 09:47:31

I vote topping lift cable. As we are discussing it - when does the topping lift come into use?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 10:43:29

My topping lift is adjusted so that when my main is raised the topping lift slackens slightly. After the main is fully up, I loosen the topping lift a bit more. When lowering the main, I take up the slack in the mainsheet, tighten the topping lift, then drop the main.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 11:05:10

Jerry,
To more specifically answer your quesiton. It comes into use primarily when you are sitting at the dock to keep the boom from whacking you in the head.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 12:31:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 ...It comes into use primarily when you are sitting at the dock to keep the boom from whacking you in the head.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Or more specifically than that, in the nuts!

Basically, it holds the boom up when you are raising and lowering the sail, and when the sail is furled. The "pigtail" on the backstay can do the same, too, but I didn't use it because it's cumbersome (and even a little dangerous) to hook and unhook it with the sail up. Some use the topping lift to shape the sail--I don't agree that it provides the correct shape for light air--it bends the sail the wrong way. (A "loose foot", discussed in many threads, is the better solution.)

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 13:35:03

Aside from what I consider to be its primary purpose of holding the boom up when the sail is down or being raised/lowered, the topping lift can be adjusted (tightened) for downwind sailing to add a little bit of "bag" to the main while racing. Just remember to loosen it again before rounding the mark to head back upwind.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 13:54:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 ...the topping lift can be adjusted (tightened) for downwind sailing to add a little bit of "bag" to the main while racing...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Exactly what I disagree with. In my experience, it bends the sail on a horizontal axis so the top is dumping wind upward--just watch your upper telltales. A loose foot allows you to bend the sail on a vertical axis, forming more of a pocket with air coming off the leach. Since your best speed and VMG is somewhat off dead-downwind, that's the flow you want.

(Actually, I'm just trying to lure Arlyn or Steve (or who knows--Steve Colgate or Gary Jobson) into another sailing physics argument...

)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/25/2007 13:57:24

Ella
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2007 : 20:06:07

Thanks for the advice. A topping lift makes sense, especially if I need to add a block and line setup to reach to the end of the mast. I'll see if I have something like that lying in the boat. Cheers.

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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.