Association Forum - extra loop cable on rear stay??

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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

extra loop cable on rear stay??

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quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/26/2008 : 19:48:05

ok, we raised the mast yesterday and everything went well, but I have a question

if anyone out there can tell me what that addtional piece of cable hanging near the end of my rear stay is for,??? would love to know
if you look at the end of my rear stay its hanging,

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Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 19:58:24

I don't get to answer often, but that would be to hold up the end of the boom when not on the topping lift.

Ed

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 20:03:39

Its called a pigtail, poor mans topping lift. Don't forget to unhook it before hoisting sail and heading out.

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quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 20:07:46

ah,, sorry, whats a toppig lift,,lol,

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 20:08:08

I have always thought of it as a modern boom crutch.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 21:52:24

I always thought of it as a PITA. Tape it out of the way.

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quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2008 : 06:09:44

ok, gotcha, thanks

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 13:34:39

A topping lift, which from looking at the picture you have, is a line that runs from the top of the mast to the end of the boom. It can function for several things although the one most used is for holding up the end of the boom when the mainsail is not raised. The additional piece of cable hanging off of the back stay does the same thing. It is also handy when not sailing to hold onto the end of the boom to keep it from swaying back and forth.
One other thing that the topping lift is handy for is when sailing in very light airs when you want the fullest sail shape, you can actually hold up the weight of the boom so that the boom weight does not flatten the sail. The problem is that the mainsail has a bit of roach in it (the hypotenuse is not straight it is curved) and so the topping lift can get in the way of the roach of the sail. In which case you would leave it very loose. You can also fly the ensign off of the topping lift.

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quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 17:37:59

Steve, thats quite the explanation, your the man,,,, thanks to all,
now I know,,,

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 18:49:58

Guglielmo,
On my boat, the boom just barely clears my bimini. When I'm sailing the boom doesn't rub the bimini enough to be a problem. I use the pigtail with the extra loop to hold up my boom if I'm just hanging out at the boat with the bimini for shade (not sailing). I also use it to suspend the boom when my boat is docked. (I keep it at the marina, no trailer.)
It's a little tricky on my boat to hook the boom to it because the little hook only fits the end of the boom if you hold your mouth right. No, it's not that bad. But you do have to loosen the mainsheet to give enough slack to raise the boom enough ( and loosen the vang also).
Okay...so I went through all that and maybe you don't have a bimini. Here in the (hot) south a bimini is almost a necessity.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 20:12:29

The problem with the pigtail is you will forget to unhook it before you go sailing--I guaran-damn-tee it! When you do, you'll hoist the sails, fall off the wind to start sailing on a port tack, and realize your main is stuck on the port side. You won't be able to do anything about it until you luff up into the wind--too much pressure on the snap hook--but the boat isn't moving very well because the main is essentially backwinded and only the jib is filled properly, pulling your bow away from the wind.

Of course, everything I'm describing is purely hypothetical--I'd never have let that happen to me!

Snap the hook to the backstay and fuggetaboutit.

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dblitz
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 20:27:01

By the way, the way the pop-top is pressed against the sail cover and mainsail in the picture, I hope you have the locking assembly that secures it in the up position. The pop-top is great for ventilation while docked, but you never want it up without it being secured.
On my boat, when we're moored and the boom is on the pigtail, the boom is crooked but there is more headroom to move around in the cockpit

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quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2008 : 16:15:18

Dan,
yes I have the locking device and I use it whenever the pop top is up

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knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 06:50:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by quilombo
 Dan,
yes I have the locking device and I use it whenever the pop top is up

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Good advise from the guys I'll repeat....tie the open pop-top to the mast as a safety in case the lock/latch slips.

I too was puzzled by this backstay loop...I thought I was incredibly intuitive when I figured it must be for your flag...dam...wrong again. It does work as a pretty good flag spot...but I'll bet it works even better at holding the boom up.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 10:18:41

It's been said before, but bears repeating, using it to hold the boom up is great. Leaving it connected to the boom while the sail is up is DANGEROUS.

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