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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

New Topping Lift Cleat

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willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/05/2009 : 15:33:09

I have had some line slippage with the V (jam) cleat on the boom for the topping lift and am thinking of adding a cam cleat more aft on the boom. Going to put it right above the main sheet controls so its easier to lock it down single handling. Anybody done this?
Willy

Edgy, WB#655
Dewey Beach, DE

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2009 : 18:50:23

Wow! I can't believe no one has done anything with this....anyway, I attached a Harken Micro cam cleat and so far...so good. I will post any problems should they occur!

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2009 : 19:24:46

I have a Boomkicker so no topping lift.

If you post a photo of your new setup others can learn from it.

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 07:44:58

Why not just a regular cleat? How often do you adjust it?

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 09:15:57

Willy, the topping lift that was factory supplied on a C25 consisted of a pigtail attached to the backstay. Any type of adjustable topping lift that you find on a C25 has been owner-installed, and the owners have devised many different ways of rigging them. That's why we were slow to respond to your post - We didn't know how your particular topping lift was rigged.

I installed an adjustable topping lift, and used a clam cleat in an unconventional manner (It wasn't attached to the boom. It was "integrated into the line itself.) I adjusted my topping lift at least twice every time I sailed the boat, and my system was easy to adjust with one hand. Nevertheless, when done sailing for the day, I always hooked up the pigtail topping lift, which was much stronger and more reliable. The purpose of the adjustable topping lift was solely to make it easier to raise and lower the sails. Therefore, the topping lift, as I used it, didn't need to be terribly strong. It only had to be strong enough to support the weight of the boom for a few minutes while I raised and lowered the mainsail. For my purposes, a clam cleat worked fine, but the plastic ones wear out occasionally. Yours might have been slipping because the teeth were worn from the line "sawing" through them. If so, it might have been enough to replace the clam cleat with a new plastic one or with a sturdier aluminum one. In any event, replacing it with a cam cleat, as you did, should make it even more reliable.

There is widespread confusion over the different types of cleats.

This is a clam cleat, so-called because it is shaped like a partially opened clam shell:

This is a standard horn cleat:

This is a jam cleat (It's similar to a standard horn cleat, but it has a vee shape on one side. Wrapping the line around it jams the line into the vee, and holds it securely enough to sustain light loads:

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 13:31:29

I attached #245 from the Harken picture below to the end of the topping lift, and then ran a 2:1 line between it and a small block on the boom end. #245 has two sheaves--I only needed one, but the V-groove on it acts as a jam cleat--very secure--and I added a stopper knot for the fully lowered (sailing) position. It was very simple to raise and lower the boom.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/08/2009 13:35:24

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 13:39:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 Willy, the topping lift that was factory supplied on a C25 consisted of a pigtail attached to the backstay. Any type of adjustable topping lift that you find on a C25 has been owner-installed...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Wrong boat--wrong forum.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/08/2009 13:39:57

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2009 : 16:48:03

His topping list runs inside the boom to a sheave at the fore-end of the boom and then back to an exit on the lower part of the boom (about 1/4 of the way back) and a clam cleat. He wants to replace the clam cleat with a cam cleat like this one:

It should work. Get one with a fairlead to help keep the line in place. May need another fairlead between the boom exit and the cleat.

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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.