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Topping Lift Block

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/23/2004 : 08:05:58

Sick of the pigtail!

We are planning on installing a topping lift. For those of you with blocks up on the masthead, can you tell me where you have yours attached?

Thanks.

dw

D. Wolff
DPO C25 Hull 401
Currently Sailing "Champagne and Ripple" 1982 O'day 30

Chief Measurer 2002-2006
Vice-commodore 2007

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 08:58:34

Duane,

Are you planning on having your topping lift setup start at the end of the boom, then go up to the masthead, and finally down along the mast to the cabon top?

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 09:41:17

As I recall.. on mine there is a 3/16" hole drilled through both sides of the aft masthead 'extension'... (about halfway back to where the backstay is attached). A stainless bolt with a nylon locking nut provides the attachment point for the topping lift block shackle.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 10:05:26

While you can put a sheave through the clevis that supports the backstay, (I keep a spare sheave there myself)there is nothing to keep the line on the sheave at that location so a line would fall off and fall down to the clevis. SO, if you want to install a topping lift that runs down the mast then you will need to put a small block of there, much like installing a spinnaker halyard block on the front of the mast head only smaller. I now have three halyards that are run externally and adding a topping lift running down that crowded mast would be a mistake for me. If a person had internal halyards they might come to a differnt conclusion. I use the standard configuation of a topping lift terminating at the backstay clevis on the mast head and running through a block at the end of the boom. I have run mine on forward to the mast at the gooseneck and down to the cabin top.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 10:08:35

Some things to consider...

I don't know if you race your boat, but having a topping lift block at the masthead means that your topping lift will both go up to and then down from the masthead putting twice as much line aloft as one would have with just a single line going up. Additionally, you also have the added weight of the block itself and as someone stated recently (Derek?), "a pound at the masthead is worth 50 at the rail".

If the topping lift line runs done the outside of the mast, you may end up with another line that will slap the mast when in port.

When adding a topping lift to my boat, I used the thimbled wire rope portion of the old halyard as part of the topping lift. One end of this wire rope is attached to the backstay clevis pin and the other thimbled end has a single block. The wire rope comes down to about 2 or 3 feet from the end of the boom. The rest of the setup involves regular line with a 2:1 purchase.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 11:04:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Some things to consider...

I used the thimbled wire rope portion of the old halyard as part of the topping lift. One end of this wire rope is attached to the backstay clevis pin and the other thimbled end has a single block. The wire rope comes down to about 2 or 3 feet from the end of the boom. The rest of the setup involves regular line with a 2:1 purchase.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That is a great tip, I think I will do that.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 12:32:34

"a pound at the masthead is worth 50 at the rail".
Don - that should be "a pound LESS at the masthead..."

Derek

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 12:38:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Derek Crawford
 "a pound at the masthead is worth 50 at the rail".
Don - that should be "a pound LESS at the masthead..."

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

Of course!

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 13:40:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Some things to consider...

I used the thimbled wire rope portion of the old halyard as part of the topping lift. One end of this wire rope is attached to the backstay clevis pin and the other thimbled end has a single block. The wire rope comes down to about 2 or 3 feet from the end of the boom. The rest of the setup involves regular line with a 2:1 purchase.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That is a great tip, I think I will do that.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's my set up, as well. I used 1/4" line and blocks. Even though I installed the adjustable topping lift two years ago, I just yesterday finally completed the project by cutting off the pigtail and its broken clip. Used my new Dremel (a guy really shouldn't have to wait until he's 41 to get a Dremel, tool cool!) to cut through, very carefully, the two compression fittings. Now, I can hank my anchor staysail on without having to stand on the stern pulpit rail on my tippy toes.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 13:57:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 ...Used my new Dremel (a guy really shouldn't have to wait until he's 41 to get a Dremel, tool cool...

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

I'll second that on the Dremel...and coincidently, I turn 41 today!

I hope my wife hires a

for the party!

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 14:21:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier

. . . I turn 41 today!

. . . I hope my wife hires a

for the party!

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

Congrats Don!

My wife would say to me "With you here why would we need to hire a clown?"

Edited by - OJ on 02/23/2004 14:23:36

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 15:18:32

Congratulations, Don! ...and many more!

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 15:29:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier

. . . I turn 41 today!

. . . I hope my wife hires a

for the party!

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

My wife would say to me "With you here why would we need to hire a clown?"<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My wife would say the same about me!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Antares
 Congratulations, Don! ...and many more!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks!

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2004 : 15:51:47

Originally posted by Derek Crawford

"a pound at the masthead is worth 50 at the rail".
Don - that should be "a pound LESS at the masthead..."
Derek
[/quote]

Does that mean that when my wife calls me a fat head I actually look 50 lbs lighter around the waist?

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