Topping lift auto-tensioner tip.

[Richard Perlot]

I have a CD28. The topping lift has a block at the end and a line that runs from the end of the boom, through the block, back down through a pully attached to the boom and ties off on a cleat on the boom, forward of the pully about 2 feet. The bitter-end of the line then terminates with a shackle attached to a padeye on the boom, just in case you miss with the cleat. I don't know if this is stock. But, as topping lifts will do, it was constantly needing to be adjusted during sail to keep it from flappy around or being too tight, depending on the point of sail.

I resolved this issue by passing the bitter-end of the line through the padeye and lashing it to a stainless steel o-ring that was larger than the padeye. This prevents the boom from falling on my dodger. Then I mounted another padeye 3' forward of this arrangement and connected the o-ring to the forward padeye with a bungee. I had to play with different length bungees until I found one that was strong enough to take of the topping lift slack but not so strong that it would raise the boom any time I loosened the main sheet. The arrangement works very well and I no longer have to mess with the topping lift adjustments under sail.



rperlot@swedeco.com

[Al Levesque]

I have a CD28. The topping lift has a block at the end and a line that runs from the end of the boom, through the block, back down through a pully attached to the boom and ties off on a cleat on the boom, forward of the pully about 2 feet. The bitter-end of the line then terminates with a shackle attached to a padeye on the boom, just in case you miss with the cleat. I don't know if this is stock. But, as topping lifts will do, it was constantly needing to be adjusted during sail to keep it from flappy around or being too tight, depending on the point of sail.

I resolved this issue by passing the bitter-end of the line through the padeye and lashing it to a stainless steel o-ring that was larger than the padeye. This prevents the boom from falling on my dodger. Then I mounted another padeye 3' forward of this arrangement and connected the o-ring to the forward padeye with a bungee. I had to play with different length bungees until I found one that was strong enough to take of the topping lift slack but not so strong that it would raise the boom any time I loosened the main sheet. The arrangement works very well and I no longer have to mess with the topping lift adjustments under sail.

Does this mean that the roach of the sail has to drag past the topping lift every time you change tack or when the sail is slatting back and forth in the calms?



albertlevesque@cove.com

[Richard Perlot]

I have a CD28. The topping lift has a block at the end and a line that runs from the end of the boom, through the block, back down through a pully attached to the boom and ties off on a cleat on the boom, forward of the pully about 2 feet. The bitter-end of the line then terminates with a shackle attached to a padeye on the boom, just in case you miss with the cleat. I don't know if this is stock. But, as topping lifts will do, it was constantly needing to be adjusted during sail to keep it from flappy around or being too tight, depending on the point of sail.

I resolved this issue by passing the bitter-end of the line through the padeye and lashing it to a stainless steel o-ring that was larger than the padeye. This prevents the boom from falling on my dodger. Then I mounted another padeye 3' forward of this arrangement and connected the o-ring to the forward padeye with a bungee. I had to play with different length bungees until I found one that was strong enough to take of the topping lift slack but not so strong that it would raise the boom any time I loosened the main sheet. The arrangement works very well and I no longer have to mess with the topping lift adjustments under sail.

Does this mean that the roach of the sail has to drag past the topping lift every time you change tack or when the sail is slatting back and forth in the calms?

I have not noticed a problem like this. But I haven't been looking for it. Now that you bring it to my attention, I will have to be looking out for it.



Rperlot@swedeco.com