My Topping Lift Doesn't Have a Separate Sheave

[RoccoFreya]

Went up the mast today to replace our topping lift and it seems that there's only one clevis pin holding the back stay up.

I was intending to replace the badly frayed rope which was tied around the single clevis pin. - I already cut that down from where it meets with the boom.

My questions are -???

1. Is there hardware to be attached around the pin up there holding the back stay? &
2. If not, can I safely take down the back stay then climb the mast, and if so, what is the procedure of reattaching the back stay turnbuckles, such as applying the proper tension and so forth.

thanks much, everyone's been super helpful.



Where's the topping lift fit in? picture by RoccoFreya - Photobucket

[Cheechako]

Run the main halyard aft and tighten it if removing the backstay. or at least anothe halyard like the spinnaker halyard.

[S/V Alchemy]

Some topping lifts, particularly on smaller boats with not a lot of room for sheave boxes at the mast top, are "fixed" in the manner you describe, but may terminate in a small block on a seized thimble.

You tie some smallish cord (like 1/4 inch) to the bail, and then run it to the block and down to a double block with either a cam cleat or a V-shaped jam cleat.

This is usually enough to put the boom at any desired height. It isn't sufficient to brace the entire mast, however.



There are numerous ways to do this, however. You could run a loop of Dyneema to the mast top and put a single block up there. Me, I'm happy with the fixed wire and all the adjustment parts at head level.

[micah719]

Why not ditch the topping lift altogether and install a regular halyard...then you'll have a spare. Can use it when the other breaks/jams, or use it as a flag halyard, or for hoisting someone, er, I mean something heavy up the mast for more comfortable anchoring.

[Cheechako]

I prefer the topping lift that terminates at the top and adjusts on the boom.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I prefer the topping lift that terminates at the top and adjusts on the boom.

+1 Yup!!

[Hydra]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I prefer the topping lift that terminates at the top and adjusts on the boom.

One other advantage of a topping lift running in a sheave at the mast head is that it can be used by someone on deck to hoist gear to you when you are working at the mast head hanging from the mainsail halyard.

Alain