[C320-list] Topping Lift

[dprudden]

Rick, 
Thanks for your reply.
I currently have the vang, reefing line, main halyard then starboard main sheet going through the turning blocks under the main traveler. Any suggestions on what I can move or eliminate to run the topping lift to the cockpit? I would definitely prefer being able to slack the topping lift after raising the main but I don't have an open turning block or clutch available to do so. 

Thanks for any suggestions!

David Prudden
#787

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 21, 2012, at 8:14 AM, "Rick Sulewski" <rsulewski at bex.net> wrote:

> David,
> Moving the topping lift line to a single line starboard side clutch located
> near the mainsail halyard clutch set using an open outer most turning block
> made the Dutchman system so much more efficient and user friendly,
> especially when setting and releasing the mainsail in higher winds. Had
> compromised for a while by setting the topping lift to a neutral length to
> avoid the trips to/from the mast but experienced  the topping lift/Dutchman
> block line hanging up on the backstay split when we least wanted to step out
> to adjust the mast cleat.
> Rick
> My-Ria 1995 hull #277 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of dprudden
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 3:18 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Replacement Sails Dutchman A system
> 
> My topping lift is cleated at the mast. Do you all have it led aft, into a
> clutch? I have a 2 line Dutchman that I loosen by slacking the topping lift
> after raising the main but I have to run forward to the mast to do so ( and
> of course I have to run forward to tighten it before dropping). I have no
> open turning blocks or clutches on the starboard side of the cabin. 
> 
> David Prudden
> #787
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Dec 20, 2012, at 2:57 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Scott, I'm not familiar with the various Dutchman configs, just ours 
>> which I'll attempt to describe: it is a two block system, there is a 
>> continuous line on which the two Dutchman blocks are attached and the 
>> free part of the line runs freely through each Dutchman block. At the 
>> upper end is a small single turning sheave with a rotating eye.  At 
>> the lower end is a fiddle block with cam cleat.  The topping lift is 
>> attached to the small sheave at top and kept taught when not sailing. 
>> The rotating eye allows the topping lift to twist as it needs without 
>> transferring the twist down the rest of the lift.  The fiddle and cam 
>> at bottom allows the tension on the monofilament lines to be eased 
>> when not striking the main even while the topping lift is taught.
>> 
>> After the sail is up and drawing, I slacken the topping lift.  Before 
>> striking the main, I tighten the topping lift, adjust the Dutchman at 
>> the fiddle block to tighten the monofilament, then drop it.  Once down 
>> and flaked, I use the fiddle/cam to relieve the tension on the 
>> monofilament.  It all works fine as long as the monofilament lines are 
>> properly tensioned and I'm not too far off the wind when I drop the 
>> main.  Oh, and I try to be a few degrees to port of the wind so the 
>> sail slides don't hang up on the gate screws.
>> 
>> So much to remember.  So few brain cells left with which to work.
>> 
>> Warren & Pattie Updike
>> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Scott Thompson [mailto:surprise at thompson87.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 6:19 PM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Replacement Sails Dutchman A system
>> 
>> My boat also came with the Garhauer solid vang and the Dutchman C 
>> system
>> ("clothesline") with two mono-filament lines. One of the first changes 
>> I made to the boat was replacing the springs in the vang with weaker 
>> ones (from Garhauer) so that it wasn't so difficult to pull the boom 
>> down to where it should be in light air. But that means that my vang 
>> is not quite as rigid as yours.
>> 
>> Regarding the Dutchman, I now have the A system with 3 monofilament 
>> lines
>