[C320-list] Topping Lift

[Warren Updike]

David, my topping lift leads to the stbd set of clutches and is the clutch
next to the main halyard.  Main sheet is also there; but, to a jam cleat.
On the port are: spin and jib halyards, and reef line.  I pulled the vang
line through a spare block in the port deck organizer and use the cabin top
wench when I need to secure it.  However, unlike some newer hulls, my vang
is not spring loaded and so I only need to secure it when in use.

Note that these older hulls have a single main sheet.  I've heard that some
captains with the dual main sheet only use one side.  In that case, perhaps
the second main sheet could be tied off and the block and cleat used for the
topping lift.  Just a suggestion.

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: dprudden [mailto:dprudden at comcast.net] 
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 9:26 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Topping Lift

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
>