[C320-list] Topping Lift

[Warren Updike]

Hey, this boat talk is serious stuff.  Besides, I'm retired.  Boat projects
are what helps maintain my sanity.

Drilling on the side of the mast is not so much of an issue.  The conduits
for the wires are on the front of the mast.  Still, I would use a drill stop
to be sure not to drill farther than is necessary.  I did this to attach a
ring for the pole. No problem.

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

-----Original Message-----
From: dprudden [mailto:dprudden at comcast.net] 
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 3:37 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Topping Lift

Thanks Warren, I'm going to consider a single main sheet cleat. My other
thought is spare jib halyard to a mast cleat, vang to port organizer and
clutch, then I have room on starboard side for the topping lift. Am I
potentially getting myself into trouble thinking about drilling the mast to
secure a cleat?

Boy, you guys go to extremes to service your wenches......a cup of grog,
some booty (jewelry) and servicing is all set! None of this lamp oil for my
wench!!!
(Dontcha just luv autocorrect?)

David Prudden
#787

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 21, 2012, at 2:56 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> 
>