Topping lift

[denby]

Knothead,

Here is the photo of the wire to line connection. The wire never makes it up to the Sheave. I lowered the topping lift as far as I could but it was still 20 feet away, so this is the best I can do for now.

[knothead]

Replace the line...Your only option.

The line in the photo is just normal polyester (dacron)
Sta-Set of the same diameter would be fine.

[sailingdog]

That's not a wire-to-rope splice...that's an eye-splice and thimble in the wire rope and either a backsplice or eye-splice in the rope. UGH... You've probably got a perfectly fine rope-only sheave at the masthead. Get yourself some Sta-SetX... and you'll have a very nice topping lift.

[denby]

Go with line the entire distance? What size and type?

[denby]

sorry Dog your faster then I am. posted then saw your post.

[sailingdog]

LOL... Sta-SetX is a great line for this, since it is pretty inexpensive, and fairly low stretch. I'm using StaSetX for the boom brake line and a few others on my boat. Plan on upgrading the halyards to t900 though.

As for length... twice the length of the mast plus 10' or so... maybe 20' if you're leading the lines aft to the cockpit. It is nice if the line is long enough to reach the water and still reach the winch, since you might need to use it to hoist a MOB aboard someday.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

LOL... Sta-SetX is a great line for this, since it is pretty inexpensive, and fairly low stretch. I'm using StaSetX for the boom brake line and a few others on my boat. Plan on upgrading the halyards to t900 though.

I've had regular Sta-Set halyards on my boat since 1992. (the same ones)
They are faded and I am starting to think I should replace them just because of their age but honestly they are still looking pretty good.

Sta-Set X is a pretty good line but I am not crazy about how stiff it is.

I wonder how much of an issue stretch will be for a topping lift anyway.

[sailingdog]

If you don't like how stiff StaSetX is, you can also try New England Ropes VPC.

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by knothead

I wonder how much of an issue stretch will be for a topping lift anyway.

Stretch in a topping lift is a good thing!

When you forget to loosen the topping lift before going hard on the wind or when you get the topping lift caught 'round a spreader, you'll be grateful for a bit of stretch..

[denby]

Originally Posted by Hartley18

Stretch in a topping lift is a good thing!

When you forget to loosen the topping lift before going hard on the wind or when you get the topping lift caught 'round a spreader, you'll be grateful for a bit of stretch..

I disconnect the topping lift when the sail is up, it interferes with the sail.


What size in diameter line?