Roger Janeway
Member II
I have read a number of old threads and see that many are happy they replaced their topping lift with a rigid vang. I am considering that because of a problem that recently arose with the boom-internal hardware for my topping lift. (This post overlaps with a comment I just posted to Christian's blog entry about replacing his wire topping lift with Spectra line, but I'm not sure if people treat comments to blog entries the same way they treat these pleas for help on the main forums, so I am posting here too.)
I would love to know whether anyone understands the internal hardware for the topping lift on a Kenyon E section boom of a mid-1980's Ericson. (I do not know how much it matters that my boat is small, the boom is only 11', and no mechanical advantage is needed to use the topping lift.) I have the plastic-encased wire descending from a fixed point at the top of the mast through the back of the boom, where in the dark somewhere it probably connects to a small block, which can be moved forward or aft by adjusting a line that emerges from a starboard side slot in the boom near the gooseneck. The line appears to go around this block and then back to some point at the front of the boom (inside).
My control line is too short which creates some difficulties, but replacing it completely is scary since I do not know how to access the block or the place where it attaches to the forward part of the boom. Anyway, while that affects possible solutions, it isn't the cause of the problem.
Recently a strange jam arose so that I can tighten the topping lift but not release it. The sheave at the back end of the boom runs smoothly, so I think the block inside the boom has some problem. I can't sail with the topping lift in this position as the sail doesn't set right.
Have owners with similar topping lifts simply lived with them without trouble? Has anyone figured out how to fix problems with blocks inside the boom?
And have any small boat owners (Ericson 26ers?) replaced their topping lift with a rigid vang? Suggestions?
Thank you.
I would love to know whether anyone understands the internal hardware for the topping lift on a Kenyon E section boom of a mid-1980's Ericson. (I do not know how much it matters that my boat is small, the boom is only 11', and no mechanical advantage is needed to use the topping lift.) I have the plastic-encased wire descending from a fixed point at the top of the mast through the back of the boom, where in the dark somewhere it probably connects to a small block, which can be moved forward or aft by adjusting a line that emerges from a starboard side slot in the boom near the gooseneck. The line appears to go around this block and then back to some point at the front of the boom (inside).
My control line is too short which creates some difficulties, but replacing it completely is scary since I do not know how to access the block or the place where it attaches to the forward part of the boom. Anyway, while that affects possible solutions, it isn't the cause of the problem.
Recently a strange jam arose so that I can tighten the topping lift but not release it. The sheave at the back end of the boom runs smoothly, so I think the block inside the boom has some problem. I can't sail with the topping lift in this position as the sail doesn't set right.
Have owners with similar topping lifts simply lived with them without trouble? Has anyone figured out how to fix problems with blocks inside the boom?
And have any small boat owners (Ericson 26ers?) replaced their topping lift with a rigid vang? Suggestions?
Thank you.