Boom Topping Lift for Tanzer 16

Boom Topping Lift for Tanzer 16 -- April 14, 2014 --  Wouldn't it be nice if the boom were up off the crutch when you were launching?  Wouldn't it be even nicer if the main had a few gaskets holding it tidily to the boom while you were trying to get the rudder in the working position, straighten up all the lines, and get the main hoisted?

It would be nice.  If you had a back stay, you could just rig a little clip to hold the boom until the main was up.  But, you don't have a back stay.  You have two choices.  You can get a boom kicker that holds the boom up from the bottom of the mast--basically a springy stick that goes in front of the vang. (Costs about $200)  Or...

You can rig up a line from the top of the mast to the back of the boom--a topping lift. (Costs about $10.)

I just got a piece of aluminum bar stock and drilled some holes that matched the sheave axles on the masthead fitting. The counter-sinks were made by using a 1/2 in bit.

Then I mounted on the masthead--taking care not to drop the sheaves into the mast (Wouldn't that be fun!) by pushing the old axles out with the new ones.  It turned out this was a good piece to add to the masthead.  Some time in the past the mast got dropped and there is a crack in the casting.  It has been repaired with JB Weld, but another mending plate wouldn't hurt.

So now I have run a 50-foot piece of 1/8 Dacron cord.  I will step the mast next week to insure that the topping lift doesn't foul the halyard.  It did occur to me that there is the opportunity for a nice little piece of whimsy--the lift could be used as a hoist for silly little burgees and flags.

Today's Cliche:  Never steal more boat chain than you can swim with.