Topping Lift

[mtullier]

Lesson learned:  Our topping lift broke and the boom came crashing down.  Luckily it missed everyone.  This is the original 1987 coated wire.    This may be old news to most of you, but just wanted to bring it up again.

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Where did it break?

[noworries]

How did the boom come crashing down on people? Was the main not up?

[Jim Hardesty]

Vinyl coated wire needs to be checked for internal corrosion.   Your misfortune is a reminder to all of us to check life lines.

[Les Luzar]

The topping lift should not be vinyl coated. Mine is not. Many lifelines are vinyl coated and yes, should be monitored for corrosion. Some people get non-coated lifelines to minimize corrosion, and work, because you will not have to clean non-coated lifelines. My topping lift broke a few years ago when I was lowering my mainsail, and it came crashing down on my biminy. Luckily, no one was hurt. However, usually the topping life would fail when it was under load, hence, when lowering the mainsail, or after the mainsail was lowered. However, anything can fail, at any time under any condition.

[Ralph Masters]

As Les pointed out, it will happen at the wrost possible time too.  I would think that the best time to part the wire for the topping lift would be with the sail down, stored and tension on the main sheet to keep the boom centered and stop it from flopping side to side.  Then you have max tension on that topping lift.  And it's not "if" it breaks, it's "when" it breaks.

Note to self, order a new one>

Ralph

[mtullier]

The break point was 1 foot from the bottom of the coated wire by the boom.  It broke while I was in the boatswain's chair installing spreader lights.  By the way, the new LED spreader lights work great.  The new wire is larger in dia. and is NOT coated.  Made another trip up the mast this evening to install. 

[Lance Jones]

Suggest a rigid boom-vang.

[Ron Hill]

mtu : Now you can take Lances' suggestion and have an excuse to spend some boat bucks!! 

[Craig Illman]

Ditto Lance & Ron