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Windchaser has no topping lift. When I bought her, when not sailing the weight of the boom (and sail) was carried on the lazyjacks to the boom bag, which was starting to tear the boom bag. I started using the spinnaker sheet brought around to the back of the boom. Next time I slip her, I am thinking about dropping the mast to check it out, seal the bolt holes going through the cabin roof, see if windspeed meter is okay, remove a 'squirrel' rope that is jammed and put in a topping lift.



You can see in the pic the furler on the right and the white spinnaker sheet going around the mast towards the stern.

I don't know if there is a sheave at the top of the mast for the topping lift. Do you have any advice for me?

cheers

troppo

Hi Troppo,
I replaced the wire one on Tales a few years ago with specta (not so hard on the mainsail leech).
There was no sheave on the mast and I did the job with the mast in the boat.
The pic shows what I did and an alternate scheme if you like control back at in the cockpit.
Cheers,
Tom

Thank you for that idea Tom. I have to go to the mast to raise the main so I could use the left hand diagram.

Troppo

A topping lift pulley does not have to be right at the top of the mast. A side mounted one also works, as long as it is slackened when you are sailing.

Oberon has a small length of wire clamped to the rear stay, when not under sail this is shackled to the boom, keeps it up and out of the way

Ryan,

In the process of rebuilding my masthead fitting.
My topping lift will now come down inside the mast, exit, and be brought back to the Cockpit.

PS re your 1990 build, "Oberon 2" may originally had the name of “ANNIE LUCIA” and is the last Top Hat built [in 1985] and final sold in 1990.