[Rhodes22-list] relocating the topping lift - any experience out there?

[Mary Lou Troy]

We are going to be relocating our topping lift. Is there anyone who 
has done this and has an attachment system they are particularly pleased with?

Background: We have two sheaves at the masthead. One will be 
spinnaker (Doyle UPS) halyard. The other will be the jib/genoa 
halyard to go with the new Schaefer Snap-Furl furling unit. This 
means an alternate arrangement will have to be found for the topping 
lift. We adjust the topping lift a lot - at anchor to raise the boom, 
when furling the main, when lowering the mast etc. so we want to 
retain the ease of adjustment we now have.

We have thought about putting a block on the side of the mast but 
real estate up there looks a little tight. We have thought about 
dead-ending the topping lift at the masthead and running it through a 
block at the boom end but this seems like it might not adjust as well.

Does anyone have experience with either of these approaches? Has 
anyone come up with another solution? Are there fittings you would 
suggest? Do you have pictures? I am looking for some experience 
rather than conjecture unless the conjecture includes part numbers or 
a different approach entirely.

Note to Ed: I did search the archives. This was discussed on the list 
in 2003 with Roger Pihlaja writing about dead-ending the topping lift 
but the discussion quickly moved to a discussion of mounting for a 
whisker pole and there was not any further discussion of how the 
topping lift was attached or how well it worked. I think Mark Kaynor 
also did this but Mark and Julie are off cruising (last heard from in 
the Bahamas).

To everyone else: Thanks in advance.

Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD