You know, my M-17 came with about a 6 inch cable with flat caribiner-like fixtures (sorry, don't know the nautical term) on each end -- one end clips around the backstay just above the split, and the other clips to an eye at the end of the boom. Once you raise the sail, you just unclip the boom before bearing off. Its very efficient, it seems. It doesn't allow you to use the topping lift to round the sail by lifting the boom in certain light air conditions, but it keeps the boom in the center of the boat and out of the way nicely. Loyd p.s. also have a running backstay which it seems to me has can have a pronounced effect on performance although i haven't really figured out exactly how to use it. Conbert H Benneck wrote:
Hi Joe,
When I made my topping lift, I installed the smallest (I think it was a Harken) cheek block I could find, at the top of the mast.
I use an 1/8" dacron line, which has enough strength so that you can lean on the boom without danger of the topping lift breaking. A bowline to something convenient at the boom end makes life simple. The line then goes through the cheek block and back down the mast to a cleat. (...and I can't tell you at this point if I used what was already there, or if I installed it just for the topping lift).
As you say, everything is controlled from the mast - either standing in the cabin - or standing on deck as I do, while raising the main and slacking off on the topping lift.
Connie
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