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 ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.