Hi all

Yesterday i lost the spinnaker pole topping lift up the mast (the block is mounted at spreader height) but i managed to get it back down this afternoon with a couple of lengths of electrical conduit and a wire hook that lives in our dinghy shed

This got me thinking that if i tied a knot in the topping lift so it would stop at the block in a position just above horizontal on the pole if it if the topping lift was hoisted when it was not connected to the pole which was what happened yesterday it would stop within reach of the boat hook

I would tie it just above the position where the number 1 arrow is in the image below

Is there any reason that this would not work

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Regards Don

One option is to have the length attached to the pole in wire, up to a swaged eye, after which the rest is rope. If the eye is at the right height then it acts as a stop at the pulley.

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Yara said..
One option is to have the length attached to the pole in wire, up to a swaged eye, after which the rest is rope. If the eye is at the right height then it acts as a stop at the pulley.

Hi Yara

That would work as well but a simple knot in what i have already should do the same thing and if i need to remove it for any reason i can just untie it

Regards Don

The knot will weaken the line and will not be easy to untie later.

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cisco said..

The knot will weaken the line and will not be easy to untie later.

Hi Cisco

The topping lift is new 8mm double braid and I was thinking about tying a figure eight so do you think it will be a issue with the knot weakening the line too much

Regards Don

Figure 8 might be OK but aren't there plastic balls you can get to put on a line? I just don't like the idea of putting a knot in a line that will have a load on it.

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cisco said..


Figure 8 might be OK but aren't there plastic balls you can get to put on a line? I just don't like the idea of putting a knot in a line that will have a load on it.

Hi Cisco

I assume the stopper balls are these but don't i still have to put a knot in the rope to give the ball something to sit against

Regards Don

Knot not necessarily.

It is only a stopper to prevent the shackle going right up to the sheave and will not carry load. You could drill a hole through the stopper ball big enough for VB cord or heavy sail twine, poke a hole through the rope with a large sail needle and do a bit of whipping to secure it in place.

The sail needle should go through the rope easily between the strands if you push the rope together to loosen the strands. See if you can get a stopper ball with the same size hole each side or drill the small side out.

Hi Cisco

Thanks for the whipping idea I didn't think of that and it sounds like a great idea

Regards Don

Hi Don,
Be sure to post a pic of what you do and tell us how it works out.
Cheers Cisco.

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cisco said..

Hi Don,
Be sure to post a pic of what you do and tell us how it works out.
Cheers Cisco.

Hi Cisco

No worries

Regards Don