Rigging ropes for Oceanis 40

[Luis Vieira de Sa]

Hello,

I have already replaced some sheets of my sailboat (2010). At this moment I need to replace the rope that supports the boom. It is a relatively thin line with a 8 mm diameter. I would like to know which type of rope I should use in this case. Also, I would appreciate if anyone knows the needed length. I pretend to place the new rope using the old one as a guide.

Kind Regards. Luis

www.vela-navega.com

[Robert Squire]

hi this rope must be 10mm

[Luis Vieira de Sa]

Thanks you Robert,

However, it is thinner than most of the other lines. Also the stopper is smaller than those for the in and out lines that control the furling main sail. And I do not know about the size of sheave wheel that exists on the top of the mast.  I learned after asking here that, in English, this line is known as the "top lifting". I use it to climb to the top of the mast and then I will probably will get one that I saw that has a breaking load of 1,200 kg. As far as I could understand from information on the web, this top lifting is not critical, eg, does not need to have a very large breaking load. If someone reads this and thinks that I am wrong, please react and I would be grateful for that!

Regards, Luis

[Mike Wilson]

When we purchased our B40, our rigger discussed the fact that to get fully to the top of the mast, it was best to use the topping lift.  I replaced it with one size larger line.  Have only used it a time or two to get to the very top, most times the spinnaker halyard is enough.  The only down size to the larger line is that it does not give as much as the smaller line.  For about 4 months, I had the lift to tight and it would hold the end of the boom up and cause "a bellow" in the main.  This year, I have it I think about right.   The old lift line is used in the double and triple lifts for our dinghy. 

[John Whitehead]

Hello Luis

I'm not sure whether you are a US or European owner but following is the official Beneteau specification for the boom support line (we call this the topping lift).  The specification says:

Make and type: Meyer Fastnet

Colour: Grey

Diameter: 8mm

Length: 33 meters (108 feet)

I hope this helps.  Kind regards,  John

[Luis Vieira de Sa]

Hello,

Thank you John. Yes it is 8mm and grey. I ordered 50 meters of Osculati "Double braid made of high-strength low-elongation polyester" (ref 06.447.08) which is in yellow/blue and has a rupture of 1200 Kgs. I hope that is OK and will replace it next May in Greece, where I leave the boat for the winter. I wonder where we could find in the internet the "official Beneteau specification".

Kind Regards, Luis

[John Whitehead]

Hi Luis 

I'm not sure where I found this but, as you will see, the link is to an Excel spreadsheet that sets-out the specification for all the running rigging on a B40.  I guess this is the specification that Beneteau provide to their dealers who are commissioning new boats.  When I first found the specification a few years ago, I checked it against the running rigging on my boat and it matched exactly.  Again, I'm sorry that I can't remember where I found it.

I've seen owners climb their mast using the topping lift alone which is pretty hazardous and not something I would do.  I use two of the spinnaker halyard, the main halyard and the topping lift - NEVER EVER just one - a failure while climbing or when at the top of the mast leaves a bad mess on the deck that someone else has to clean-up!   

Kind regards,  John 

B40RiggingGuideFactory.xlsx

[Luis Vieira de Sa]

Hello,

Thank you John! I understand your concern about climbing the mast just with the topping lift! I think I have done it some 3 or 4 times. I used 2 safety harnesses so that I was always embraced to the mast with at least one of them. When passing through the crossheads (spelling?) I remove one of them and connect it embracing the upper part of the mast and then remove the other one and do the same. But you words made me think if I should do it again despite the line I will be using has a breaking force of 1200 Kg and my weight is about 85 kg. The only solution is to get the main furling sail out and use its halyard.

Because I am thinking in replacing my very light tender (3D Tender) which weights 12Kg with a more robust one weighting about 25/30 kgs may be I should put a line using one of the rollers that exist (I think so) on the top of the mast. It would help me in getting the tender out of water and as a second safety line when climbing on the mast. But I am not sure how I could set the circuit of such a line.

Regards, Luis