But you can't use it as an emergency main halyard, like I was forced to do after losing the bitter end of the main halyard up the mast. Oh, and I have used both main and topping lift halyards as temporary side stays while adjusting mast rake. It's extra spaghetti around the mast, but they all have a purpose. Bill Riker M15 #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Smith, Tom Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:47 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: RE: M_Boats: pics-topping lift, Speed/RPM, etc I'm probably nuts, but to keep hardware at the masthead to a minimum, I rigged my M15 topping lift to adjust at the boom. I dead-ended a line at the masthead connected by a small stamped d-shackle (I agree with Bones--the stamped d spreads the load on the pin). That line ends, oh, three feet short of the boom end. I have a little 3:1 that connects the line to the boom end, and run I the working end of the 3:1 through a cheek block and the end of the boom and forward a couple feet to a clam cleat w/integrated fairlead (so I don't lose the bitter end). I get three feet of adjustment with this setup. It's probably too elaborate, but I had fun thinking about it and building it. t   Tom Smith and Jane Van Winkle M15--345  Chukar M17--064  Unnamed _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats