[Rhodes22-list] Pop Top Connection

ROGER PIHLAJA roger_pihlaja at msn.com
Thu Sep 10 12:19:16 EDT 2020


I bought my halyard organizer many years ago.  In those days, the only version available had organizer tabs on all 4 sides.  I think it was made by Dwyer.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 10, 2020, at 11:56 AM, Peter Nyberg <peter at sunnybeeches.com> wrote:
> 
> I avoided having to cut off the tab by mounting the organizer backwards, with the tab on the forward side.  I don’t use the tab, but it’s not in the way there.
> 
> The halyard organizer, for those who might be interested, came from Dwyer (www.dwyermast.com).  I just took a look at their current selection of organizers, and none appear to have a tab with a hole for mounting a block at the centerline; only port and starboard.
> 
> Peter Nyberg
> Coventry, CT
> s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)
> 
>> On Sep 10, 2020, at 10:40 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Graham,
>> 
>> I actually have a modified version of Peter Nyberg’s mast step organizer.  I simply cut off the tab on the aft side so it wouldn’t interfere with the pop top slider.  Unfortunately, the 300 series stainless alloys have a strong tendency to work harden when they are cold worked.  It takes a good metal cutting band saw with plenty of coolant to cut thru the work hardened bent tab.  Then, a bench grinder and fine emory cloth will clean up the cut and round off the sharp edges.  Having the anchor points on the port, starboard, and front sides of the mast is very handy.
>> 
>> Roger Pihlaja 
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>>> On Sep 10, 2020, at 10:21 AM, Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Roger: Thanks for the thorough response. It all makes sense. I wonder why I didn't have that ring installed on my boat. A second option I am considering is to install a mast step organizer such as the one that Peter Nyberg installed on his boat. I don't have a Cunningham on my boat. I would be interested in seeing what others have installed if anyone has pictures.
>>> 
>>> Graham Stewart
>>> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
>>> Kingston Ontario
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of ROGER PIHLAJA
>>> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2020 8:15 AM
>>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Pop Top Connection
>>> 
>>> Graham,
>>> 
>>> Although, at first glance, the present pop top slider design may look sort of crude, it’s actually pretty elegant.  Remember, there are 2 pieces of tackle that have their lower anchor points on the pop top slider, the boom vang and the Cunningham.  The snap shackle for the Cunningham actually attaches to the eye strap and the snap shackle for the boom vang actually attaches to the ring.  This way, the force from the Cunningham, which is vertical directly up the mast, is kept as close as possible to the mast.  The force from the Cunningham on the two machine screws attaching the eye strap to the pop top slider is almost entirely shear, which is the most mechanically efficient way to load a threaded connection.  In addition, by attaching the Cunningham to the eye strap vs. the ring, the clam cleat on the block automatically faces aft, thus facilitating ease of use from the cockpit.  Similarly, attaching the snap shackle for the boom vang onto the ring vs. the eye strap, automatically positions the clam cleat downward and moves it aft slightly, both of which help prevent the two pieces of tackle from getting fouled up on each other and makes the boom vang easier to use from the cockpit.
>>> 
>>> If the ring were simply welded onto the pop top slider, I think it might interfere with the pop top raising and lowering process.  i.e.  When the pop top is raised, the 1st step is to raise the aft end of the pop top up on its support arms until the spring loaded detents lock into position.  In this position, the front corner of the pop top might interfere with a fixed welded ring on the pop top slider.  The present design, with its eye strap and ring, automatically folds down out of the way.  Even with the present pop top slider design, it’s not the eye strap and ring that’s in the way if you attempt to raise the pop top with the boom vang and Cunningham in place, it’s the two pieces of tackle and all the associated line.  Similarly, it’s not the eye strap and ring that tend to chip up the front corner of the pop top, it’s the lower blocks and snap shackles on the Cunningham and boom vang that do the damage when they start flopping around.  A welded fixed ring wouldn’t change that.
>>> 
>>> Finally, if the ring is welded onto the pop top slider; then, that will be a critical weld.  There will be a lot of force on it.  I hope you are, or have access to, a certified welder.
>>> 
>>> Even after all these years, it’s fun to critically exam Stan’s ideas and designs that were so multifunctional.  He was way ahead of us all in anticipating and solving problems.  My boat is in its 44th season and it’s been sailed hard.  The pop top slider hasn’t given a bit of trouble.
>>> 
>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10
>>> 
>>> From: Graham Stewart<mailto:gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 10:32 PM
>>> To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Pop Top Connection
>>> 
>>> Roger:
>>> I am thinking that it might be worth getting the ring welded to the plate at about a 30 degree an angle rather than having it flop around in the strap eye. Do you see a reason why that might not work?
>>> 
>>> Graham Stewart
>>> gstewart8 at cogeco.ca
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of ROGER PIHLAJA
>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 5:24 PM
>>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Pop Top Connection
>>> 
>>> Graham,
>>> 
>>> The slider is held in its various positions by a hair pin clip that inserts thru holes drilled thru the mast track.  I always keep the hair pin clip in place to hold the slider down no matter whether I have tension on the boom vang &/or Cunningham or not.  S/V Dynamic Equilibrium came rigged with the boom vang and Cunningham downhaul when I purchased her.  I don’t know if a previous owner drilled and tapped the pop top slider for the eye strap.  Or, maybe back in 1976, Stan might have offered a “performance mainsail package” that included a boom vang and Cunningham.  There is also an eye strap drilled and tapped into the underside of the boom for the top anchor point on the boom vang.  It all looks pretty professional if they are homemade and they both serve their mainsail shaping functions perfectly.  Both the boom vang and Cunningham must be removed to raise the pop top.  With snap shackles, installing and removing them is not a big deal.  A word of caution, all this hardware on the leading edge of the pop top can chip the fiberglass if they get to banging around.  I solved this problem by epoxying 10 gage SS sheet metal to the sides and the top of the pop top near the pointy end where it attaches to the pop top slider.
>>> 
>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Sep 9, 2020, at 4:13 PM, Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Roger:
>>>> My 76 has the same bracket except that it does not have the ring or eye
>>>> strap. I wonder if that was added by a previous owner. Do you have a track
>>>> stop to keep the pop top down when the boom vang or Cunningham is in use? If
>>>> it works well I might copy that.
>>>> 
>>>> Graham Stewart
>>>> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
>>>> Kingston Ontario
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of
>>>> ROGER PIHLAJA
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 1:32 PM
>>>> To: John Carlson; The Rhodes 22 Email List
>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Pop Top Connection
>>>> 
>>>> Hi All,
>>>> 
>>>> I've attached a picture of the pop top slider connection on my older (1976)
>>>> standard (i.e. non IMF) mainsail Rhodes 22.  As you can see, it's a simple
>>>> weldment.  The bent sheet metal slides up and down in the mast slot.  The
>>>> bolt attaches to a pair of brackets on the leading edge of the pop top.  The
>>>> ring is the lower anchor point for the boom vang and Cunningham downhaul
>>>> tackle.
>>>> 
>>>> [cid:image003.jpg at 01D686AD.A5678F20]
>>>> 
>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows
>>>> 10
>>>> 
>>>> From: John Carlson via Rhodes22-list<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 10:36 AM
>>>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Pop top connection
>>>> 
>>>> The front of mine is quite rough as well. I have a picture, but it looks a
>>>> lot like yours (and I use a Mac).
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> John.
>>>> 2004/12 Rhodes 22
>>>> Waco, TX
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Sep 9, 2020, at 9:26 AM, Mark Whipple <mark at whipplefamily.com> wrote:
>>>>> New question: I'm looking at the piece that connects my pop-top to the
>>>>> mast, and it looks unfinished on the forward end, like it may have been
>>>>> broken at some point. I realize there are many small differences between
>>>>> our boats but do yours look like this? (Sorry for the blue tape in the way
>>>>> - I removed it but then forgot to take another picture.)
>>>>> Mark
>>>>> --
>>>>> Boston, MA
>>>>> 2000 R22 *Luna Mia*
>>>>> 1987 Nimble 30 *For Sale*
>>>>> 1982 Com-Pac 16 *For Sale*
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>>> 
> 


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