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25 Pop Top

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2009 : 20:13:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">what about the hatch boards?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just add one more, that's the cheap part

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2009 : 11:09:03

I hadn't extended my thought/design that far as I typed but Dave is probably right, and additional hatch board is probably the cheapest way to go.

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Ryan L
Navigator

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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 12/25/2010 : 22:05:58

Sorry for revisiting an old post, and maybe (probably) I'm missing something obvious here, but why not place a fitting on the pop top to attach the main halyard and use that to assist raising and as added safety against the top suddenly closing? Surely if the halyard can support a person's weight (like when being hoisted in a bosuns chair) then it can support the weight of the pop top, right? Or is the angle too wide? I'm embarrassed to admit I'm not yet familiar with the hardware at the mast head...

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 12/26/2010 : 11:47:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ryan L
 Sorry for revisiting an old post, and maybe (probably) I'm missing something obvious here, but why not place a fitting on the pop top to attach the main halyard and use that to assist raising and as added safety against the top suddenly closing? Surely if the halyard can support a person's weight (like when being hoisted in a bosuns chair) then it can support the weight of the pop top, right? Or is the angle too wide? I'm embarrassed to admit I'm not yet familiar with the hardware at the mast head...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's not a bad idea! Maybe use two fittings and a bridle to evenly distribute the lifting force along the pop top.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 12/27/2010 : 12:34:26

When moored or at anchor the main halyard would be readily available to hoist the pop-top, and perhaps two eye bolts and a bridle could be used to accomplish that.

On broiling hot summer days when I'm drifting along under sail at only 3 knots, I often raise the pop top as well, and that requires the use of my neck muscles, shoulder muscles, arm muscles, and back muscles. Ugh!!!

The oft-discussed, spring-loaded pistons are a standard solution that pop-toppers have used over the years to solve this problem. Taking half or more of the weight off the monster is a great idea, one way or the other.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 12/31/2010 : 16:39:15

I've got to hand it to the PO installing the pistons for my pop top, however I wish they had a bit more OOMPH! I still have to push pretty hard to get it started, but it sure beats having to pop a gut to push it up!

A compound block system connected to the boom or mast would probably be suitable - care should be taken however to the geometry of the forces involved - you would not want to bend anything with the tremendous forces you could potentially produce using a 3:1 or 4:1 purchase.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 01/01/2011 : 11:29:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 ...A compound block system connected to the boom or mast would probably be suitable - care should be taken however to the geometry of the forces involved - you would not want to bend anything with the tremendous forces you could potentially produce using a 3:1 or 4:1 purchase.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I'd say the only way to do that would be to space several blocks along the boom so the load isn't all at one point. The problem with the pneumatic struts is that they start out horizontal and parallel to the legs, so there's no initial upward push. But if you have the mast down some day, you might want to take that opportunity to re-charge the struts by letting the pop-top swing forward of the mast. The directions for that came with the strut kit, and can probably be obtained from CD (maybe via e-mail).

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 01/01/2011 : 14:44:18

You can "RECHARGE" struts?

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 01/01/2011 : 22:19:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 You can "RECHARGE" struts?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I'm not sure... But as I understand it, there's a "charge" step in the initial installation that involves stretching them out to their maximum length. On a C-25, that means installing them and then pushing the pop-top well forward of the upright position, which can only be done with the mast down. Again, not having done it, my understanding is that it's part of the installation procedure from CD. On the chance that it wasn't done that way, or that re-doing it could improve the strength of the struts, I'd seriously consider it--but only after consulting with CD or at least looking at their installation instructions.

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Ryan L
Navigator

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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 01/01/2011 : 23:14:56

Does anyone know the actual weight of the pop top? Or even a good guess?

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2011 : 07:45:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Does anyone know the actual weight of the pop top? Or even a good guess?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yea..About 1Pound more than a Gorilla can lift..

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