Plan-Seavideo
High Stakes Rigging: Repairing the Topping Lift Aloft | (EP. 020)
27 September 2025 · 23 min · 2K views
What this video covers
The crew of a Bristol 45.5 prepares for a transition to liveaboard life by completing several refit projects at a boatyard.0:38 They install a 12-volt Dometic fridge and freezer, requiring new wiring and a 20-amp fuse.1:40 The team upgrades the navigation suite by mounting a 12-inch BNG chartplotter into a used nav pod purchased from eBay, which requires custom fabrication using aluminum and Starboard to fit the existing pedestal.10:24 They also replace the jib halyard, spinnaker line, and main sheet by sewing new lines to the old ones and pulling them through the mast.14:04 To address a broken topping lift, one crew member goes aloft to the masthead.18:47 After failing to remove the corroded fitting with needle-nose pliers and a flathead screwdriver, he uses a chisel to break the obstruction free, successfully clearing the path for a new line.21:08 The crew also installs a new alarm system for engine and bilge monitoring and prepares for a future Starlink installation.3:23
Boats in this video
More from Plan-Sea
From Plan-Sea — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.



