Topping lift
- Thread starter xavpil
- Start date
It doesn't need to run back to the cockpit. If it is in the cockpit that is one more line drifting about and getting in the way. If it is at the mast, it is out of the way, but not as convenient.
Most of the time when the topping lift is being engaged or adjusted the boat will be in protected waters preparing to anchor or weigh anchor, so it is pretty safe. Unless you're looking for another project, I'd be inclined to leave it at the mast for now.
Most of the time when the topping lift is being engaged or adjusted the boat will be in protected waters preparing to anchor or weigh anchor, so it is pretty safe. Unless you're looking for another project, I'd be inclined to leave it at the mast for now.
Thx for that.
But what is the tension I should have? Right now it is litterally lifting / carrying the boom.
If I let loose it feels like all the weight will be carried on the mast....
I presume you have a rigid vang? If so that can basically carry the weight of the boom. I keep my TL long enough that it doesn’t interfere with regular sail trim, but when I’m at the dock or anchor I can snug the mainsheet without compressing the vang too much. Basically I go out sailing and tighten the mainsheet on a beat, easing the TL enough that it’s just barely slack. I leave the TL at that length all season. During the winter I tighten the TL a bit so the vang doesn’t sit with any compression for those months away.
When the sail unfurled the sail supports the boom. The topping lift supports the boom when the sail is furled. I'm not an expert on furling mainsails, however, I have heard the boom needs to be at a right angle for the sail to furl properly. The topping lift should have enough tension on it to make the boom level.
Another common issue with booms is swinging back and forth while at anchor. A combination of topping lift and mainsheet tension can limit the swing, sometimes that is not enough. On my boat I use a lined that goes from the boom to a cleat on the rail along with mainsheet tension and topping lift. This holds the boom pretty steady and reduces wear on the mainsheet blocks, especially the shackle holding the block to the traveller car.
On our Selden mast with in-mast furling, the boom is specified to be at a slight up angle. Seven degrees comes to mind but don't use that without verifying.
When we bought our boat the main halyard was run to the cockpit and the topping lift was tied off to a cleat on the mast. I wanted to be able to use the cabin-top winch to hoist someone up the mast and I don't forsee needing to manipulate the main halyard unless/until the mainsail is to be taken down. So, I added another cleat to the mast to allow cleating off the main halyard at the mast. I was replacing teh topping lift line anyway so I calculated the extra length needed to run the topping lift line to the cockpit. The cleat shown in the photo is actually on the port side of the mast and the red line is my jib halyard.
As it came from the factory, the Selden Rodkicker boom vang on our boat did not have a gas strut in it so i wasn't capable of supporting the boom with the main furled and the topping lift disconnected. I fixed that by adding a gas strut to the boom vang so it now can support the boom.
Adding a Gas Spring to a Rodkicker
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I have a boom roller furler, not in mast. I leave my topping lift adjusted so when reefing, the boom is at the correct angle to furl the main. I get that angle set and don't change it. But I'm a cruiser, not a racer. I don't have a ridgid vang so my vang only gives downward pull on the boom, which I do adjust depending upon sail set.
With in-mast furling I would think you are in a similar situation. I leave my topping lift adjustment at the mast. I also have granny bars so going to the mast and working there is quite safe and comfortable. I run a cutter rig so I have two furling lines a preventer and five sheets running to my cockpit. If I' running my pole there is and additional line from those running back to my cockpit. That's a lot of lines to keep organized in the cockpit. That's plenty. I would not want more.
You need to think of how you will organize all your lines running back to your cockpit and it adding in the topping lift to that would make sailing your boat easier or not.
dj
With in-mast furling I would think you are in a similar situation. I leave my topping lift adjustment at the mast. I also have granny bars so going to the mast and working there is quite safe and comfortable. I run a cutter rig so I have two furling lines a preventer and five sheets running to my cockpit. If I' running my pole there is and additional line from those running back to my cockpit. That's a lot of lines to keep organized in the cockpit. That's plenty. I would not want more.
You need to think of how you will organize all your lines running back to your cockpit and it adding in the topping lift to that would make sailing your boat easier or not.
dj
Maybe pertinent to the OP's situation, maybe not.
On my Mariner 19, the boat came with a fixed length topping lift running from the mast head to a clip through an eye on the boom cap. I wanted to be able to adjust the topping lift. So I mounted a cheek block at the mast head and ran the topping lift to the base of the mast. Don't like this arrangement either - topping lift gets in the way of the jib halyard, even tough they are on separate cleats. So I am changing back to the topping lift starting at the mast head but going though some type of eye/block on the end of the boom to a cleat somewhere amidships on the boom.
At anchor or dock, I use the topping lift and mainsheet and a line from boom to stern cleat to lock boom in place as a handhold or support for awning or boom tent. Generally I put the boom over to one side or the other unless using the boom tent.
just my experiences, yours will vary
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133 Sweet P
Yeopim Creek, Albemarle Sound, NC
On my Mariner 19, the boat came with a fixed length topping lift running from the mast head to a clip through an eye on the boom cap. I wanted to be able to adjust the topping lift. So I mounted a cheek block at the mast head and ran the topping lift to the base of the mast. Don't like this arrangement either - topping lift gets in the way of the jib halyard, even tough they are on separate cleats. So I am changing back to the topping lift starting at the mast head but going though some type of eye/block on the end of the boom to a cleat somewhere amidships on the boom.
At anchor or dock, I use the topping lift and mainsheet and a line from boom to stern cleat to lock boom in place as a handhold or support for awning or boom tent. Generally I put the boom over to one side or the other unless using the boom tent.
just my experiences, yours will vary
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133 Sweet P
Yeopim Creek, Albemarle Sound, NC
Hoist the mainsail and soften the topping lift to a few inches less than taut.
Uhm, I'll say again that the topping lift should be slack to allow the mail sail acquire its designed shape. Slack! No tension. loose! It isn't a sail control. It's there to raise the boon while in port. If the topping lift is slogging around it's set right.
Yep, the topping lift is part of an in port, motoring, or on anchor boom management control along with the mainsheet and a line to control boom swinging.
I do use my topping lift to support the boom while raising or lowering the mainsail. When raising the mainsail, the topping lift has to be slacked once the mainsail is up. The mainsail then carries the weight of the boom.
Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133 Sweet P