Boomkicker or rigid vang and pop-top

Tmugs

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Jun 14, 2025
4
Catalina 22 15045 Utah Lake
I'm curious about using a boomkicker instead of my topping lift. I imagine this would work great while under sail but what about when I want to raise the pop-top at anchor? Is disassembling the boomkicker too much of a pain? Have any of you made it work?
 
Sep 17, 2022
116
Catalina 22 Oolagah
I'm curious about using a boomkicker instead of my topping lift. I imagine this would work great while under sail but what about when I want to raise the pop-top at anchor? Is disassembling the boomkicker too much of a pain? Have any of you made it work?
Waffle House came without a topping lift and it was a pia to let the boom off of the pigtail and then to hoist the main. I am assuming you have a New Design with your halyards for both the main and jib led to the cockpit. I installed the CD (which is the # 750 ) boomkicker last fall during haul out and I love it. It does indeed make raising and lowering the main much easier. I highly recommend this upgrade. Regarding how it impacts raising the pop-top, I have yet to go through the motions but yes, having a boomkicker will add a few minutes of fiddling to both raise and lower the pop-top to get it done.

George
 
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ShawnL

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Jul 29, 2020
152
Catalina 22 3603 Calumet Mi
I have a home made (previous owner) topping lift. It adjusts at the end of the boom. Also have a boom vang made out of line, like CD sells. I just slack it way off when I want to pop the top. It's probably not as good as a boom kicker / rigid vang, but it works for us