240 BOOM TOPPING LIFT

[Ken Koons]

My main keeps getting hung up on the boom topping lift on my 1998 240 when I tack. I couldn't really find a proper diagram of the topping lift in the owners manual when I bought the boat. I've got a metal bridle wire (only thing I could think to use this "extra" wire for)running from the top of the mast and hooking to one of the boom lines. Is this the correct rigging? I shortened my top batten this Sunday; maybe this is the solution. Any suggestions/comments?

 

[Sean Coerse]

Dont shorten the batten

The topping lift is a coated cable. It is attached at the top of the mast in then attaches to a line that exits the boom. This line can be adjusted at the gooseneck where the boom and mast join. Once the main is hoisted the topping lift serves no purpose. Slack the line and it will not interfere. Do not shorten your batten. The batten is needed to support the full roach in the main sail.

 

[Bill Welsch]

Ditto....

...to what Sean wrote. All I would add is that sometimes the "floppy" topping lift can cause havoc on the velcro that holds the battens in...which is why we sew in a stitch or two to hold the battens in place until the end of the season...good sailingBill WelschS/V Renewal

 

[BART FORD]

battens

I have the same problem that Bill has and putting a few stitches to help hold the battens and velcro in place sounds like a great idea. I don't really know what the battens are for except to get in the way and shoot out of the sail, never to be seen again. I think they help maintain some sail shpe.

 

[Harvey Small]

Lose the lift!

Lose the topping lift and replace the rope boom vang with a solid vang. The mose affordable one is from Garhauer (www.garhauermarine.com), others are the boomkicker or rodvang. A solid vang supports the boom and doesn't chafe the sail. There's several discussions on the subject in the HOW archives.Now that's just my opinion, but it's correct.