I am out looking for a sailboat and am looking in the 30 foot range. Today I checked out a Catalina 30. I am not very familiar with larger boats. My current one is a 22'. My question is about the line that holds up the back of the boom. Is this line supposed to stay attached while sailing or just to support the boom while the sail is down? On my boat I unhook it once the sail is raised.
Boom help
- Thread starter Admiral
- Start date
Thanks. Correct. The topping lift. I thought it was to be slack once the main was up. The owner said he never released it but I told him it was to be released some till I felt how heavy the boom was. Thought I be missing something.
never
I never really touch the topping lift and it should be adjusted that when sail
is up it is slack and when sail is down it holds the boom up.
Nick
I never really touch the topping lift and it should be adjusted that when sail
is up it is slack and when sail is down it holds the boom up.
Nick
I agree... if it is adjusted properly, it should never need to be messed with when hoisting the sail... unless the roach in the sail is so much that the topping lift interferes with sail.
Don't confuse the topping lift with the pigtail.
The pigtail is a short strap fixed to the backstay that supports the boom when not sailing... it keeps the boom from swaying and sagging into the cockpit.
The topping lift is an adjustable line rigged from the masthead to the boom end. It is a functional part of your rigging that can be used to support the boom in light air conditions when there isn't enough pressure on the mainsail to keep the boom's weight from distorting the mainsail's shape.
The pigtail is always detached when sailing. The topping lift is left connected, but should be adjustable from the cockpit. If it is too tight it will interfere with the battens, especially on full roach mainsails, when the boom swings across on a tack or jibe. If the TL is too loose, it will slap against the sail's leech.... possibly causing unneeded wear and tear... but most certainly annoying skipper and crew.
The pigtail is a short strap fixed to the backstay that supports the boom when not sailing... it keeps the boom from swaying and sagging into the cockpit.
The topping lift is an adjustable line rigged from the masthead to the boom end. It is a functional part of your rigging that can be used to support the boom in light air conditions when there isn't enough pressure on the mainsail to keep the boom's weight from distorting the mainsail's shape.
The pigtail is always detached when sailing. The topping lift is left connected, but should be adjustable from the cockpit. If it is too tight it will interfere with the battens, especially on full roach mainsails, when the boom swings across on a tack or jibe. If the TL is too loose, it will slap against the sail's leech.... possibly causing unneeded wear and tear... but most certainly annoying skipper and crew.
Thanks Joe. Pigtail is what is on my 22' and the TL is what I was referring to. Very well explained for adjustments and reasons.
I'd say it depends on the design of the boat and preference. We use the topping lift to keep the boom high enough to be over our heads when docked, but that would leave it way too high for the main sail. So when we raise the sail we release the topping lift to allow the boom to hang roughly parallel to the water. On some boats it's possible that a comfortable boom height at the dock will be low enough that the tl will be slack once the sail is raised, so no adjustment would be necessary. In most conditions it's not desirable to have any tension on the tl under sail, as it will interfere with you ability or reduce mainsail twist with the sheet. If it's very calm and you need a little more twist, the tl could be applied to counteract the weight of the boom.
Admiral,
Using your topping lift, here's alittle trick I use. Some of my boat pals liked this & now use it.
At the dock after sailing & flaking the main, before I put the mainsail cover on, I adjust the TL to raise the boom up 6-8" higher than straight horizontal.
The reason I do this is for hoisting the sail next time out. With the raised boom, this takes out the boom weight pull on the leach when hoisting. Next time out sailing look at the boom position on other sailboats. With their sails up, if the boom is lower than horizontal, you will see stretch lines in the sail that follow the angle of the leach. What this does is stretch the sail & shorten life & performance. When raising the main, you want NO boom weight pulling against your sail pal. Once it's up, then slacken the TL & you will have an evin pull along the foot.
Another advantage of a raised boom @ dock is if using the proper flaking style for wrapping the main, rain water that gets thru to you sail will have a chance to drain off rather than sit puddled inside & collect mildew.
CR
Using your topping lift, here's alittle trick I use. Some of my boat pals liked this & now use it.
At the dock after sailing & flaking the main, before I put the mainsail cover on, I adjust the TL to raise the boom up 6-8" higher than straight horizontal.
The reason I do this is for hoisting the sail next time out. With the raised boom, this takes out the boom weight pull on the leach when hoisting. Next time out sailing look at the boom position on other sailboats. With their sails up, if the boom is lower than horizontal, you will see stretch lines in the sail that follow the angle of the leach. What this does is stretch the sail & shorten life & performance. When raising the main, you want NO boom weight pulling against your sail pal. Once it's up, then slacken the TL & you will have an evin pull along the foot.
Another advantage of a raised boom @ dock is if using the proper flaking style for wrapping the main, rain water that gets thru to you sail will have a chance to drain off rather than sit puddled inside & collect mildew.
CR
That "pigtail" is called a "boom lift" - the short wire connected to the backstay. Don't raise your main with it still connected. Don't....
This is a great point. The only thing I would add is it's not absolutely nessessary for your boom to be held higher with the lift to achieve this.. When raising your main always make sure your mainsheet and vang are off. This will allow the halyard to be made tight without pulling on the leach.
topping lift opinion
Time for my 2c After over 60 years of sailing Im looking for the lines of least resistance
I leave the topping lift in a spot where I dont have to fiddle with it. On this particular boat that means the boom sits a bit below horizontal when moored. Yes the topping lift does slap a bit in light air, but that better than fussing with it "for me anyway" In over a half of century I do not believe I ever replaced a main sail because of topping lift slapping, and I have replaced a lot of main sails.
Time for my 2c After over 60 years of sailing Im looking for the lines of least resistance
I leave the topping lift in a spot where I dont have to fiddle with it. On this particular boat that means the boom sits a bit below horizontal when moored. Yes the topping lift does slap a bit in light air, but that better than fussing with it "for me anyway" In over a half of century I do not believe I ever replaced a main sail because of topping lift slapping, and I have replaced a lot of main sails.
Most boats have a boom angle less than 90 degrees. boom angle is the angle between the mast and boom measured on the top of the boom. Soooooo when your topping lift is holding the boom up (sail down) the angle is more than the boom angle. when the sail goes up the sail raises the boom and auto-majically slacks the topping lift.
Guys,
I see some disagree with me on this method. That's fine as everyone has a right to his/her own boat & opinion.
This being said, I ask you why do my sails last 15+ years before changeout? Do as you wish, but all I know is what has worked over time for me.
CR
I see some disagree with me on this method. That's fine as everyone has a right to his/her own boat & opinion.
This being said, I ask you why do my sails last 15+ years before changeout? Do as you wish, but all I know is what has worked over time for me.
CR
For us to have standing headroom in the cockpit the boom needs to be around 80 degrees, so the TL is still tighter than when sailing (85-90 degrees). If you're comfortable at the dock with the boom at 85-90 degrees then that would save some hassle when hoisting and dropping the main, but since it depends on the boat and sail cut, the OP should make the judgement based on how the sail looks relative to a comfortable resting height.
If you can sail the boat and stand up then the topping lift need only support the boom at a boom angle a few degees more.
I only mentioned 90 degrees because if your boom angle is greater than 90 you have other issues you have to address in raising the main.
I only mentioned 90 degrees because if your boom angle is greater than 90 you have other issues you have to address in raising the main.
