I have a 26M. Since it doesn't have a backstay, the previous owner installed a nylon line that tests for 600 lbs to hold the boom. Is this line sufficient? If not, what do other owners use to hold up the boom? Does this nylon line have an advantage over a metal line with blocks to control the height of the boom?
Boom Support
- Thread starter folmerb
- Start date
That's plenty of SWL for a topping lift on your Mac, as long as the sun hasn't gotten to it. Carefully hang from it now and then, to make sure.
But someone will probably try to sell you a "Boomkicker".
But someone will probably try to sell you a "Boomkicker".
there really is no advantage to nylon line in that application... the cost is almost the same for the small wire that you would use in it place... and wire does not stretch so it has a great advantage over the nylon for use as a topping lift, and for the strength of the wire vs the nylon line, the windage will be much less with the wire.
OMG! Lift the back of your boom--what does it weigh???
30 pounds or less I am guessing,
A dubble strand of kite string would hold it!
30 pounds or less I am guessing,
A dubble strand of kite string would hold it!
But, but, overkill!
I often dream (fantasize?) of using my vang as an "overboard recovery system" off the end of my boom, relying on the topping lift to support a drenched dog, or even my 105 lb. wife, if I felt so inclined.
Did I just say that?
I often dream (fantasize?) of using my vang as an "overboard recovery system" off the end of my boom, relying on the topping lift to support a drenched dog, or even my 105 lb. wife, if I felt so inclined.
Did I just say that?
I understand your point, but as for me, when someone asks for information, I will freely offer what I know about it, however little that may be... quite frequently, they dont even have to askOMG! Lift the back of your boom--what does it weigh???
30 pounds or less I am guessing,
A dubble strand of kite string would hold it!
on a mac25, the dry weight of the boom with the sail furled, the aft end weighs less than 10lbs. hardly nothing, so when there is a stretchy nylon line tied to it as a topping lift and you have much wind, the windage of the line can cause the boom to lift a bit... and yes a vang will prevent this.... but not all of us had a vang on our first boat, until later.
and im NOT guessing about this, as I had a boat that was rigged with a nylon topping lift... it really doesnt work too well, as opposed to the method i changed it to.
others may disagree, but I have a strong dislike for a stretchy topping lift line.
so when there are options available and the cost difference is negligible, why not go with the best product for the task?... and even if the OP chooses to stick with his nylon line, I will always offer the best information as i know it from experience.
some of these questions may seem a bit silly to an experienced sailor, but to the less experienced ones, these "silly" questions are part of the learning process to becoming an experienced sailor. and as insignificant as the question may be, its quite likely very important to the one asking it....
i have sailed mine a LOT with no issues. but I suppose if you were to take an around the world cruise for a couple of years, and have a bit of chafing everytime you tack, then there may be some concern, but with what i have experienced so far, I think I will be able to make it another 20 years or so without any worries.
a wire topping lift, properly adjusted has no stretch, so it doesnt need to be unnecessarily loose. the booms on the macs are long enough to hold the wire away from the roach of the sail, except sometimes on a tack (or gybe).... so i havent found it to be a concern
. I have a cleat nor the side of the boom, I take the line from the top of the mast that I use to raise my Irish flag, and tie it around the cleat. If I want the boom out of the way I lift the boom on the end and tie the line around the cleat. Simple. You do have to install a cheek block at the top of the mast though.
It IS adjustable.. bu a cam cleat at the end of the end of the boom.
i cant post the photos here from my phone, but they are in my albums under mac25....
i always have it lowered all the way, except for when I have the boom high out of the cockpit, for motoring, at anchor or the dock.
There's also this way. Picture centerline's wire topping lift, ending in a small block.
In this photo, the small block is just out of the picture at the top. You can terminate the control on the boom.
In this photo, the small block is just out of the picture at the top. You can terminate the control on the boom.
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Yep... my single wirecoming from the masthead is 24" short of reaching the end of the boom. and it has a block on the end of it.... the hauling/adjusting line is tied to the boom, goes up around the block and back down to a cam cleat aparatus that i made for the purpose so that i can adjust it from the boom end without effort ..
Have you ever found the need to adjust it when the boom's athwartships, say, like reefing while hove to?
I cleat my topping lift line to a horn cleat on the mast. Works great.
Most of the time when I want the boom out of the way I tie it to the rail on the side of the cockpit. (On my 26D I just wrap the main sheet under the rail and hook it to it's self. The Siren I use a bungee and hook it to the stay.)
Most of the time when I want the boom out of the way I tie it to the rail on the side of the cockpit. (On my 26D I just wrap the main sheet under the rail and hook it to it's self. The Siren I use a bungee and hook it to the stay.)
I have a fixed length topping lift with quick connects on either end and my boat also came with a "pig tail" off the back stay.
The fixed length topping lift is only used when I need to reef. Its length is set so that it doesn’t interfere with the sail while sailing but it holds the end of the boom up when I either reef or drop the main.
For my case where I have a back stay, when the main is taken down, I just clip the end of the boom to the pig tail off the backstay. Keep in mind the pig tail off the back stay does not let the boom swing out so you can only use this when the sail is bagged - unless you want a real exciting time seriously out of control.
On my fixed length topping lift (which I can adjust but not on the fly), I also had a second clip point so that I could clip the end of the boom in a second higher position but I think I dumped this - just because I already had the back stay pig tail.
When I drop the mast, I have a small eye strap near the bottom end of the mast and I just clip the boom end of the topping lift to this strap so things dont get tangled when the mast is down. Next time I setup, just unclip from the bottom of the mast - move to the boom end..
Boom kicker.. also will hold the end of the boom up for reefing. It is also supposed to help sail shape in very light winds... but I had one of the boat for several years and could never really see the very light wind benefit myself.
Everything on my boat is setup for fast rigging (like my topping lift) and you make some tradeoffs for this.
woops.. my traveler picture is up also.. can’t figure out how to remove it.. Oh well..
The fixed length topping lift is only used when I need to reef. Its length is set so that it doesn’t interfere with the sail while sailing but it holds the end of the boom up when I either reef or drop the main.
For my case where I have a back stay, when the main is taken down, I just clip the end of the boom to the pig tail off the backstay. Keep in mind the pig tail off the back stay does not let the boom swing out so you can only use this when the sail is bagged - unless you want a real exciting time seriously out of control.
On my fixed length topping lift (which I can adjust but not on the fly), I also had a second clip point so that I could clip the end of the boom in a second higher position but I think I dumped this - just because I already had the back stay pig tail.
When I drop the mast, I have a small eye strap near the bottom end of the mast and I just clip the boom end of the topping lift to this strap so things dont get tangled when the mast is down. Next time I setup, just unclip from the bottom of the mast - move to the boom end..
Boom kicker.. also will hold the end of the boom up for reefing. It is also supposed to help sail shape in very light winds... but I had one of the boat for several years and could never really see the very light wind benefit myself.
Everything on my boat is setup for fast rigging (like my topping lift) and you make some tradeoffs for this.
woops.. my traveler picture is up also.. can’t figure out how to remove it.. Oh well..
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Been thinking about an improvement for the outhaul along those lines.
Whaddya use that cheek block near the masthead for, Walt?
FWIW, I've run my topping lift around to the portside cabin top.
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing.
Whaddya use that cheek block near the masthead for, Walt?
FWIW, I've run my topping lift around to the portside cabin top.
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing.
Dang.. I didn’t even remember that being there.. LOL..
I guess the PO must have put it there for some reason. funny..
Edit.. before I remove that block at the top of the mast in the picture below, do you suppose it was put up there for a spinnaker? I may try that next winter but really don’t have much of an idea how they rig.. maybe I should just leave it on.
I guess the PO must have put it there for some reason. funny..
Edit.. before I remove that block at the top of the mast in the picture below, do you suppose it was put up there for a spinnaker? I may try that next winter but really don’t have much of an idea how they rig.. maybe I should just leave it on.
i have only reefed with the boom sheeted to the center so it doesnt try to tack or gybe during the process... and if i ever did attempt to reef with it swung outboard, im sure if the sail was slack enough to reef i could pull the boom in to adjust the topping lift if necessary...