Eliminate topping lift

[buddybear]

I recently bought a new mainsail which is not setup for the dutchman system as the original sail. I was going to eliminate it. During my eliminating process I let the topping lift go and it came out of the mast. Now I will have to go to the top of the mast feed a retriever line down and put in a new topping lift, not much fun. The 310 has a rigid boom vang. My question is do I really need a topping lift, I am a cruiser not a racer.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[kappykaplan]

I have a rigid boom vang as well, but I find that taking tension on my topping lift (main halyard) adds more stability to the boom than the vang alone when at the dock. Others may have differing opinions.

 

[sail sfbay]

No........but I like having a topping lift available as a safety line when climbing the mast plus it allows boom adjustment to ensure it clears the arch.

 

[DaveJ]

Agree with both above posts. You can sail without it, many boats do not have one, but there are advantages to having it. I have the Dutchman system, and I use the topping lift to steady the boom when not sailing.
cheers
dj

 

[JRT]

You could use your spin as a topping lift at the dock

 

[buddybear]

You could use your spin as a topping lift at the dock

Thanks for all of the input I will sail without the topping lift, this will save me a trip up the mast tomorrow.

 

[jssailem]

At least you can sail tomorrow.... Lucky you.

 

[Hollyberry]

We store our main halyard at the boom end while moored, stabilizes the boom then. Also rigid vang so apart from the lack of a safety for mast climbing it works for us.

 

[Joe]

I would consider it a blessing that you will now learn you don't really need a topping lift if you have a rigid vang. Use the main halyard to support the boom, in opposition to the mainsheet, for stabilization when the sail is down. I wrapped my mainsail top lift around the backstay 20 years ago when I installed the rigind vang, thinking it would be there in case it was needed. I have two jib halyards, a spinnaker halyard and a short topping lift for the spin pole. Needless to say, I have never used the old TL since that day.

 

[JBP-PA]

Another way to rig a makeshift topping lift when not sailing is to use the backstay (if you have one). Use a rolling hitch on the backstay (or a prusik or klemheist as you prefer) to attach a line to hold the boom up.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Another way to rig a makeshift topping lift when not sailing is to use the backstay (if you have one). Use a rolling hitch on the backstay (or a prusik or klemheist as you prefer) to attach a line to hold the boom up.

Just don’t forget to release it before raising the mainsail! Otherwise the sail will fill and you won’t have any easy way to let the boom off centerline.

 

[Kings Gambit]

On my boat that line is called a boom lift. As I have a rodkicker rigid vang, I don’t need that line for holding up the boom when the sail is coming down, etc. It has other uses, however. Namely, supporting the boom when using it to lift and move stuff around the boat. Right now I have my RIB suspended along my port quarter from the boom supported by the boom lift. It’s out of the water but can be easily lowered at the stern of the sailboat while in the slip. Sometimes I use it to help me lift the 4-stroke from the deep starboard cockpit locker. On certain days I use it to hoist the flag along the backstay to fly in a virtual the gaff sail position. It can also double as a makeshift main halyard. Having a free line going aloft and over a sheave is a nice feature. I’d get it back up there.