should I unclip line from mast to end of boom?

[jyjohnson]

Took our 25.5 yesterday in light air yesterday. There is a wire cable with a simple spring loaded shackle at the end of the boom going to the top of the mast. This is keeping the boom roughly parallel to the boat. I'm thinking this prevented the mainsheet from being able to pull the boom down to tighten the sail. Once the sail is raised should I unclip the wire? I didn't think to try it yesterday but I'm thinking the boom would fall down a good bit (using original mail sail which is probably stretched out).

Also, is it worthwhile to add some type of topping lift/block to this wire to keep it attached but still enable to the mainsheet to pull it down?

Thanks!

 

[JohnVTX]

A block is better than removing.

 

[fred1diver]

that sounds like your topping lift, yes you should unclip it when the sail is up

 

[Siamese]

Yeah, that wire is your "topping lift". It's main function is to keep your boom from falling into the cockpit when the mainsail is lowered. Absolutely, you want to unclip it as soon as you have raised your mainsail. Your main will not function as it should until you do.

A simple on-off arrangement like you appear to have will suffice, but a line running from the end of the boom to the top of the mast, over a sheave, down the mast to a block at the base of the mast, and routed to the cockpit to a cleat is the ideal setup. Allows easy adjustment of the topping lift while sailing. Some sailors like to use their topping lift to shape their mainsail under certain conditions. I never have.

The only problem I have with the on-off solution is that if you drop the main, and have forgotten to attach the topping lift, crash goes the boom in the gelcoat or some hapless human.

I had a simple solution on a 26 footer I owned. A line ran from the top of the mast to the end of the boom. About one foot from the end of the line (at the boom), I tied a loop. There was a simple cleat at the end of the boom. If I lifted the boom with my left arm and slipped the loop over the cleat with my right, it put the boom in a high position that was good for raising the main. Underway, I'd slip the loop off the cleat, but the end of the line was still attached to the cleat. This allowed the topping lift to go slack and not interfere with sail trim. Easy and cheap. I would think you could easily modify your existing setup into a simple arrangement that allows you to adjust the topping lift, and not completely remove it, risking the boom falling. I'm sure Google will show you some examples/diagrams.

 

[Joe]

You can rig a simple adjustment tackle at the boom end to slack your topping lift. The biggest problem with the topping lift is it getting caught on the battens when you tack. If you have a full roach main you will already be pretty frustrated with it. With a small or zero roach mainsail it's not as annoying.

You can certainly just detach it each time you sail... but most boats that still use topping lifts will have some kind of adjuster....either at the boom end, or rigged like a halyard. The boom end is much easier to rig. 1/4 line should be adequate. Attach an eye strap to one side of the boom end.... and a small cheek block opposite... a clam cleat with fairlead is mounted forward of the cheek block. Tie a stopper knot in the line to keep it from slipping through the eye strap. Run the line up to catch the topping lift, then back down to the cheek and route it forward to the clam cleat. (the fair lead keeps the line attached)

 

[Tony_Furst]

My 23.5 has a factory topping lift with an adjuster built into the boom, I can move my boom up or down and adjust sail shape with the lift and vang assembly. Not sure if your 25.5 has a similar setup.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Tony; the 25 was a different set up from your boat

 

[Tony_Furst]

Thanks Dave, wasn't sure where they made the change.

 

[isaksp00]

Does the 25.5 have sheaves at the aft end of the boom and sheaves with jam type stoppers at the front end? I mean including one intended for a topping lift?

 

[sailorladyliz]

That's the way my 25.5 is set up, with sheaves at the aft end of the boom and sheaves with jam type cleat (looks like a little lever) at the front. I have wire coming from the top of the mast down about two feet short of the boom with a small block on the end, there is 1/4" line attached to the end of boom running up to the block and back down through the boom to the front where it is cleated and this is where you can lift or lower the boom. Hope this helps.

 

[markwbird]

I leave mine on but loose. It should never be taught even when the sheets are cranked down hard.

 

[isaksp00]

I modified my 23 right after I got it to exactly what sailorladyliz described. That seems like one of the best approaches, if you don't mind reaching up to the front of the boom to adjust it. The only added fitting is the small swivel block and maybe a small stainless thimble, plus enough light line to go into the boom.

 

[twodzusfittings]

I ran an extension on my topping lift using the same size wire line with a loops and thimbles on each end. I connected the two with a small D Shackle. I use the upper loop for stowage and the lower when the main is up. The extension allows for slack in the topping lift.