To topping lift or not to topping lift ....

[LeeandRick]

Woodster. Where are you getting these measurements and exactly why are you trying to achieve them? Your boat has to be at least 29 years old and the mainsail has probably been replaced. I know Dabney sailmaker in your area had no problem making sails to any size the owner requested. Just maybe your sail is smaller to clear that bimini and has stretched slightly since new and is now touching. If you are trying to stay within the black bands for racing then you are achieving that goal. You just can't go beyond the bands.
I don't remember, does the S2 aft cockpit model have a fixed gooseneck or a sliding?

 

[woodster]

this is all good info ...i am studying all of it so i can create my own habits when setting up ....there is a lot of written things out there but this is going to give me a step by step procedure to live by until i get it to a fluid activity ...just trying to crawl before i walk so to speak ...i will execute all this info and see where my boom ends up and may not have to have it cut because i am sure that i have done some things out of sequence ....i think i will go over to p cole and get my sail back and try all this again and see what happens then....my sailmaker person is the daughter of an olympic gold medalist and was raised making sails so i do have a competent person to do the cutting and sewing if it really needs to be when i find out the final out come i will post on it in this thread and any changes i see after doing the steps i will also report as well
thanks for the very good input on my problem ....the mullet are running today so i will be back and forth on the computer all day

 

[weinie]

take lots of pictures and post them here!

 

[PotomacDaysailer]

My topping lift adjusts at the boom end and is fixed at the mast head, so is not easily adjusted under way especially off the wind with the boom end outboard. I usually hoist the main and take out the slack without changing the boom angle. I'm going to add to my list of mast projects for when I haul the boat (which won't be for a year or two at least, due to finances and lack of facilities) to reverse it so I can adjust boom angle with topping lift and boom vang.

 

[Padrone]

I have a Catalina 30 TR, it has a fixed length Topping lift. I have placed two attachment points on the bottom, boom end to allow for (short) supporting the boom when the sail is down/struck, and a longer attachment for use if desired with the sail up (allowing a fuller main for light airs).

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Woods,

Depending on the room you have to raise your sail/luff up, I have moved my boom fitting up 4 " @ the mast fitting to allow for more height in the cockpit/bimini. I have also done this for four other boat friends & everyone is happy. Depending on what vertical cockpit/bimini height you want, relocating the fitting may work for you & your sail pal.

CR

 

[JamesG161]

Say yes to the topping lift:
Yes you can use it to raise the boom slightly to create a fuller sail when wind is light.
Yes you can use it to raise the boom way up when docked or anchored to give headroom
Yes you could use it to raise boom above bimini but you should not; lower your Bimini or recut your sail so the leech holds the boom up enough.
Yes you can rig a hoist with the boom, topping lift, and halyard or other tackle to lift something or someone back aboard.

This is best answer!

He left out 3 more important uses.
1) Lift and set your boom angle to match your sail cut ( in-mast furling)
2) Impress your non-sailing friends with the complexity of sailing.
the most important omission....
3) Use it to fast dry a wet bikini, flying it like a flag.
Jim...

 

[woodster]

ok just got off the phone with my sail maker ...she says that the sail is cut to a greater than 90 degree on the luff to foot corner which will make the boom sag in the rear and that was because the sail plan is more of a competition plan than a cruising one and having said that that she will cut the foot from the clue (about 5 or 6 inches) to the tack (zero ) thus letting my boom sit level when the weight of the boom is suspended by the sail ...that will give me the desired clearance for the bimini frame and not devastate my sail performance enough for me to be concerned about .....that will only reduce the sail surface about 3 sq ft in total....so for now the plan is to do that ......she also told me i got a very good deal on that sail and it should give many years of service....... all the suggestions i have read from all of you are very helpful and will give me information to include in my guidelines for hoisting the sail....thanks everyone for your time and knowledge......oh and we got about 350 mullet with cast nets yesterday ....party time wooohooo

 

[woodster]

I don't remember, does the S2 aft cockpit model have a fixed gooseneck or a sliding?

fixed

 

[JamesG161]

oh and we got about 350 mullet with cast nets yesterday ....party time wooohooo

Oh yeah! We call that Biloxi bacon over here. What do bama boys call it?

will only reduce the sail surface about 3 sq ft in total.

How much handicap seconds are you going to claim?

BTW yesterday 14 knot steady South wind (east/west coastal beam reach here) let my cruiser "smoke" 3 others in an "unofficial" race and I didn't use my topping lift.
Jim...

 

[Gunni]

Woodster; You can use that topping lift to improve the shape of your low-wind sail up-wind, AND keep your boom off the Bimini bow. Don't give up on your sail too soon.

 

[tryinghard]

woodster,
When you hoist the main, make sure the mainsheet is completely free, the vang is off, and the outhaul is not fully tensioned.

After the sail is up, slacken the topping lift and tighten up on the above to observe the shape and adjust the halyard tension to suit the conditions.

weinie ....forgive my question as I'm new to sailing and easily confused but did you mean to write "adjust the mainsheet tension" ? As I thought that the halyard in this instant is used to raise/lower the mainsail. Thank you

 

[CloudDiver]

weinie ....forgive my question as I'm new to sailing and easily confused but did you mean to write "adjust the mainsheet tension" ? As I thought that the halyard in this instant is used to raise/lower the mainsail. Thank you

The Mainsheet is not the sail, its a line... Getting used to the word 'sheet' in reference to a line rather than a sail takes some getting used to.
The Main Halyard raises the Mainsail
The Main Sheet Controls the angle of the boom to adjust the Mainsail shape

Just remember, halyards raise and lower sails, sheets control sail position and shape

To confuse you even more, on a boat a line is rope made of fiber and a rope is a line made of wire...

 

[weinie]

weinie ....forgive my question as I'm new to sailing and easily confused but did you mean to write "adjust the mainsheet tension" ? As I thought that the halyard in this instant is used to raise/lower the mainsail. Thank you

Halyards...not just for raising sails.
Tension on halyard (and/or cunningham/downhaul) sets draft position.
Buy Don's book.
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/cat.php?5901/Books and DVDs

(book is the one with sexy shirtless guy steering a boat)

 

[GGordonWoody]

Use it to fast dry a wet bikini, flying it like a flag.

Indeed...topping lift, now I get it.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="G...Indeed...topping lift, now I get it.[/QUOTE]

Not to confused with the other half, the "Down Haul".

 

[GGordonWoody]

I have moved my boom fitting up 4 " @ the mast fitting to allow for more height in the cockpit/bimini

Sounds like a very sensible thing to do. But does this involve some grinding on the slot in the main spar to allow those little button thingies to be inserted? Btw, Cap'n, poured buckets here so we broke out the $3.99 to rent yer movie this weekend...superb performance, very enjoyable.
G