You'd likely want a quick disconnect at the boom end for it. I suppose too that you could repurpose the main halyard at that point to pull the boom up out of the way.
topping lift
- Thread starter splax
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A topping lift can also be handy to control the boom as a crane. good for putting heavy stuff in small boats or vice versa. Or picking up inflatables: I don't drag mine over the lifelines anymore.
I actually just rebuilt my topping lift last Saturday. The original topping lift setup was simply a line, a block, and a small cleat on the boom. The line was worn, and it was cumbersome to adjust.
What I did was use two 3/16 bow shackles, a 28mm Nautos block, 3/16 double braided line, and this block/clam cleat combo...
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RL-D-100
I arranged it in a double purchase with the block/cleat high. I left the original
Cleat in place and am using it as a more secure secondary restraint.
I really like this arrangement. Very easy to use, even single handed.
Sorry I took no pictures, but I tried to include enough info that you can see what I did
What I did was use two 3/16 bow shackles, a 28mm Nautos block, 3/16 double braided line, and this block/clam cleat combo...
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RL-D-100
I arranged it in a double purchase with the block/cleat high. I left the original
Cleat in place and am using it as a more secure secondary restraint.
I really like this arrangement. Very easy to use, even single handed.
Sorry I took no pictures, but I tried to include enough info that you can see what I did
Looking back through my pictures I found an angle I was able to edit down to see a decent view of my new topping lift...
Another way
I just got rid of the cable topping lift and have a boom kicker to keep the boom from dropping on the dodger when bringing down the main. I use my spare main halyard as a topping lift when required. For me this simplifies things and keeps it all out of the way when sailing.
Noticing that some have included info about their useful/elegant topping lift management modifications, I thought to include another variant on the theme. Photos attached, but here also a description:
I've got SS wire affixed to the mast top. About two-three feet above the boom end, the wire converts to a rope block and tackle (3:1). Pulling down on the line, the boom goes up. On one side of the boom end, I've installed a cam cleat. The line is first seized off on this -- but only very temporarily. On the other side is a normal cleat for the more secure tie-off. The bottom end of the block and tackle is fitted with a snatch shackle. To give me a larger target to attach the snatch shackle, I installed a boom bail extending past the end of the boom. After I raise the sail, I unwrap the line from the standard cleat, then release it from the cam cleat. The boom drops a few inches to the natural sail support level. Then I pull the release line on the snap shackle and remove the topping lift assembly from the boom completely. On my port side split back stay, I've installed a cleat and eye. The topping lift is attached to that and tightened enough so it doesn't flop around during the sail. When sailing, the topping lift now is further aft than the leach/roach of the mainsail so I no longer have to bother with adjusting the thing all the time depending on sheeting angle and main sheet tension.
At the end of my sail and with the boat pointed into the wind for sail dowsing, the boom is centered and sheeted tight. The snap shackle is removed from the back stay cleat and re-attached to its boom fitting. The rope line is pulled tight through the cam cleat then brought over to the the standard cleat for full secure. The sail can then be lowered without the boom falling down.
Sounds a bit "Rube Goldberg", but it does work well in practice. The process takes but a few moments and is now part of the routine -- several hundred times now. And done from the safety of being in the cockpit.
As already mentioned -- there is no fussing with the topping lift during the sail. I recognize that in very light winds, one might raise the boom with the topping for better sail shape. But unless racing, or concerned about just a few minutes better performance during a normal day sail, my lack of this feature isn't much of a downside.
I've got SS wire affixed to the mast top. About two-three feet above the boom end, the wire converts to a rope block and tackle (3:1). Pulling down on the line, the boom goes up. On one side of the boom end, I've installed a cam cleat. The line is first seized off on this -- but only very temporarily. On the other side is a normal cleat for the more secure tie-off. The bottom end of the block and tackle is fitted with a snatch shackle. To give me a larger target to attach the snatch shackle, I installed a boom bail extending past the end of the boom. After I raise the sail, I unwrap the line from the standard cleat, then release it from the cam cleat. The boom drops a few inches to the natural sail support level. Then I pull the release line on the snap shackle and remove the topping lift assembly from the boom completely. On my port side split back stay, I've installed a cleat and eye. The topping lift is attached to that and tightened enough so it doesn't flop around during the sail. When sailing, the topping lift now is further aft than the leach/roach of the mainsail so I no longer have to bother with adjusting the thing all the time depending on sheeting angle and main sheet tension.
At the end of my sail and with the boat pointed into the wind for sail dowsing, the boom is centered and sheeted tight. The snap shackle is removed from the back stay cleat and re-attached to its boom fitting. The rope line is pulled tight through the cam cleat then brought over to the the standard cleat for full secure. The sail can then be lowered without the boom falling down.
Sounds a bit "Rube Goldberg", but it does work well in practice. The process takes but a few moments and is now part of the routine -- several hundred times now. And done from the safety of being in the cockpit.
As already mentioned -- there is no fussing with the topping lift during the sail. I recognize that in very light winds, one might raise the boom with the topping for better sail shape. But unless racing, or concerned about just a few minutes better performance during a normal day sail, my lack of this feature isn't much of a downside.
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I am fascinated by these topping lift approaches! I have been sailing for many years and have never left my topping lift on my boom when main sail is up! Is this just personal preferance or because I have not owned larger than a 27' sailboat? Chief
Buh-bye Topping lift
The next time I go up the mast the topping lift is coming off.
I have a 1988 Hunter 40 Legend and the topping lift has always been a pain in the (*&^. I have a Hard Vang and the Main falls into a Mac-Pack. I was on a friends boat this year and he has a similar set up. Once he has his Main Sail down he uses the Main Halyard as a topping lift, GREAT IDEA!!!!!
This will give me my third, in boom, reef line for my new main sail.
Doug
The next time I go up the mast the topping lift is coming off.
I have a 1988 Hunter 40 Legend and the topping lift has always been a pain in the (*&^. I have a Hard Vang and the Main falls into a Mac-Pack. I was on a friends boat this year and he has a similar set up. Once he has his Main Sail down he uses the Main Halyard as a topping lift, GREAT IDEA!!!!!
This will give me my third, in boom, reef line for my new main sail.
Doug
From what I've observed, leaving the topping lift attached to the boom (for those without a rigid boom vang) while sailing seems to be normal for most. Certainly the case of all the lesson boats (with instructors!) that I have been on. The hardware doesn't even allow for topping lift detachment. I've just attributed it to people never paying much attention to the wire or line constantly rubbing along the roach of the sail (and causing premature wear), or the poor sail shape if it's too tight, or the sloppy look of the topping lift flapping around if it's too loose... For those reasons (and also that I didn't want to undergo the installation bother for a rigid vang), it was just easier and cleaner to rig up a way to conveniently remove and re-attach the T-lift on every outing.
Which is why I chose the arrangement I did. I can ease the topping lift when the sail is up, leaving the sail alone to support the boom. I only need one free hand to ease the topping lift.
The topping lift, in my setup, is only intended to bear the weight of the boom with the sail down.
The topping lift, in my setup, is only intended to bear the weight of the boom with the sail down.
From all the various threads and posts on this topic, it appears that the topping lift can serve no useful purpose on a boat with a rigid vang. I wonder, however, whether the topping lift might be a useful redundancy if one needed to douse the sail after a vang failure. Do they fail with a frequency that might warrant keeping the lift? Looking at the construction of mine, it appears it would have to fail catastrophically or come off the mast or boom before a topping lift was the only thing keeping the boom from fallingl.
If you have a fractional Hunter and loses the main halyard you may want to use topping lift to retrieve it. Any time going to mast head topping lift makes a good safety line for bosun chair. I believe that is why Hunter uses a heavier than normal line.
Never adjust mine. It goes slack when the main is up and holds boom off arch when sail is down.
Never adjust mine. It goes slack when the main is up and holds boom off arch when sail is down.
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