Topping Lift

[Zoom767]

Good Day Everyone,

I've just been viewing an on-line video on YouTube of a couple doing a cruise. A comment on this video was posted questioning why the Captain's topping lift was taught when the mainsail was in use.

I do understand that the purpose of the topping lift is to support the boom when the mainsail is not raised and the importance of allowing the boom to be supported by the mainsail when in use with the proper trim techniques that should be used through use of the traveller, outhaul and main sheet halyard.

However; what I found intriguing with this question is that on my Hunter 35.5 Legend, anytime that I've set the position of my topping lift to go slack once I've raised my mainsail, I've had a big problem with the back of the boom being caught up in the topping lift when changing tacks -- to the point where I've had to change tack again immediately to correct the situation.

Has anyone else had a similar circumstance who could suggest a solution as to how to set the proper slackness of the topping lift once the mainsail has been raised?

Best Regards,
Rob

 

[Skipper]

Please expand on how it gets caught.
If you raise the main, then sheet it as tight as you'll ever use it, the topping lift should have just a few inches of slack at that point.
See the video "sailing" in my profile. The lift is flying aft of the sail on a beam reach. It's set as described above, to be barely slack if it were sheeted tight.
I have the lift shackled to the top aft of the boom, but you can see a pivoting tang also at the boom aft that could be used to attach the lift. It swings 360 degrees. I use it to secure the halyard when moored, but if you could install one maybe it would help.

 

[OffDuty]

Sounds like the topping lift is just taut enough that it is catching on the battens. (Assuming you have horizontal battens). I have found that if the topping lift is tensioned just enough that it doesn't catch the battens as you tack through but not so loose it flogs all over the place is perfect.

 

[Zoom767]

OffDuty,

That is exactly what is catching -- I have 4 full battens in the mainsail. I'll try your suggestion -- my only concern was that I damaged a $4K investment in a new bimini/dodger due to slackening the topping lift too much and hence was shy is letting it go too much. Perhaps more time in determining the exact setting is in order which will allow me to re-gain the full potential of speed from the mainsail. Thanks for your suggestion.

"Skipper",

I will be going to your profile page and viewing the suggested video -- thank you as well.

Best Regards

 

[OffDuty]

Zoom767

Not sure I understand how the dodger Bimini was damaged unless it was when the topping lift was slackened without the mainsail being up. Once the sail is raised the topping lift is really inconsequential as the main will carry the weight of the boom unless the main is too large , or cut with way too much leech for the boat.

All the best
Dave

 

[Zoom767]

My Bimini Framing is higher than my Dodger Framing. If I slacken the main halyard in light winds, then the back of the boom will rub along the top of the dodger. Even when I've left the halyard to clear the Dodger, if it is a bit too slack then the battens catch on the topping lift when I tack -- which has left me to keep the topping lift taught to keep it out of the way. Obviously, something has not been rigged correctly!

 

[Apex]

Zoom, how is your main halyard? Try getting more lift. The other thought that comes to mind is the sail cut allows the boom to droop too much for your setup. Good condition main?, shortening the bimini frame may be another option.

 

[PAC3142]

I've lost count of how many YouTube videos I've seen of long distance cruisers sailing with the topping lift too tight, putting too much twist in the main.

But I can relate to your problem. We have a similar setup, without the Bimini, and I regularly adjust the topping lift, probably every time we change course. Just right for close hauled is too loose on a reach. I don't think it is necessarily wrong to be adjusting it that much, and a low priority task on my long to do list is to lead it back to the cockpit. An expensive answer, which I'm not considering, would be to add a mechanical vang.

 

[Zoom767]

Apex,

Main halyard is fine and the sail is spanking brand new in 2015. However; you did make an excellent point though, as it was made from the measurements of my old sail. Thank you for suggesting the possible solution of shortening the bimini framing -- but considering the work involved, I am leaning to the loss in performance

PAC3142,

I also thought of the "kicker" vang which would negate the requirement of having a topping lift -- but alas, on my new sail I chose to remain with the Dutchman Flaking system which requires a topping lift. However; I do appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks again all

 

[splax]

zoom,
sorry to be stating an obvious, but are you sure your main is fully raised ?? I have seen several situations where the main looks to be at the top, but there are inches to go which do make a big performance difference.

 

[Zoom767]

Hi Splax,

Thank you for your reply and don't be sorry -- a very valid point

I've ensured that when my boom is fully supported by the topping lift (i.e. main sail flaked and wrapped up within the main sail cover) that the topping lift does its job by just supporting the boom so that it will not contact the bimini top. Actually, I assure that there is at least approx 2" of clearance.

Once I raise the main sail, I visually confirm that the halyard has brought the sail up to its maximum height.

The problem occurs when I introduce the tensioning of the the main "sheet". This will draw the boom down close to the bimini and if the topping lift has not been loosened, then these two systems work against each other. The million dollar question is how much to loosen the topping lift without it causing an issue in catching the battens during a tack.

 

[splax]

how about the tension in your leech line ? not that it should be so tight that it "hooks" your main, but it sounds as if maybe the main has a stretched out leech or made for another boat...

 

[Fast Ed]

Is the luff of your mainsail stretched so much that the boom hits your dodger? Is the forestay loose? These are the questions I would be asking. You may be able to solve this by having a sail maker re-cut the main. You may also be able to solve it by tightening the forestay.