Hi All, I wanted to throw this out and ask how important the use of your topping lift is? I am in the process if running all lines back to my cockpit and am wondering if I should do the same with my topping lift. Right now, on my Catalina 30 I have an old-fasioned type that is adjusted on the boom towards the aft section with a block and cleat. The topping lift is fixed at the top-aft of the mast and runs to the aft section of the boom....thining about running it up from the boom and down the mast - then back to the cockpit. I mainly cruise and do not race. Thanks - Rob
Topping Lift
- Thread starter Rob19574
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do you have a rigid vang??
if your catalina has a rigid boom vang, you can do away with the topping lift as the topping lift holds the boom up when not having the main up. A rigid boom vang does the same thing making the topping lift obsolete.
if your catalina has a rigid boom vang, you can do away with the topping lift as the topping lift holds the boom up when not having the main up. A rigid boom vang does the same thing making the topping lift obsolete.
i have one of the first catalina 30's to come with a ducthman system, which means i always have a rigged topping lift. since this is a total non-issue with ducthcman equipped boats that catalina has made standard since, i wonder why it's ever an issue at all with other boats.
But you could easily install…
a rigid boom vang to replace your existing soft one. Garhauer will custom make one for your boat at an incredibly reasonably cost. It's not a difficult installation: I did it on my Cal 20 easily - and I'm about as far from a handyman, let alone a marine engineer, as a human being can get.
a rigid boom vang to replace your existing soft one. Garhauer will custom make one for your boat at an incredibly reasonably cost. It's not a difficult installation: I did it on my Cal 20 easily - and I'm about as far from a handyman, let alone a marine engineer, as a human being can get.
Adjustable topping lift.
I did as you suggested. I fixed the boom end and attached a spare halyard to the mast end. I have yet to run it back but will someday. I like the idea of a rigid vang but there is one problem. The vang will not support the weight of the boom, the main, and you. If your or crew has ever had to hang on the boom(when the 2-foot wave hits you in the no wake zone!) it will collapse. This isn't too dangerous if you always flake at the dock.
I did as you suggested. I fixed the boom end and attached a spare halyard to the mast end. I have yet to run it back but will someday. I like the idea of a rigid vang but there is one problem. The vang will not support the weight of the boom, the main, and you. If your or crew has ever had to hang on the boom(when the 2-foot wave hits you in the no wake zone!) it will collapse. This isn't too dangerous if you always flake at the dock.
Easy Fix
I like wire topping lifts. They hang from a pin on the masthead that puts them further aft so they don't chafe the leech as much. A wire topping lift that adjusts from the end of the boom works just fine. If you have to run the adjustment aft, why not just take the adjustment line forward on (or inside) the boom and then aft? Rope topping lifts add windage. Running a rope topping lift inside the mast and then aft adds another hole in the mast for the exit and more weight aloft. An *external* rope topping lift makes sense. The topping lift then becomes a spare halyard for either the main or jib.
I like wire topping lifts. They hang from a pin on the masthead that puts them further aft so they don't chafe the leech as much. A wire topping lift that adjusts from the end of the boom works just fine. If you have to run the adjustment aft, why not just take the adjustment line forward on (or inside) the boom and then aft? Rope topping lifts add windage. Running a rope topping lift inside the mast and then aft adds another hole in the mast for the exit and more weight aloft. An *external* rope topping lift makes sense. The topping lift then becomes a spare halyard for either the main or jib.
Not critical
I don't think the topping lift is important enough to justify the cost or effort of rerouting it back to the cockpit. Most sailors I know use it solely to keep the boom up when the mainsail is dropped. I have heard that some use it as a sail control (to deepen the draft of the main in light winds I guess), but I have never done so. As other posters have suggested, if you want to switch to a solid vang, you won't need to have a topping line anymore (assuming you use it only to hold up the boom). IMHO, I wouldn't spend the money for a new solid vang if I had a serviceable soft vang and topping lift combo; there's always something with a higher priority on my boat.
I don't think the topping lift is important enough to justify the cost or effort of rerouting it back to the cockpit. Most sailors I know use it solely to keep the boom up when the mainsail is dropped. I have heard that some use it as a sail control (to deepen the draft of the main in light winds I guess), but I have never done so. As other posters have suggested, if you want to switch to a solid vang, you won't need to have a topping line anymore (assuming you use it only to hold up the boom). IMHO, I wouldn't spend the money for a new solid vang if I had a serviceable soft vang and topping lift combo; there's always something with a higher priority on my boat.
My rigid vang is actually
sprung. It's hard to setup enough tension between the vang and the mainsheet to stop the boom from flailing around in a seaway. I'd like to rig a real topping lift (like a halyard). Should the topping lift be left connected (but slacked) while sailing, or should it be disconnected from the boom and led to the mast base to keep it out of the way. If it's left connected to the boom and slacked, won't it chafe the heck out of the leech of the mainsail? What about a short piece of wire off the backstay (nico pressed) with a shackle that just snaps on the boom? I used to have an ODay 22 that had that setup, and it seemed to work pretty well. Will swaging the wire to the backstay weaken it? -Smitty
sprung. It's hard to setup enough tension between the vang and the mainsheet to stop the boom from flailing around in a seaway. I'd like to rig a real topping lift (like a halyard). Should the topping lift be left connected (but slacked) while sailing, or should it be disconnected from the boom and led to the mast base to keep it out of the way. If it's left connected to the boom and slacked, won't it chafe the heck out of the leech of the mainsail? What about a short piece of wire off the backstay (nico pressed) with a shackle that just snaps on the boom? I used to have an ODay 22 that had that setup, and it seemed to work pretty well. Will swaging the wire to the backstay weaken it? -Smitty
Topping Lift and Dutchman
As Mortyd said, a topping lift and dutchman flaking system go hand in hand. Earlier this season, I ran my topping lift control line back to the cockpit through one of the last stoppers so that while under sail, I could take some tension off of the topping lift providing better sail shape. Works like a champ. I like this better than the idea of unclipping the topping lift because forgetting to reclip the topping lift before lowering the sails seems like something I might forget to do and that could be dangerous.
As Mortyd said, a topping lift and dutchman flaking system go hand in hand. Earlier this season, I ran my topping lift control line back to the cockpit through one of the last stoppers so that while under sail, I could take some tension off of the topping lift providing better sail shape. Works like a champ. I like this better than the idea of unclipping the topping lift because forgetting to reclip the topping lift before lowering the sails seems like something I might forget to do and that could be dangerous.
Rob, we have a Dutchman system on...
our boat. At one point I had the topping lift running through a line stopper, but changed it around so as to free one up for our spin halyard. I moved the working end of the topping lift from the mast to the end of the boom by installing two turning blocks, one equipped with a jam cleat. That way I can trim and release the working end of the topping lift from the cockpit. I'm very pleased with the arrangement. Terry
our boat. At one point I had the topping lift running through a line stopper, but changed it around so as to free one up for our spin halyard. I moved the working end of the topping lift from the mast to the end of the boom by installing two turning blocks, one equipped with a jam cleat. That way I can trim and release the working end of the topping lift from the cockpit. I'm very pleased with the arrangement. Terry
Rob I have your set up and it works fine
Wire topping lift is fixed at masthead, terminates with a small block a couple feet above boom end, then there is a loop from the boom end thru the block back to a cam cleat on end of boom. So I have a 2 to 1 purchase when lifting. I pull down and boom goes up, while standing in cockpit. I could re-rig so topping lift can be used as an extra main halyard, by running it back down the mast and cleating off at base, but haven't got to it.
Wire topping lift is fixed at masthead, terminates with a small block a couple feet above boom end, then there is a loop from the boom end thru the block back to a cam cleat on end of boom. So I have a 2 to 1 purchase when lifting. I pull down and boom goes up, while standing in cockpit. I could re-rig so topping lift can be used as an extra main halyard, by running it back down the mast and cleating off at base, but haven't got to it.
Masthead Access
Rob, Unless your boat is masthead rig the topping lift is the only other way of getting to the top of the mast should the main halyard break or the sail jam in the groove. My headboard car jammed above the upper spreaders last year. You may need to pull a heavier rope through with it for a bosun's chair. If you do not use it to support the boom when the sail is down, then you could just make it off at the mast heel in case of trouble.
Rob, Unless your boat is masthead rig the topping lift is the only other way of getting to the top of the mast should the main halyard break or the sail jam in the groove. My headboard car jammed above the upper spreaders last year. You may need to pull a heavier rope through with it for a bosun's chair. If you do not use it to support the boom when the sail is down, then you could just make it off at the mast heel in case of trouble.
Not a tuning control
Ours is a wire pinned to the top of the mast, and fastened to the end of the boom with a line as others have described. There is one position of our topping lift that keeps the boom off our heads, and lets the mainsail lift the boom when it is up and pulling. So we seldom adjust it. If we did have to adjust it, that would only be when raising or lowering the main. Since it is not a tuning control, I wouldn't run it through an elaborate system for adjusting under way. There are too many sail controls to take up that hardware and deck space. David Lady Lillie Since
Ours is a wire pinned to the top of the mast, and fastened to the end of the boom with a line as others have described. There is one position of our topping lift that keeps the boom off our heads, and lets the mainsail lift the boom when it is up and pulling. So we seldom adjust it. If we did have to adjust it, that would only be when raising or lowering the main. Since it is not a tuning control, I wouldn't run it through an elaborate system for adjusting under way. There are too many sail controls to take up that hardware and deck space. David Lady Lillie Since
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