Here is a picture of main sail with topping lift. Question: do I remove topping lift from boom and cleat to mast or leave topping lift attached to boom either tight or loose?
Topping Lift
- Thread starter rebel9361
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Just Loosen
I would probably leave it loosely attached. My experience is with topping lifts on larger boats, but I would still probably do the same thing. I used to leave it just loosely attached all the time, so when I dropped the sail, the boom didn't fall into the cockpit. But when I raised the sail, it went slightly loose. I think it depends on whether it's easier for you to cleat it to the mast, or to loosen it. It will add windage either way. Just don’t leave it tight. It must have some slack when sailing.
I would probably leave it loosely attached. My experience is with topping lifts on larger boats, but I would still probably do the same thing. I used to leave it just loosely attached all the time, so when I dropped the sail, the boom didn't fall into the cockpit. But when I raised the sail, it went slightly loose. I think it depends on whether it's easier for you to cleat it to the mast, or to loosen it. It will add windage either way. Just don’t leave it tight. It must have some slack when sailing.
Leave it on
I agree with Jon; I leave my topping line on all the time. The line in the picture looks too tight. When the main on my boat is raised, the topping line is slack, and when the main is dropped, the boom slides down and the topping line stops it from going further.
I agree with Jon; I leave my topping line on all the time. The line in the picture looks too tight. When the main on my boat is raised, the topping line is slack, and when the main is dropped, the boom slides down and the topping line stops it from going further.
Ouch!!! Topping lift blues
After I dropped the boom on a guest's head, and then on MY head, I got in the habit of leaving the topping lift cleated while sailing. I leave it loose enough so that it doesn't chafe the sail, and just enough slack so that the boom can't drop when we lower the main.
After I dropped the boom on a guest's head, and then on MY head, I got in the habit of leaving the topping lift cleated while sailing. I leave it loose enough so that it doesn't chafe the sail, and just enough slack so that the boom can't drop when we lower the main.
cleat it to the mast....
.... just to get it out of the way. It will interfere with your mainsail trim. Only time you might want to use it while sailing is to keep the leech open in very light air, otherwise it's a nuisance. Hook it back up before dropping the main to support the boom. Or...find out what kind of boat it is and find their association website.
.... just to get it out of the way. It will interfere with your mainsail trim. Only time you might want to use it while sailing is to keep the leech open in very light air, otherwise it's a nuisance. Hook it back up before dropping the main to support the boom. Or...find out what kind of boat it is and find their association website.
Live on the edge
If you enjoy standing on the edge of your boat hanging on to the boom with one hand and the topping lift with the other while the boat is moving , cleat the topping lift on the mast. To add more joy to the occasion, imagine doing this when the wind kicks up quickly and you have to reef, standing on the edge in rough seas. Now imagine that you forget the topping lift, and you lower your main, you will quickly learn why it is called a "boom". But on the other hand, you can be nerdy and leave the topping lift on all the time and suffer the consequences of losing 1/100th of a knot due to the extra windage. You can probably make up this 1/100th of a knot by asking all persons on board to completely shave their heads to cut down windage. Just some food for thought. Tony B
If you enjoy standing on the edge of your boat hanging on to the boom with one hand and the topping lift with the other while the boat is moving , cleat the topping lift on the mast. To add more joy to the occasion, imagine doing this when the wind kicks up quickly and you have to reef, standing on the edge in rough seas. Now imagine that you forget the topping lift, and you lower your main, you will quickly learn why it is called a "boom". But on the other hand, you can be nerdy and leave the topping lift on all the time and suffer the consequences of losing 1/100th of a knot due to the extra windage. You can probably make up this 1/100th of a knot by asking all persons on board to completely shave their heads to cut down windage. Just some food for thought. Tony B
Dutchman System
But remember that if you have a Dutchman System, the topping lift is intrgral to it being adjusted properly for the sail to flake.
But remember that if you have a Dutchman System, the topping lift is intrgral to it being adjusted properly for the sail to flake.
Simple
Mike is right: the toppiing lift is normally slack when sailing. If not it can prevent correct sail trim when close reaching and the main is sheeted in tight, or whenever a flat, de-powered sail shape is desired. Adjust it slightly slack when the main is sheeted amidships, then forget about it. Paul is right: leave it attached and forget about it. Let the racers detach their lifts, shave their legs, and urinate before the race for that imagined extra speed. Joe is right: in very light air, the lift can be tightened a bit to overcome the weight of the boom and allow the desired curvature in the main to create lift. It sometimes makes the difference between ghosting along nicely and resorting to the engine. This is technically a "cheat," since the topping lift is not a sail control, per se., but it is respected as a clever solution employed by a shrewd skipper.
Mike is right: the toppiing lift is normally slack when sailing. If not it can prevent correct sail trim when close reaching and the main is sheeted in tight, or whenever a flat, de-powered sail shape is desired. Adjust it slightly slack when the main is sheeted amidships, then forget about it. Paul is right: leave it attached and forget about it. Let the racers detach their lifts, shave their legs, and urinate before the race for that imagined extra speed. Joe is right: in very light air, the lift can be tightened a bit to overcome the weight of the boom and allow the desired curvature in the main to create lift. It sometimes makes the difference between ghosting along nicely and resorting to the engine. This is technically a "cheat," since the topping lift is not a sail control, per se., but it is respected as a clever solution employed by a shrewd skipper.
Adjust for Clearances
That's my idea of practical. Since my boat isn't a raceboat, but one of pleasure cruising, I adjust the topping lift to make certain my boom will clear the galley pop-up top. As a bonus, you can stand up in the cockpit without the worry of the boom smacking you in the head. If I didn't do this, then the wind would raise the boom to approximately the same height anyway. So no big deal.
That's my idea of practical. Since my boat isn't a raceboat, but one of pleasure cruising, I adjust the topping lift to make certain my boom will clear the galley pop-up top. As a bonus, you can stand up in the cockpit without the worry of the boom smacking you in the head. If I didn't do this, then the wind would raise the boom to approximately the same height anyway. So no big deal.
Au contraire
The topping lift is most certainly a "sail control" and, oddly, while saying it isn't a sail control, Anchor Down describes precisely how it is used. Don Guillette's book on sail trim includes the topping lift as a sail control and advocates its use just as described by Anchor, for light wind to create an air foil shape to the main.
The topping lift is most certainly a "sail control" and, oddly, while saying it isn't a sail control, Anchor Down describes precisely how it is used. Don Guillette's book on sail trim includes the topping lift as a sail control and advocates its use just as described by Anchor, for light wind to create an air foil shape to the main.
Got it!
Now I know, I think. Thanx for all the input. I will sail away next week, and leave the topping lift in place, and slack. After some practice I will move to the bigger sail boat, practice some more, and sell the power boat. Thanks Again!
Now I know, I think. Thanx for all the input. I will sail away next week, and leave the topping lift in place, and slack. After some practice I will move to the bigger sail boat, practice some more, and sell the power boat. Thanks Again!
Boomkicker
This is the best topping lift eliminator I've even seen. See attached link. I ordered one but haven't sail it yet. I've seen it on a few boats. Seems to make sense. Lots of good reviews on it.
This is the best topping lift eliminator I've even seen. See attached link. I ordered one but haven't sail it yet. I've seen it on a few boats. Seems to make sense. Lots of good reviews on it.
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