Why the topping lift?

Whatfiero1 · Sep 16, 2018

Good point. I guess if you were pulling out sail with the sheet released it would keep boom from swinging off arch. But most New boat owners will modify there New boat to there liking just always try to modify in a way it can be put back if ya plan don't work out

rgranger · Sep 16, 2018

The topping lift keeps the boom from falling when the sail is not raised. If your boat has a rigid vang then you don't really need a topping lift. But if not, then when you release the halyard, you boom will fall and strike the arch. Also, like @Whatfiero1 mentioned.... if your sheet is released, the boom can (will) swing out over the water and if your sail is not holding up the boom, the boom will fall and could strike the water.

Hello Below · Sep 16, 2018

jngotasail said:
Hi,,
I am new to sailing so might be asking a dumb question but here goes.
Considering my Hunter has a stainless arch and the boom is attached to the arch by the traveller, what is the purpose of the topping lift?

jngotasail,
Call it what you may, this line is very versatile. It could be employed as a spare main halyard, a hoisting halyard or a topping lift. If you have a rigid boomvang then the latter is more or less off the list. If not and you want to move or use the boom other than directly over the traveler then you would use the topping lift. Examples maybe to move the boom to one side so not to shade solar panels on the dodger or possible using the boom/mainsheet to lift something out of the water or off the dock. Once outside the range of the traveler w/o a rigid vang, then the boom will drop down unless the mainsail is out/hoisted or a topping lift is in place. This halyard can certainly be used as either a primary or secondary halyard to hoist someone or something to the top of the mast. It could even be used as part of a kedge anchor system, if necessary.
These are just some examples. I am sure there are more.

uncledom · Sep 16, 2018

The topping lift was used to induce twist in the sail to spill air. Then the boom vang was invented to do the same thing without a line hanging off the mast and onto the back of your boom, just swinging around slack 99% of the time. But don't be fooled by Hunter's rigid vang. It may not have a piston in it and so may only be there as a stopper so the boom can't rest on the traveler on top of the arch. Good news is Selden will be happy to sell you the piston to make that vang actually functional.

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rgranger · Sep 17, 2018

uncledom said:
The topping lift was used to induce twist in the sail to spill air. Then the boom vang was invented to do the same thing without a line hanging off the mast and onto the back of your boom, just swinging around slack 99% of the time. ....

Huh?

To my mind, twist is created by the traveler when reaching or pointing. The vang is used off the wind to keep the boom from lifting up and should be slack when reaching or pointing and the only time the topping lift is used for sail control is when the air is really light and you want to power up your sail by increasing the size of the pocket.

uncledom · Sep 17, 2018

rgranger said:
Huh?

To my mind, twist is created by the traveler when reaching or pointing. The vang is used off the wind to keep the boom from lifting up and should be slack when reaching or pointing and the only time the topping lift is used for sail control is when the air is really light and you want to power up your sail by increasing the size of the pocket.

I could show you a lot of articles but this gets the point across.
http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/Articles/Aug00/dell0800.htm

rgranger · Sep 17, 2018

uncledom said:
I could show you a lot of articles but this gets the point across.
http://www.sailingbreezes.com/Sailing_Breezes_Current/Articles/Aug00/dell0800.htm

Thanks, That is an interesting article.

jeff356 · Sep 18, 2018

If sailing in lighter winds and you want more belly in the sail you can release the vang and take in the topping lift to give more draft for power.
Also used as a backup halyard as I have in mast furling, if I want to go up the mast without removing the main sail and jib I can use the topping lift and Spinnaker halyard.
Not sure if your 33 is a later Hunter but they are known to sail on anchor, so I use a bridle on the anchor chain and put up my riding sail on the topping lift as it helps us from tacking back and forth on anchor. Even worse if the dinghy is on the front cabin top creating even more windage.
Jeff

Meriachee · Sep 18, 2018

A nice traveler and a working outhaul is a better way of controlling sail depth than a topping lift.

Ron20324 · Sep 18, 2018

With some tackle and line, you can lift MOB out of the water.

Will Gilmore · Sep 18, 2018

uncledom said:
The topping lift was used to induce twist in the sail to spill air. Then the boom vang was invented to do the same thing

That is not quite right. Your article suggests relaxing the vang to allow more twist, not induce it. I know it's kind of picking nits here, but those first two sentences caught my attention. The topping lift can induce twist, but the vang can only allow for natural twist restricted by the weight of the boom.
Good article, by the way.

-Will (Dragonfly)

DayDreamer41 · Sep 18, 2018

@Will Gilmore unless of course your vang has a gas spring which lifts the boom when the vang halyard is released. Without the spring one has to release the vang halyard while taking up the topping lift to raise the boom.
We have in mast furling and I have found that if I raise the boom with the topping lift prior to rolling out the main it eases tension on the system and allows for easier sail deployment.
As @uncledom said and I have one on order I am going to fit my vang with a gas spring to make it easier to raise the boom.

Meriachee · Sep 19, 2018

Why would you have a rigid vang without a spring?

uncledom · Sep 19, 2018

Hunter, I can only imagine to save a couple of dollars, installed Selden rigid boom vangs with no lifting piston or spring. The vang was actually used as a stop to ensure that the boom could not be pulled down onto the traveler on top of the arch. For a 125.00 you can fix that in about an hour. The piston is readily available.

uncledom · Sep 19, 2018

@DayDreamer41 , you don't need to lift the boom with the topping lift just make sure you slack both the vang and the main sheet so the boom can rise on it's own. I use the "topping lift" as a second halyard and have changed it out to a much higher grade of line. It's the one I use to service the mast while using the spinnaker halyard as my back up fall arrester.