Boom Topping Lift Questions - Help

[Joe L.]

My boom topping lift (not adjustable) seems to be too short. With the main raised the topping lift has no slack at all and the leech side of the main is very loose. In order to make my main effective, I have to unclip my topping lift and then once it's unclipped, I'm not quite sure what to do with it to keep it out of the way. I've been clipping it to one of the port shrouds. This method, however, can make it very difficult to reattach when I'm ready to lower the main. I have to get directly into the wind and when the sail is flapping I have to quickly release the main sheet and lift the boom and attach the topping lift all before the sail fills with wind again (and when the sheet is out enough for me to lift the boom to the topping lift clip, a gust of wind can swing the boom out about 5 feet - disaster waiting to happen). If I don't reattach the topping lift before lowering the main, the boom comes down on my dodger - and I don't have the $92,000 it costs to replace a dodger.

Questions:

1. Why is my topping lift so short??? (My boom rest at a steep angle from the mast when the boat is sitting at its mooring, instead of a nice attractive 90 degree angle like all the boats around it.)

2. What do I do with the topping lift when it is not in use (when I have the main raised)?

3. Can I put somekind of extension on it?

4. Do you know of a better method of reattaching the lift before I lower the main? (it's a matter of time before I'm holding up the boom trying to clip on the topping lift and WHAMO - big gust of wind and I'm in the drink with a big growing purple knot rising out of my forehead.)

As always, thanks for your help.

Joe L.
bob CD25
#364
Bristol, RI



jl0246@alpha.rwu.edu

[Bill]

Hi Joe

There could many reasons for such a short topping lift. This solution it either to replace it (it can be done without dropping the stick) or splicing a piece of line to the existing line (a little more difficult IF the line is old/used).

To replace it entirely, get the new line (the owners manual should tell the length of line needed), and sew the new line to one end of the old line using your sail repair kit stuff. Sew it good and in line (butt to butt) . Then just pull the old line and the new line should "snake" right throught the masthead attachment and down.

Hope this helps. Fair winds

Bill
Captain Commanding
S/V Rhapsody (the Original)
CD25D #148
Oklahoma Contingent of the NE Fleet, CDSOA, Inc.
Galley Wench S/V Evening Light
<A HREF="http://www.applegatemarina.com">Kerr Lake, OK (Oklahoma's Outlet to the Sea)</A>

My boom topping lift (not adjustable) seems to be too short. With the main raised the topping lift has no slack at all and the leech side of the main is very loose. In order to make my main effective, I have to unclip my topping lift and then once it's unclipped, I'm not quite sure what to do with it to keep it out of the way. I've been clipping it to one of the port shrouds. This method, however, can make it very difficult to reattach when I'm ready to lower the main. I have to get directly into the wind and when the sail is flapping I have to quickly release the main sheet and lift the boom and attach the topping lift all before the sail fills with wind again (and when the sheet is out enough for me to lift the boom to the topping lift clip, a gust of wind can swing the boom out about 5 feet - disaster waiting to happen). If I don't reattach the topping lift before lowering the main, the boom comes down on my dodger - and I don't have the $92,000 it costs to replace a dodger.

Questions:

1. Why is my topping lift so short??? (My boom rest at a steep angle from the mast when the boat is sitting at its mooring, instead of a nice attractive 90 degree angle like all the boats around it.)

2. What do I do with the topping lift when it is not in use (when I have the main raised)?

3. Can I put somekind of extension on it?

4. Do you know of a better method of reattaching the lift before I lower the main? (it's a matter of time before I'm holding up the boom trying to clip on the topping lift and WHAMO - big gust of wind and I'm in the drink with a big growing purple knot rising out of my forehead.)

As always, thanks for your help.

Joe L.
bob CD25
#364
Bristol, RI

cd25d@rhapsodysails.com

[Joel]

I don't know what your topping lift arrangement is, whether your topping lift runs up (or rhrough) the mast and then down to the back of the boom or terminates at and is attached to the mast-head. A common configuration in my marina is that there is a length of wire attached to the mast-head at the bottom end of which is a block with a V-cleat. A short line runs to another block with a clip on the end for attaching to the boom-end. I don't know if I'm describing it exactly right, but this makes it adjustable. When I read your description I wondered if the line thingy at the end was missing.

The topping lift my Ty came with was a short piece of wire attached to the backstay. If not tightened enough, it would slide down. If tightened enough to not slide, I was concerned that it would damage the strands of the backstay. Since I have no dodger to worry about, I just let the boom flop until I can use my main halyard to hold up the boom-end.

BTW - I could get you a new dodger AND a whole new boat under it for less than $92,000!

Joel
Pokey II
'73 Ty #549 (still for sale)
Bayside, NY



bondy_joelNOSPAM@hotmail.com

[PatO]

Mine has a block on the boom and a block with a becket on the topping lift. The boom is raised or lowered by pulling a 1/4" braided line that is threaded threaded thru the the blocks and secured by a cam cleat attached to the boom.
Perhaps this arrangement will solve your problem.
Cheers,

Pat



fornaft@NShotmail.com

[georgia]

I was also wondering what a $92,000 dodger looks like!

[diana p.]

Check out the illustrations on line at http://www.txdirect.net/users/cd27/ linked from this site. There is a drawing of what the topping lift should look like. This is what ours looks like and it works just fine. Maybe yours has been modified somewhere along the road.

Diana P.
s/v aja
CD25 #530
Fairhaven, MA



chicktnt@aol.com

[Dana]

You appear to have what is termed a "fixed topping lift" which is indeed too short. I would recommend extending it and taking the extension through a turning block on the end of the boom to a small cleat. You can now adjust this for horizontal boom positioning at the dock and you can release about an inch or two of slack before hoisting the main. As you raise the main the topping lift would become a little slack but the topping lift would always remain "attached" so you would avoid all that extra work when dousing the main....

Dana

_______________________________________________

My boom topping lift (not adjustable) seems to be too short. With the main raised the topping lift has no slack at all and the leech side of the main is very loose. In order to make my main effective, I have to unclip my topping lift and then once it's unclipped, I'm not quite sure what to do with it to keep it out of the way. I've been clipping it to one of the port shrouds. This method, however, can make it very difficult to reattach when I'm ready to lower the main. I have to get directly into the wind and when the sail is flapping I have to quickly release the main sheet and lift the boom and attach the topping lift all before the sail fills with wind again (and when the sheet is out enough for me to lift the boom to the topping lift clip, a gust of wind can swing the boom out about 5 feet - disaster waiting to happen). If I don't reattach the topping lift before lowering the main, the boom comes down on my dodger - and I don't have the $92,000 it costs to replace a dodger.

Questions:

1. Why is my topping lift so short??? (My boom rest at a steep angle from the mast when the boat is sitting at its mooring, instead of a nice attractive 90 degree angle like all the boats around it.)

2. What do I do with the topping lift when it is not in use (when I have the main raised)?

3. Can I put somekind of extension on it?

4. Do you know of a better method of reattaching the lift before I lower the main? (it's a matter of time before I'm holding up the boom trying to clip on the topping lift and WHAMO - big gust of wind and I'm in the drink with a big growing purple knot rising out of my forehead.)

As always, thanks for your help.

Joe L.
bob CD25
#364
Bristol, RI

darenius@aol.com

[Bob Bernier]

Joe;
The sailors of yesterday used methods that were evolved over many years. Today, many new sailors purchase a production boat that has done away with traditional hardware and materials to the expedient of mass production and economy.
In the case of a proper topping lift; a wire pendant is sometimes fixed to the masthead and a small rope tackle (pulley) is mounted on the end of the boom. This arrangement might be "streamlined", but has its disadvantages; the worst being that it is out of reach when sailing!
To rig a traditional topping lift; secure a block to the masthead and a shackle or tang to the end of the boom. Next, secure a line from the shackle at the boom end up to the block at the masthead and then down to a cleat at the base of the mast or turn the line with another block to the cockpit for added convenience.
With this setup, you can hold the boom up at the mooring and use it to hold the boom when reefing the sail. Other, equally important, uses are the ability to use the boom as an outboard hoist to lift equipment from the dinghy or even lift a rescued person from the water. If the boom gooseneck is free to move, then with the topping lift, the boom can be held up higher and parallel to the boat to hold up a simple awning. Lastly, when run aground, the topping lift can be detached from the boom and attached to an anchor which is taken out with a dinghy and set so that the boat can now be tilted, lifting the keel off the bottom and away you go!
I hope these ideas help you decide to use this simple way of rigging a "proper" topping lift.

Bob Bernier
Typhoon "Belle Therese"
Nasketucket Bay
Fairhaven, MA