Boom

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:52 am

I have noticed a few boats that have an additional cable coming from the mast head down to the back of the boom?

This cable was attached while the sails were up? I like the idea due to my boom being supported by the sail, it does tend to get in the way once in a while?

Is there any of you using this system?

Gus · Post by **Gus** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:12 am

That's a Topping Lift my friend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topping_lift

I don't have one, I just run a line from the backstay with a hook.

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:06 am

Gus is right on!
Topping lift.

I do not have one on either of my 22'ers.
I have the same line to the back stay for supporting the boom.

Scott

tnc110 · Post by **tnc110** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:18 am

I too use a hook to the backstay...

I have a question as to how/where you keep the gooseneck on the mast...both with the sail up and down. I'm not sure if I'm rigging it right, but I tie a short piece of rope to the eyelet in the sail, go around the front of the mast, down the mast, through the eyelet and back up to the sail. Then i pull the halyard to pull it all tight...is this right or is there an easier way to rig it?

Then when i drop the sail I slide the gooseneck up above the slot in the mast and insert the pin that keeps the gooseneck from sliding down. This all works, but it seems there might be an easier way to do this all...

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:24 am

I had a topping lift on my previous sailboats and found it very handy.... I am thinking of rigging one on the chrysler but from what I have concluded so far , I woul dhave to do some serious mods to my masthead and I'd rather not bother...also the topping lift can sometime get pretty fouled up in the running rigging and also wear and tear on the sail.... so.. as the others have mentioned, I simply use a hook from the back stay and in some situations... I actually remove the boom w/the flaked sail in order to get more head space in the cockpit at anchor/slip... it is suprisingly easy and light.

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:18 pm

Wanting to add a topping lift but not modify the masthead I added a small block just below the spreaders and ran my topping lift through it.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:40 pm

Yes, install a mast gate.

tnc110 wrote:I too use a hook to the backstay...

I have a question as to how/where you keep the gooseneck on the mast...both with the sail up and down. I'm not sure if I'm rigging it right, but I tie a short piece of rope to the eyelet in the sail, go around the front of the mast, down the mast, through the eyelet and back up to the sail. Then i pull the halyard to pull it all tight...is this right or is there an easier way to rig it?

Then when i drop the sail I slide the gooseneck up above the slot in the mast and insert the pin that keeps the gooseneck from sliding down. This all works, but it seems there might be an easier way to do this all...

tnc110 · Post by **tnc110** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:36 pm

ok...i see how the mast gate works, but what do i use to put in the mast groove to keep the boom from going all the way down to the bottom of the mast...I assume there is something designed to do the job?

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:52 pm

I have the short line in place, that hooks to the back stay to support the boom when not in use.and I understand what all of you are saying..

The ones that I saw were using it while sailing? Is this a normal practice?

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:28 pm

A topping lift can be left in place however it is usually slackened. It does not hold the boom up while sailing. The sail does.

The problems with the topping lift are while sailing the leach of the sail will likely catch or rub on the topping lift. If you have a large roach with battons you will have problems. The batton pockets love to snag the topping lift while raising or lowering.

The benifits are the ability to support the boom while lowering the sail and not afficing the end to anything. The boom can swing with the wind if necessary.
Also once the sail is down, you can leave the boom up and swing it to starboard or port using maybe preventers or something to hold it away from the companion way hatch.

Scott

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:16 pm

I use the masthead to boom lift on EE, but in her case it doesn't interfere with the leech. The lift as set up doesn't hold the boom as high as the sail does, so when the sails are up there's slack in the lift, so it doesn't affect the sail shape, and I leave it on.

As Scott said, having the lift this way allows the boom to move port to starboard, and I use a piece of shock cord as a preventer to hold the boom off to the side for cockpit headroom.

EE used to have an adjustable lift with a block at the masthead. That allowed me to get the boom end higher for headroom, but the sail cover bulk limited how much you could raise the boom, and I found I liked the preventer better. I do miss being able to hoist pennants with the block though !

Gus · Post by **Gus** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:52 am

Yes, a Sail Track Stopper...

http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products ... ?grp=m22-3

tnc110 wrote:ok...i see how the mast gate works, but what do i use to put in the mast groove to keep the boom from going all the way down to the bottom of the mast...I assume there is something designed to do the job?

javelin · Post by **javelin** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:43 am

I have a double block hanging from the boom about 2/3 back . Red and green lines are run through the block and to blocks on the cabin and then back to cleats on either side of the entry hatch. This is in effect the traveller and I can move the boom either side of the hatch and not clunk my head while in dock.

bmwdad · Post by **bmwdad** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:23 pm

I sailed with an old salty sailor once in light winds. He left the topping lift on so that there was more bag in the sail and said this helped the performance.

Bhacurly · Post by **Bhacurly** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:27 pm

I like my topping lift...

I also use it to lift the boom and give the sail a fuller shape,, and to keep the boom up when anchored,, I also have the short cable to the backstay to secure the boom...

tnc110,
I also have a short rope that ties to a ring at the mast base and runs up to the boom that I adjust the luff tension with. I have often thought about putting a pulley system and cleat in so I don't have to climb onto the cabin roof to make the adjustment, especially when reefing,,, At the end of the day to get everything into the sail cover, I use a Bungee cord to keep the boom up, and until I install a mast gate, the rope keeps the boom from coming up too high and falling out

Billy