Do I need a topping lift?

[Travelling Westerly]

Evening all.

Whats the purpose of a topping lift if you have a rod kicker with a gas strut fitted?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

If your boom is supported by other means when the sail is not supporting it, then you don't need a topping lift. It is suggested that a topping lift can double as a spare halyard but with in mast furling systems, that is less likely. With in mast furling systems a topping lift may be useful for hoisting someone up the mast where an aft facing halyard is useful if working on the aft end of the mast head.

 

[Travelling Westerly]

If your boom is supported by other means when the sail is not supporting it, then you don't need a topping lift. It is suggested that a topping lift can double as a spare halyard but with in mast furling systems, that is less likely. With in mast furling systems a topping lift may be useful for hoisting someone up the mast where an aft facing halyard is useful if working on the aft end of the mast head.

Thanks BOB

 

[matt1]

Thanks BOB

On my last boat I suspect the rod kicker was on the margins for supporting the boom, and as the boat rolled in wash / waves the boom could sway from side to side - this could have been fixed with a topping lift & then pulling down hard on the mainsheet

 

[Refueler]

I'm with "matt1" ..... why trust just a rod kicker - if a topping lift is already there ... then why not use it ?

I cannot help but think about the triangle of forces ...........

A boom with no sail set is levering that Rod Kicker with a large part of the boom outboard.
With sail set - the boom is held up by the sail and kicker is there to control rise and fall etc.

A boom with no sail and a topping lift is supported at the furthest end and is far kinder ... especially when you harden the mainsheet to stop boom swinging all over place .. or as some do - unclip sheets and clip to one side of cockpit.

 

[Catalina36]

I'm with "matt1" ..... why trust just a rod kicker - if a topping lift is already there ... then why not use it ?

I cannot help but think about the triangle of forces ...........

A boom with no sail set is levering that Rod Kicker with a large part of the boom outboard.
With sail set - the boom is held up by the sail and kicker is there to control rise and fall etc.

A boom with no sail and a topping lift is supported at the furthest end and is far kinder ... especially when you harden the mainsheet to stop boom swinging all over place .. or as some do - unclip sheets and clip to one side of cockpit.

"A boom with no sail set is levering that Rod Kicker with a large part of the boom outboard."

Not if you disconnect the main halyard from the sail and connect it to the topping lift point to stop it slapping on the mast all night.

With a full roach, full length battens and lazy jacks, a topping lift can get in the way of hoisting sail. Just when you want to swing the sail either side of a jack, the topping lift gets in the way and stops it swinging.

 

[Travelling Westerly]

On my last boat I suspect the rod kicker was on the margins for supporting the boom, and as the boat rolled in wash / waves the boom could sway from side to side - this could have been fixed with a topping lift & then pulling down hard on the mainsheet

Ah didnt think about that. Good call thanks

 

[Refueler]

"A boom with no sail set is levering that Rod Kicker with a large part of the boom outboard."

Not if you disconnect the main halyard from the sail and connect it to the topping lift point to stop it slapping on the mast all night.

I use sail ties to pull halyards away from mast to the side stays. I prefer my halyard to stay made fast to its sail. Topping lift is so easy ..

With a full roach, full length battens and lazy jacks, a topping lift can get in the way of hoisting sail. Just when you want to swing the sail either side of a jack, the topping lift gets in the way and stops it swinging.

Fine so you found one situation against TL's ................. what about the majority out there with standard issue cruising outfits ??

 

[Deleted member 36384]

A properly specified rod kicker with the correctly sized gas spring replaces the topping lift, it is what it is designed to do. Additionally, in light airs, the gas spring can lift the boom to help optimise sail shape, just by easing the kicker. There are lots of boats sailing with rod kickers with gas springs and no topping lifts. The gas spring can be changed for a more powerful version if it is too light. Selden has the various specifications to check sizing. My own experience with them is that they make slab reefing a lot easier.

 

[johnalison]

You don't need a topping lift but it's sometimes nice to have. That's about it, really.

 

[Babylon]

But if you got rid of the topping lift, then you'd never be able to say "topping lift" again...

 

[Aquaboy]

Only you know how you manage your boat in reality so disconnect it and see how you get on.
Of cause the day you need to use the boom and main sheet to lift something heavy on board, then you'll need it..

 

[dansaskip]

You do need a toping lift because as matt2 says "as the boat rolled in wash / waves the boom could sway from side to side - this could have been fixed with a topping lift & then pulling down hard on the mainsheet." Its also useful to lift the boom higher when at anchor, or moored or in a marina. Of course this depends on how big your boat is or how tall you are to some extent. I have a rod kicker and use a topping lift. Never found the topping lift to interfere with sail hoist.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Useful safety for going up the mast.

 

[Frogmogman]

But if you got rid of the topping lift, then you'd never be able to say "topping lift" again...

There's nothing to stop you calling the spinnaker pole uphaul a topping lift.

Mind you, we prefer to call ours the upf***er

 

[TernVI]

I have owned two boats without topping lifts.
It's perfectly possible to do without.
It can make reefing a little quicker but more physical as there is one less line to tend but the reefing line has to lift the boom..
No problem if the gear all works sweetly.
Take the halyard to the end of the boom when the main is down.
IMHO, the boom should always be pinned firmly when the boat is left, as that is the major cause of gooseneck wear.

One positive is that it does away with a rope bashing away at the leach of the main if you have significant roach.
OTOH, we did a couple of times, rig a temporary lift using a spare halyard, to take the weight of the boom racing in a drifter.

 

[RupertW]

Useful safety for going up the mast.

That’s the most useful thing for me - I tend to go up the main halyard using climbing things but have the harness hanging from the topping lift with the slack being taken off as I go.

Topping lift doesn’t help much stopping the boom swaying from side to side compared to just using the end of the mainsheet to tension it to a midships cleat.

I used to tension and release the topping lift but then realised that with mainsheet and vang not too tight then the kicker keeps the boom above the Bimini so it is no longer ever adjusted.

 

[Clancy Moped]

We used to use it for holding a wind shoot like this, very effective.

 

[Graham376]

You do need a toping lift because as matt2 says "as the boat rolled in wash / waves the boom could sway from side to side - this could have been fixed with a topping lift & then pulling down hard on the mainsheet." Its also useful to lift the boom higher when at anchor, or moored or in a marina. Of course this depends on how big your boat is or how tall you are to some extent. I have a rod kicker and use a topping lift. Never found the topping lift to interfere with sail hoist.

+1

Invaluable when you need to use the boom to lift heavy loads on/off the boat.

 

[Refueler]

+1

Invaluable when you need to use the boom to lift heavy loads on/off the boat.

I'd forgotten that ... my Mercury Saildrive was a real pain until I started using the boom and TL. I even considered as per the old Practical Boat Owners booklets of DIY stuff - to have an extension piece to the boom to allow me to drop O/board onto its mount.