Fitting a Topping Lift?

Little Rascal

Little Rascal

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My wee Hunter Europa (19ft) doesn't currently have a topping lift.

I want one but I'm wondering where/how to fit it. The boom is less than 8 feet long and quite light.

Options:

1. There's room on the mast crane to drill and fit a block between the backstay and main halyard. But I'm not sure I want the fall coming down outside the mast or down the luff, and I'm afraid it might foul the sail's headboard.

2. Cheek block on the side of the mast. Is one side enough? Will it then foul the sail battens?

3. Simple line running down to a fairlead/cleat on the boom end and adjustable from there.

4. Some kind of lazyjacks system.

Any other ideas or tips I should consider? :confused:

Thanks
Jon
 
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Or could fix a clip to the backstay with some short string. Could then clip on to boom end fitting when needed.
 
Be careful with connecting your boom to your backstay.

In case you forget to disconnect you are in real trouble.

In windy conditions it is even possible that you cannot disconnect afer hoisting the main because of the pressure on your main/boom.

I capsized a boat with the boom connected to the backstay!
 
What about a Barton Boomstrut? - simple and holds the boom up - I would use one in conjunction with a detachable line to the backstay. Anything has to be better than more weight aloft.
 
I have wire attached to mast head to within four foot of boom, pulley attached to wire end and boom end, cleat on boom for fall of line.
An easy way of lifting the boom up out of the way.
 
PeteCooper said:
What about a Barton Boomstrut? - simple and holds the boom up - I would use one in conjunction with a detachable line to the backstay. Anything has to be better than more weight aloft.
Click to expand...

Hi Pete

I don't spose you can remember what you had on your Europa?

Fortunately the mast crane will allow me to tie on a block with dyneema or similar, dinghy-racing style. So I'll probably try something with that first.

I like Hardleys idea too.

I definitely wouldn't attach to the backstay. :eek:
 
adding a topping lift

My 18 ft. dayboat has a topping lift fitted by a yard for the previous owner. It uses a small block situated about 2-3 feet below the masthead [27 ft. mast] on one side only and 6mm. braid run from the boom end fitting over the block and down the side of the mast to a cleat situated near deck level. I have fashioned two loops at the cleat end - one for when on the mooring and the other giving more slack so that the mainsail isn't fouled when sailing. Seems to work well. For my first season with the boat I didn't use the topping lift as I thought that it would foul the sail but the downside was that if we lowered the mainsail in a hurry the sail and boom went all over the cockpit causing mayhem. I would recommend fitting a topping lift.
 
Little Rascal said:
I definitely wouldn't attach to the backstay.
Click to expand...

I don't see why not, on a 22 footer I had for 16 years I clipped the boom to the backstay with a small snap shackle that was attached to the backstay by a short length of cord.
It isn't a topping lift, just a support to hold the boom up when the sail was down. It never caused me any problems.
As I understand it, you use a topping lift to take the weight of the boom when reefing. On a small boat the boom isn't very heavy, so a topping lift isn't needed when reefing.
 
When the sails are down, I have a topping lift, the mainsheet pulled hard down and a light line to the backstay to hold the boom steady. Yes, I have forgotten to remove the line and it sure proves that you should always have a knife in your pocket! I also have a boom strut so I can stow the topping lift at the mast while sailing. That also means that the lift could be replace with a fixed length, clip-on line with no fall to contend with.

Rob.
 
I don't have a problem with attaching the boom to the backstay with no chance of sail up.

But I'm fitting the topping lift specifically to make hoisting and reefing the main easier...
 
For Heaven's Sake!

Fit a topping lift. If it's not quite right, modify it. You'll get it right in the end.
I did the same with the fixed topping lift on my 18 ft boat. Now I have, like another poster, two alternative lengths (in my case as there is a second vacant cleat on the mast) and can slacken it right off for sailing and re-attach it at the correct length for sail lowering.

I have a bullseye fairlead at the top of the mast (port side in my case) for the topping lift to turn through. Hardly any need for a sheave as the movement is only a few inches.
 
Hardley's idea - a simple 2:1 purchase at the boom-end - is probably the simplest and most practicable of several arrangements, each of which would work to some degree.

You won't want to need to visit the mast twice for every reef you take, so do it all from the cockpit. Use a Clamcleat for the fall-end. This works fine on a boat twice the size.

:)
 
A Europa is tiny.
You could always lead the topping lift down to a turning block and back to a cam cleat. No need for a leveraged purchase. You can hold the boom up with one hand. Standing in a small cockpit on a small boat fannying about with the boom end is adventurous.
 
Lakesailor said:
A Europa is tiny.
Click to expand...

Yup.

It doesnt need one!
I just want one! :D

I'm just not a fan of sleeping with my boom...

A block and a bit of string will do it.
I might get fancy with a cam cleat when I build up my confidence.
When I am truly experienced in topping the lift I may venture into the uncertain world of clipping to the backstay.

;)
 
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