Kicker and topping lift or telescopic strut

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Having a classic kicker and topping lift has advantages over a telescopic strut; its simple, low cost, and the topping lift halyard can be used for other purposes if need.

A telescopic strut eliminates the topping lift and provides more instant power and more control; also, no interference between leech and topping lift line and therefore opportunity to fit a bigger main. What is your preference?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Having a classic kicker and topping lift has advantages over a telescopic strut; its simple, low cost, and the topping lift halyard can be used for other purposes if need.

A telescopic strut eliminates the topping lift and provides more instant power and more control; also, no interference between leech and topping lift line and therefore opportunity to fit a bigger main. What is your preference?

Topping lift for reasons stated and for scandalising.

 

[michael_w]

Topping lift. Simple and you can drop the boom on the deck, handy when running under storm sails.

Power on the kicker is just a matter of how many blocks. Most cruisers have a feeble 4:1 Mine is 16:1.

 

[savageseadog]

It depends on the size of the boat.

 

[RupertW]

Whether on a 24 footer or 40 plus I prefer the strut. Still have the topping lift available for other uses but it doesn't require adjustment as much and the boom can never fall by accident

 

[Major_Clanger]

Powerful kicker and topping lift. The latter can be very handy in a MoB situation.

Even as standard the kicker arrangement often seems to be poor, with old blocks, thin line and not enough purchase. To my mind it's as important as the sheet and should be treated accordingly.

 

[johnalison]

I have both. The chief benefit of the strut is the absolute security that the boom won't come down and smash the windscreen on my HR. I could dispense with the topping-lift but have not felt the need to do so and it provides a back-up hoist with the bosun's chair. The strut/kicker line comes to a winch, so gearing is not critical.

 

[dom]

I have both. The chief benefit of the strut is the absolute security that the boom won't come down.....

+1 Aside from acting as a spare main halyard, sporty boats with long large-section booms and stackpacks can suffer enormous compression on the strut when wallowing downwind with the mainsail dropped and the boom secured by the mainsheet alone. Much better to relieve some of the strain with a topping lift.

Incidentally, I've never had a problem even with a roachy main and one can always make-off at the mast if desired.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Johnalison describes the big advantage of the strut, and I've been on a boat when the weathered t/lift gave way and the boom whacked the owner. (Doubly his own fault for sure, but it wouldn't have happened with a strut).

There's one thing not mentioned so far though, a strut makes a squeaky gooseneck more annoying due to the lack of absolute control, and further it won't let you drop the boom to the deck in a rolly anchorage when you've really got wound up about said squeak.

 

[Robin]

I have both. The chief benefit of the strut is the absolute security that the boom won't come down and smash the windscreen on my HR. I could dispense with the topping-lift but have not felt the need to do so and it provides a back-up hoist with the bosun's chair. The strut/kicker line comes to a winch, so gearing is not critical.

another+1. I had a simple 2 part line at boom end with a jam cleat to take up/let off slack quick on hoist or drop, mostly used to hold boom higher when sail stowed and sheeted tight to prevent boom swinging..

 

[RupertW]

Johnalison describes the big advantage of the strut, and I've been on a boat when the weathered t/lift gave way and the boom whacked the owner. (Doubly his own fault for sure, but it wouldn't have happened with a strut).

There's one thing not mentioned so far though, a strut makes a squeaky gooseneck more annoying due to the lack of absolute control, and further it won't let you drop the boom to the deck in a rolly anchorage when you're really get wound up about said squeak.

That's easy - part of mooring up for us is a quick knot of the loose end of the main sheet to the top mainsheet block under the boom then to the centre mooring cleat and tensioned. Boom is then held between the normal centred maninsheet and the side and cannot squeak. Quicker to do than desecribe.

 

[lw395]

Whatever the boat comes with.
A strut is one less thing to fiddle with when reefing, and a topping lift can be irritating on a main with a good roach.
Pros and cons, no big deal, so long as it all works.

 

[prv]

I have both. The chief benefit of the strut is the absolute security that the boom won't come down and smash the windscreen on my HR.

Same here. My telescopic rod doesn't include any kind of spring or gas strut though - it just provides a fixed lower limit to the boom position. Control of the boom angle above that limit is by the topping lift and kicker as normal.

This is how the boat came to me rather than a specific choice, but I don't see any reason to change it.

Pete

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

That's easy - part of mooring up for us is a quick knot of the loose end of the main sheet to the top mainsheet block under the boom then to the centre mooring cleat and tensioned. Boom is then held between the normal centred maninsheet and the side and cannot squeak. Quicker to do than desecribe.

I like that, and will try it the next time I charter.

 

[dom]

Same here. My telescopic rod doesn't include any kind of spring or gas strut though - it just provides a fixed lower limit to the boom position. Control of the boom angle above that limit is by the topping lift and kicker as normal.

This is how the boat came to me rather than a specific choice, but I don't see any reason to change it.

Pete

A basic system which does what it says and beats many more 'sophisticated' offerings.

A problem with spring and gas struts without end-stops is that the boom can compress the strut in a seaway with the main dropped unless side-to-side restrained. This is dangerous for cockpit crew and a far worse alternative than simply dropping the boom to the deck. Hence backing up with TL.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've got a Barton Boom Strut which is excellent, with a cascade rope kicking strap system. Deasy easy when reefing, just release the kicking strap and the boom rises making reefing quick & easy. I've retained the (new) topping lift, clipped to the backstay for emergency use.