Topping lift alternatives?

[rickwat]

My topping lift is a pain. It's a tug of war with the mainsheet in harbour to stop it slopping about and the resulting tension keeps wearing the pulley sleeve at the masthead. If I don't adjust it right it chafes the sprayhood and when sailing it's a delicate setting between flailing around and chafing the leech sewing or even stopping the mainsheet pulling the sail into shape. I've thought about a goalpost but would welcome other suggestions.

Thanks for any enlightenment

Rick

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[Neraida]

Just a thought, what about a vang? (presuming you don't already have one)

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[davidhand]

Isn't a vang the US name for kicking strap? or have I been too long in the colonies. Actually I don't have a topping lift, I have two main halyards the one that isn't holding up the main is acting as the topping lift. Seems to work OK.

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[qsiv]

Dont have one (or need it as boom is supported by gas strut)) on current boat - but previously had a short line siezed to back stay for harbour use - just clip it on, and ease tension on other lift.

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[dickh]

I have a spring loaded boom vang, works well, when reefing release the vang, boom elevates and you can reef easily.
A friend has the Barton Boom Strut which also works well(used with the existing kicking strap) and I would certainly fit one if I needed to.

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[Aeolus_IV]

How about - as a thought - fitting a section of shock cort (thick) across a bight in the tail end of the topping lift. You could tension up the TL until the shock cord is holding the TL tight, but there would still be enough stretch left to pull the main in tight. In the event that the shock cord breaks (which it will one day), the bight of the TL is left to catch the boom, or is simply there to stop you over stretching the shock cord when you need to wind in the TL tight.

Very PBO isn't it - but would it work?

Jeff.

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[Twister_Ken]

Exactly the suggestion I was going to make. Sieze a length of line to the backstay, ending in an appropriate shackle or carbine hook. Or, slightly more hi-tech, sieze a block to the backstay and run a line through it with a shackle/hook on one end and a handily placed cleat at the other, to allow you some adjustability.

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[Gordonmc]

This idea is not a replacement for the TL, but makes it more manageable. It is NOT my idea... I filched it from a PBO reader (PBO 417 Sept. 01 page 57)

It involves a jamming cleat shackled to the end of the boom, using the TL point. A line is attached to the cleat using its screw hole and leads through the eye on the TL, back to the cleat and made fast in the jammer.

When the mainsail is up and you want to ease the TL, unjam and give some slack. Reverse process when you park up. An added sophistication would be to use a block at the end of the TL for more purchase.

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[Twister_Ken]

Another thought

Use something stretchy like 3 strand nylon or polyester (not pre-stretched) for the topping lift to give it some natural elasticity.

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[Neraida]

Aluminium (mostly) gas or spring loaded kicker.

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[jimi]

Shock cord on bight of topping lift. I do that and it works well.

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[Neraida]

Been thinking about doing both for ages (shock cord and the vang). Think it would be really good, especially as Neraida's boom reaches right back to the transom and has nearly taken my head off a few times.

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[Robin]

A gas kicker is the solution under way and when reefing, no topping lift is then needed. The Main halyard goes there in harbour, stops it clanking on the mast and gives more support.

Without a gas kicker, a short piece of shockcord across a loop in the TL will keep it under light tension with the sail up.

To stop the boom moving around when the sail is down with/without a gas kicker needs some sideways element, not just the up/down tension of main halyard versus mainsheet. A line with central snap hook clipped to the boom with each free end taken to either side, such as the sheet cleats/winches will do the trick, now you can use less tension on the TL/mainsheet = less strain on the masthead pulleys.

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[andy_wilson]

Pro Topping lift.

Can be spare main halyard, and alows scandalising of mains'l.

Solid kicker eliminates both of these seaman like possibilities.

I echo comments below, if your rigger didn't fit a boom lift to the backstay, make one by fastening a bullgrip to backstay on a line about 45 degrees up from the end of the boom (when adjusted to correctheight in harbour, clearing spray hood etc.). Splice a line round a plastic thimble over the backstay and a fastening of your choice for the end of the boom.

Attach and release the tension on topping lift.

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[rickwat]

I can't really fit a kicker (vang?) as the mast is stepped on the bulkhead forward of the cockpit and it would obstruct the helm and cabin entrance. The shockcord I've heard of before and sounds a good idea for stopping leech chafe but the sideways movement as you and others suggest needs some form of prerigged lines.

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[Robin]

No not pre-rigged. We have a line from port winch via boom end to starboard winch but our boom end & winches are in line. Yours sounds much farther back so you would need to find suitable tie off points like the toerail or spinnaker block attachments etc? This is only suggested of course as an in-harbour device. The wire from the backstay suggested by others will also help though the boom can still waggle sideways.

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[Aeolus_IV]

Didn't think for a moment that I'd come up with something new - glad somebody else has done it. Now I'll go and do it myself.

Jeff.

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[Twister_Ken]

Another way of sorting this is to put a snap shackle on the mainsheet tackle where it meets the traveller. Then, when not required, it can be unclipped and reclipped to the toe rail, or some other convenient place, to get sheet and boom out of the middle of the cockpit.

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[Twister_Ken]

Welding job

One length of square section ali tube. One U of ali plate. Tube section should drop into socket in suitably placed winch. Weld two together. Hey presto, instant boom crutch.

What's the phone number of the Patent Office?

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[Guest]

An X crutch in timber ..... doesn't have to be too heavy or substantial. Being an X - it will fold and lie along a spare bunk etc. when not in use.

Could either fit on coachroof locking into the hand-rails, or into slots in cockpit ??????



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !