Topping Lift

[surekandoo]

I intend to fit a Barton Boomstrut over the winter, which should make reefing the main somewhat easier when sailing single handed.

Should I remove the topping lift altogether, or should I retain it in "standby" mode for emergency scandalising?

Advice please.

Thanks

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[Stevie_T]

Whilst not familiar with a Barton Boomstrut I would have thought it best to keep the topping lift even if secured elsewhere than the end of the boom.
Would serve as a main halyard in the event of it snapping amongst other useful purposes.

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[jsl]

I have had a boomstrut for one season. I took the topping-lift off and have not yet regretted it. But a spare halyard is obviously a good thing. Purely a matter of preference, I'd say.

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[Cantata]

I have retained the topping lift but left it secured to a chainplate. When we aren't sailing, the main halyard is attached to the boom end, as a 'just in case' and because it's tidy.

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[ashanta]

I have a Barton BS and I have retained my topping lift. It's never unwise to have a backup main halyard. I keep it along side a main stay and away from any interference.

Regards.

peter.

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[dom]

I would be careful removing topping lift for two reasons. Firstly without the main a failure of either the strut or it's attachments will cause the boom to crash onto the deck which can be very dangerous. Secondly either motoring in waves or downwind with only a jib or two up the boomstrut may not be strong enough to keep the boom up as the boom tries to move from side to side causing damage to the strut.

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[AvanLoon]

Has anyone thought about what happens if the backstay is removed? For instance, when the boat is lifted out, and the hoist frame needs that removal. There must be a line to hold your mast upright if the rigging is fitted in line with the mast itself. Could that be done with the main halyard and the boom together?

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[charles_reed]

It would be somewhat impetuous to remove the topping lift without some other means of "hanging" up the boom whilst the main is down and the boat is parked.

I've had a gas-strut on my boat for 14 years, but still have the topping lift fitted, even though I have a trans-cockpit gallows on which the boom-end is hung when the main is down.

The topping lift is of considerable value for a number of maintenance functions:-
Removing and replacing the radome.
Repairing and checking the gooseneck.
Lifting heavy loads (water, shopping etc.) out of the dinghy or from the dock.
Replacing the locating rivets for gas-strut flange.
To mention but a few.

And on one occasion it even doubled up as the main halyard when the damned 12mm Kevlar fatigue fractured.

No I certainly wouldn't remove it, even if it is another piece of rope to confuse one and frap against the mast when there's any wind.


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[William_H]

Just on this subject I havn't got a boomstrut and use a fixed topping lift (it's one less piece of string at the mast base.) I found after some years that the boom when hung on the topping lift when left on the mooring tended to swing in the waves from passing boats. The traveller tackle loosened such that the traveller would slide up and down the track a little- result worn out traveller rollers. I now when leaving the boat take the boom off the topping lift and lay it on the cabin top to one side of the entry hatch - no movement sio no wear on the traveller. You couldn't do that with a strut. Incidently I reef the main when under way without using the topping lift as the outhaul reef line comes to a winch on the cabin top. Just lower the boom on the halyard about 1 ft, tighten the outhaul which lifts the boom then lower the halyard again tighten up on the outhaul, tighten the front reef line and you are done . Later add the reefing ties around the boom for tidiness. All this on a boat very similar I imagine to yours. (look at http://au.msnusers.com/CASTLE650Group ) will

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[charles_reed]

Unfortunately

with a strut kicker it is not possible to do as you suggest.

The strut prevents the boom from going down below a certain point as well as acting as a vang.

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[ashanta]

No problem with removing the backstay each year my boat is layed up. Mast head rigged means tha mast is secure with side stays and forestay. I just use the topping lift to suspend the boom during the winter,taking the pressure of the boom strut. I take the kicking strap lines off for washing and fit again in the spring for the new season.

Regards.

Peter.

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[snowleopard]

one good reason to keep the topping lift on a fractional rig is that there may be no other way to reach the masthead if the main halliard escapes.

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[surekandoo]

There is a problem here!
When I bought the boat the topping lift consisted of a line from the mast crane to the end of the boom. The crane end of the line was a double length of bungee cord. In my eagerness to get the boat in the water I didn't check this, and of course the bungee broke in the first season so I had no topping lift. Subsequently I've cobbled up a topping lift from the crane to the boom with a small double puchase at the boom end which I can use to raise the boom as required from the cockpit, but this is not ideal, hence the need to fit a Barton Boomstrut or a gas kicker. There is no spare sheave at the top of the mast (except a small one externally for a flag halliard) to take a topping lift. When the main's down the end of the boom is attached to the backstay by a short length of line & a snap shackle. This stops it waving about. To be honest the topping lift's a bit of a nuisance in it's current configuration, so I'm just casting about for ideas.

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[surekandoo]

Hi, Will,

Thanks for the post. I lock my traveller to port & attached the end of the boom to the backstay with a short piece of line and a snap shackle. That stops it flailing about. I sailed for the first season with this boat with no topping lift and let the boom onto the deck as you do but found it a pain.

Interesting site you have. Have you looked at this one - http://uk.msnusers.com/Limboyachts.

I sail a 6.6 which seems to have similarities with the larger Castles.

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[andy_wilson]

Scandalising.

I'm not sure you would be able to totaly raise the boom enough to fully de-power the main if a boomstrut was fitted.

I've decided not to fit any form of rod kicker for this reason.

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[charles_reed]

Re: Scandalising.

Surprised that anyone should try and scandalise anything but a loose-footed gaff.

How on earth do you scandalise a Bermudan main and does it work?

Sounds delightfully antithetic logic. How about discussion about the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin?

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