Topping lift

[Daydream believer]

Attached to the base of a shroud for me, as I don't want to walk along the deck holding it then go back to the mast to tension it.

But why undo it from the sail in the first place?
Why not just take a bight out to the shroud to stop it flapping against the mast?

 

[LadyInBed]

But why undo it from the sail in the first place?
Why not just take a bight out to the shroud to stop it flapping against the mast?

It puts a strain on the sail and toggle in the wrong direction.
I would need an extra cord to stop it frapping.
That arrangement is not compatible with my sail cover.

 

[Caraway]

Taking it to a shroud takes it away from the mast.
This seems a hot topic. Does it really matter? Each to their own solution.

 

[Daydream believer]

Taking it to a shroud takes it away from the mast.
This seems a hot topic. Does it really matter? Each to their own solution.

So are you suggesting that one should not at least pose the question then?
Should the OP not have asked about the topping lift?
Presumably one can often take it (halyard) from the mast with a cord to the shroud, without disconnecting from the sail, thus avoid the risk of letting it go

 

[Resolution]

i normally just take it back a meter or so and attach it to the kicker strut ?
?

We leave our main halyard attached (it is tricky to climb up and undo the pin) but slacken the halyard , take the slack back a metre or so and tie a sail tie round the boom, sail and stack pack. This keeps the sail instantly ready if eg the engine packs up, and stops the halyard from flapping.

 

[Caraway]

So are you suggesting that one should not at least pose the question then?
Should the OP not have asked about the topping lift?
Presumably one can often take it (halyard) from the mast with a cord to the shroud, without disconnecting from the sail, thus avoid the risk of letting it go

Whatever works for you.

 

[Thistle]

It amazes me how many people disconnect the halyard from the main when finished. I never disconnect it as I am always concerned it will fly up the mast out of reach & spoil my sailing. I watched a boat in the next pontoon yesterday. The chap stowed his sail , untied the halyard & tied the end to the deck at the base of the mast. Why?

So that it doesn't slap noisily on the mast any annoy those around you.

 

[Daydream believer]

So that it doesn't slap noisily on the mast any annoy those around you.

But as explained earlier, take a short cord & a bight of the Halyard to the shroud so the halyard is away from the mast?
Still does not explain the need to disconnect it from the sail ( except "Lady in Bed" who has a particular problem)
But to each his own.

 

[dom]

But as explained earlier, take a short cord & a bight of the Halyard to the shroud so the halyard is away from the mast?
Still does not explain the need to disconnect it from the sail ( except "Lady in Bed" who has a particular problem)
But to each his own.

I sometimes do as you say if the standard halyard Pinned D-Shackle is very stiff. But if leaving the boat this way, it's best to pull the halyard in really tightly against the stay with a cable tie looped around a couple of times.

To prevent the halyard frapping in the wind and repeatedly yanking the sail head against its cover and possibly damaging it, or exposing the sail to damaging UV.

 

[Caraway]

Try a bungee around the mast holding the halyard in, above the sail cover, and then take it over to a shroud with another bungee. Prevents yanking on the headboard and keeps the halyard off the mast. Only takes a moment.

I found a pic of my topping lift attached to the backstay and the soft loop to prevent it riding up the backstay. One of several options I have used. depends on the rig. and it's only an 18ft boat.

 

[jimi]

The thing that annoys me about the topping lift is when it starts humming;-) This is usually at 3am when moored up on a cold & wet evening and the wind has got up! Its when it hits its resonant frequency and is fixed by slackening the system slightly. At 3am this usually means leaning out the hatchway and dumping the vang clutch, this fails to fix it so the topping lift is eaased. the boom then starts banging rhythmically so another trip out the bunk to get a bit of rope to stop the boom swinging. Then back into the bunk and the spinnaker halyard starts banging , Out to fix it to pulpit, back into bunk, then warp starts creeaaking, out with squeezy bottle to fix ... then back to bunk, 10 mins later tidal gates dictate time to arise and prepare for the day. Isn't a night afloat relaxing ;-0

 

[rib]

The thing that annoys me about the topping lift is when it starts humming;-) This is usually at 3am when moored up on a cold & wet evening and the wind has got up! Its when it hits its resonant frequency and is fixed by slackening the system slightly. At 3am this usually means leaning out the hatchway and dumping the vang clutch, this fails to fix it so the topping lift is eaased. the boom then starts banging rhythmically so another trip out the bunk to get a bit of rope to stop the boom swinging. Then back into the bunk and the spinnaker halyard starts banging , Out to fix it to pulpit, back into bunk, then warp starts creeaaking, out with squeezy bottle to fix ... then back to bunk, 10 mins later tidal gates dictate time to arise and prepare for the day. Isn't a night afloat relaxing ;-0

I usually find that a small tie off from topping lift to boom with a bit of tension stops all that. ??

 

[MADRIGAL]

Of course, tie it to an arch, clip the main halyard back, drop the boom, or even just restrain the boom from moving side to side.

The key point is not to rely on the strut in such conditions. A spare main halyard is also a must offshore IMHO.

Or use the topping lift to drop the boom into the boom gallows - but there has already been a thread on that one.

 

[michael_w]

I'd much rather have a string driven kicker than a strut. In extreme heavy weather one can drop the boom on the deck to reduce windage. Plus the spare main halyard aspect. Most yacht kickers, without winches, aren't powerful enough. Even my Merlin-Rocket had 64:1 ratio.

On my last boat, when dropping the main, I could lower the boom and sheet it hard against the spray hood. Worked just like a gallows.

 

[Greenheart]

I'm thinking about switching from lazyjacks to Dutchman reefing. Does anybody reading this, have that system?

I don't have a topping lift at present but I guess I'll need one to secure the vertical Dutchman reefing lines.