Topping lifts, in or out of fashion.

[jonjo]

Have topping lifts gone out of fashion in the days of the solid vang?

I am thinking of fitting a topping lift because I find it a pain to thread the main halyard back between the lazyjacks each time I unhook it off the end of the boom. This task will get worse once a sprayhood is fitted.

 

[webcraft]

Scandalous

With a topping lift you can scandalise the main . . .

- Nick

 

[starboard]

Still in fashion............when your main halyard breaks you will wish you still had a topping lift to use as spare halyard

Paul.

 

[jerryat]

Yep, very much agree with starboard. Indeed we changed our standard, small diameter, topping lift for one with a similar strength to the main halyard before we nipped off long term cruising. We liked the idea of a decent spare being immediately available, even though it would be replacing the S/S wire with rope tail primary one. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I haven't tried scandalising the main with this boat 'cos I suspect the telescopic vang would prevent the boom rising far enough to be really effective. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Cheers Jerry

 

[Otter]

What do you recommend as the best strut/telescopic vang? We have a Macwester 28 and wanted to fit one to make reefing easier. I have seen them range from £120 to £300 and just need something fairly straightforward. I agree that after fitting it is then handy to have a spare halyard and it makes sense to increase the diameter of the line (ours is a pathetic 6mm and will make a nice washing line when it is removed!)

 

[jimi]

And it can be used to open the leech in light airs. I too have been glad of the topping lift as a spare halyard.

 

[Lakesailor]

In fashion on my boat. However, I suspect my boat never was in fashion.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Tis in fashion on our boat too. We have to top the boom up when we rig our cockpit tent, and although there's a telescopic vang thingy, the lazyjacks and stackpack work much much better with a topping lift.

 

[Guest]

Possibility ?

Make the vang connection quick release, increase the size of topping lift line ..... then >

You have best of both worlds ... solid vang that can be quickly disconnected to allow sacndalising main / open leech etc. You also have a T/L that can act as spare halyard and hope it never happens .... but is there if ever the vang gives up !!

You can use topping lifts for so many things ..... the mast / boom / topping / mainsheets are an excellent derrick for lifting engines / heavy stuff etc. All you have to have is 2 lines with snap links in ready to be clipped on as preventers to control swing side to side .... Once you get into swing of using boom as derrick - its amazing what you can do with it .... launch that dunghy that usually has you gasping at the rail when it snags the guard-lines etc. etc.

 

[jonjo]

Re: Possibility ?

[ QUOTE ]
All you have to have is 2 lines with snap links in ready to be clipped on as preventers

[/ QUOTE ]
Seems like a unaminous vote for a topping lift then, think Bavaria/Sparcraft left a mouseline in place in the expectation of one been fitting. 8mm or 10mm hmmm. The main halyard is 10mm but oh all that windage in a topping lift of the same size!

A boom preventer, yes that comes after the topping lift, inner forestay, dinghy purchase, sprayhood fitting, implementing some sort of single line reefing, jackstays, sorting out the anchor locker lid that pops open in a chop, fitting lockers with antislip material, mounting the liferaft properly somewhere.

Who said new yachts were labour free?

 

[oldharry]

Re: Possibility ?

Haven't bothered with fashion these last thirty years.... and thats official. SWMBO says so!

But definitely would not be without a topping lift.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Simon!!

Sorry, I'm just not qualified to comment on different telescopic vangs. My boat came with one made by Kemp, but it's 21 years old now and VERY crude in comparison to the latest ones and it's the only one I've used regularly. Seems to be just two lengths of ali tubing, one sliding inside the other, and some sort of rubber/spring inside to give provide a bit of flexible support.

Just has a s/s wire strop running up the outside and through a sheave which is then connected (in my case) to a 4:1 tackle led back to a clutch. Overall I get 8:1 power which is ideal for controlling my main.

Supports the boom well when reefing. There are much better ones about and no doubt other posters will have their favourites.

Cheers Jerry

 

[ianwright]

Nope, topping lifts are A Good Thing. So much so that I have two. I use either or both as needed and would not do without.

What's a solid vang? Some new American idea?
IanW

 

[starboard]

Re: Possibility ?

would use a 10mm topping lift, dont worry about windage with all the other gear up in the airstream. Yep boats not only time consuming but even more money consuming.....dont even add the cost up just go out and enjoy it.........good sailing

Paul.

 

[macd]

True, but then there's nothing that says you can't fit a rigid vang AND keep the topping lift. Mine's usually cleated to the mast, and I'm glad it's there if needed.

 

[Ardenfour]

Is there any advantage or otherwise of having a stainless wire topping lift with a rope tail through a block at the outboard end of the boom? Would be one less rope going up the mast, but an additional one along the boom. Just wondered.

 

[claymore]

I once fitted a Spinlock one to a 25ft boat which worked fine and was probably not too expensive (otherwise I wouldn't have!)

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have fitted a solid strut to my last two boats(Z Spars) but I kept the topping lift just in case at the side of the mast.You can scandalise but not as much as with a topping lift,but I have never neede to do this in earnest.I personally like the sprung type rod kicker & it frees up the clutch that was used for the topping lift rope for other purposes.

 

[fireball]

With the tail being fed through the boom the forces applied to the rig will be slightly different - there will be a greater compression load in the boom and less in the mast. I would've thought that as the through boom method is not a direct lift on the boom it, but effectively uses compression to lift it, it would require a greater force to operate...

and the downside ... when the boom is below horizontal I believe it will be exceeding difficult to lift...

if you do want a wire topping lift why don't you just splice a tail on and feed inside the mast... ? I can't see what you are going to gain though, unless your thinking of the extra strength to use the boom to lift other things?

 

[Ardenfour]

hi thanks for the response. I have a set of rigging plans for my boat and it shows the topping lift as a stainless wire with rope tail as a 2-part purchase. Wouldn't have thought there would be a large force to lift the boom, just was curious of the pro's and con's of each system. Wish I was at the stage of deciding on topping lifts!