Why do I have a topping lift?

[RichandHelen]

Originally Posted by puffcard

Got rid of my topping lift 25 years ago, best thing I ever did. It was a wire coming down with a small block and cam cleat. Now attach my main halyard to the end of the boom when inport and that provides support for my rigid boom vang and tension against the main sheet. I do understand that a lot of people with their boat and rigs would prefer to have one. If I had a in-mast furler, i would definitely have one.

Not sure I understand. How does your mainsheet, attached to the end of the boom provide "tension against the mainsheet"? What does an in-mast furler have to do with it? Isn't there more weight on a boom when you have a mainsail dropped onto it?

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by RichandHelen

Not sure I understand. How does your mainsheet, attached to the end of the boom provide "tension against the mainsheet"? What does an in-mast furler have to do with it? Isn't there more weight on a boom when you have a mainsail dropped onto it?

I think he is referring to detaching the halyard from the head of the sail once it is down and taking it back to the aft end of the boom so that he can use the halyard to lift the boom against the sheet holding it down.

[Joel E Felt]

thanks Don CL and Jim I got it straight now. Lord help me when I get a bigger boat. This forum comes thru again.. always great replies!!!
thanks again
joel felt

[puffcard]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I think he is referring to detaching the halyard from the head of the sail once it is down and taking it back to the aft end of the boom so that he can use the halyard to lift the boom against the sheet holding it down.

Yep, thanks. The boats with furling main sails, the halyard stays aloft when the sail is furled. They require a topping lift to load up the main sheet to keep the boom from swinging around.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by puffcard

Yep, thanks. The boats with furling main sails, the halyard stays aloft when the sail is furled. They require a topping lift to load up the main sheet to keep the boom from swinging around.

The topping lift also helps to keep the vertical boom angle constant when furling. With in mast furling, vertical boom angle becomes important to ensure a clean feed to the furler.

[Chebacco]

The topping lift is handy as a backup to the backstay and can be used to winch folks back into the boat or as a safety line for mast climbing.

[Doug4bass]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

They’re completely different things!

Thx for explaining.

[RichandHelen]

Originally Posted by StuM

The topping lift also helps to keep the vertical boom angle constant when furling. With in mast furling, vertical boom angle becomes important to ensure a clean feed to the furler.

Doesn't the rigid vang keep the boom angle constant when furling?

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by RichandHelen

Doesn't the rigid vang keep the boom angle constant when furling?

It should but sometimes they give up the ghost so it's nice to have the back-up.