DaySailer.org Forum

Posted: **Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:58 pm**

Has anyone had experience with or fitted a Topping Lift? I'm trying to see if it's possible so the boom doesn't come down into the cockpit every time I lower the Main sail.

Thanks,

Posted: **Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:43 pm**

You'll find lots of topping lift ideas shown in the gallery, with varying degrees of complexity. Here's what I did at the masthead:

That's a brass snap shackle for removeability, with clear coated cable. I hardly ever need to remove it tho. BTW, that's the windex sticking forward, which I've since turned around so it rests on the eyestrap - easier to see when it points aft.

Similar arrangement at the boom end, but I don't have a picture of that. It's a quick link through the aft hole in the boom end cap (forward hole holds the outhaul bullet block), and another snap shackle. I've never really had any need for adjustability there: when the main is up, the topping lift is just slack, and when the main is down, the boom stays just about perpendicular with the mast. For trailering, I take the shackle off the link and snap it to the Cunningham eyestrap at the base of the mast.

Posted: **Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:08 pm**

can you post a pic of the bottom of that setup?

Posted: **Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:47 am**

Yeah, I'll try to remember to bring the camera next time out. I had also promised to post pix of the new way I'm storing the whisker pole on the boom, and will do that, too ...

Posted: **Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:42 am**

I added part of an old Mariner backstay to my masthead with a clip on the lower end. On the boom end I attached a line with a small block that I attach the backstay cable to. The line is cleated to a small cleat on the boom so I can adjust the height of the boom when not sailing. When sailing I uncleat the line so there is no tension on the topping lift to interfere with the sail. Pictures attached might better explain.

Posted: **Wed Jul 27, 2011 5:05 pm**

I've got a cheek block near the mast head. My topping lift is 1/8 inch low stretch line from West Marine. I'm on the 4th season with it and it has worked fine. It's tied off at the cleat at the base of the mast for the off position and I have a loop tied in it for the on position.

Posted: **Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:11 pm**

Thanks all.

Posted: **Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:22 am**

Here's the pix of the topping lift ...

Attached to cunningham eyestrap for trailering:

Attachment to boom end cap. I have a short loop of spectra I put between the shackle and link when reefed: