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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Topping Lift		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Grego5
1st Mate

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USA
73 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/24/2004 :  17:37:20  Show Profile
Forgive the Rookie here. From my understanding the topping lift is to hold the boom up until the sail is raised, and then disconnected once the sail is raised. At least that seems to be the process I've seen followe on other boats. Most boats I've observed have the topping lift come down from the mast (or it is connected to the back stay), the boom has a place to attach the hook that is attached to the topping lift. On my boat the topping lift comes from the mast and has a loop in it and the clasp to secure the topping lift to the booms is on the boom. Am I confused, did the riggers do something wrong, or does the topping lift stay connected to the boom even after the sail is raised.
Greg Perkins
C-250 WK #668
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sterngucker
Navigator

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USA
169 Posts
Response Posted - 04/24/2004 :  18:17:34  Show Profile
The topping lift stays on after the sail is raised. In light air it can be used to slightly lift the end of the boom to give the sail a fuller shape. This fuller "wing" profile will generate more lift from any breeze that happens by. The topping lift is also a nice way to swing the boom out when at anchor with the sails dropped.

The MacGregor I used to sail had a wire that was attached to the back stay with a clip on the end of it to hold the boom up while the mainsail was hoisted. You did not want to leave that connected after the mainsail was up, believe me on that one. Bad things happened quickly.

Some folks prefer to use a rigid boom vang or boom kicker in place of a topping lift. This device also holds the boom up and allows for similar boom height adjustment.

Charlie R.
China Lake Yacht Club, CA
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 04/24/2004 :  18:19:46  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
Hey Greg,

Catalina has traditionally supplied a pig tail which is swaged spliced to the backstay. It is sometimes thought to be a topping lift but really is more a stabilizer for the boom without a sail hoisted. It should not be used with a sail hoisted as it could load the main and cause the boat to power up and go out of control.

You are correct in saying that a topping lift comes from the mast head. If it is adjustable, then it can simply be relaxed. It is very helpful when setting a reef which is a regular part of sailing a c250.

For a sketch of the 250 topping lift, goto

[url="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/topping_lift.jpg"]Topping Lift[/url]
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 04/24/2004 :  19:39:32  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
Yo have an adjustable topping lift as opposed to a non adjustable one. he non adjustable ones are in lieu of a boom crutch, they were common at one time. Time passes and things improve, what you have is very functional and very valuable, personally I like yours better than the new ridged boom vangs which serve as a boom support as well as a downhaul. After I saw Arlyns posted tech spec a few months ago I improved mine to include some Mechanical Advantage.
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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts
Response Posted - 04/25/2004 :  00:26:00  Show Profile
I get the impression you want to know the basic use of the adjustable topping lift that comes with the C250. Basically you leave everything as is turn the boat into the wind and raise the mainsail. With the mainsail up you uncleat the topping lift from the boom cam cleat and let it relax and then recleat it. The main is now holding up the boom. On my boat with the flaking system you leave it relaxed until the main is dropped and flaked on the boom. Then loosen the traveler and retighten the topping lift to achieve the desired boom height and then cinch up the traveler.
Hope this answers your basic question, but as you can see by the other answers the topping lift also has other uses such as shaping the mainsail in light air.
Edited by - frog0911 on 04/25/2004 00:26:36
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.