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Topping Lift

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slaedlein
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/09/2008 : 20:52:58

Does anyone have a sugestion on how to add topping lift to a 1997 WB 250?

Scott
HuBeStu
1997 WB
Hull# 250

Edited by - on

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2008 : 21:06:55

I am looking at this as well. I plan to ad a bimini soon and I would like to use the "bimini butler" so that I can raise it to standing headroom when not sailing. I need to be able to lift the boom out of the way. I am wondering if the boom kicker would lift it enough. What about a rigid vang? Can you use the unused jib halyard as a topping lift of some sort?

Edited by - on

bill bosworth
Navigator

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USA
172 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2008 : 21:26:54

My topping lift is simple, I ran a 5/16 line to the mast head. The line ends with a block. A line tied to the end of the boom is fed through the block, then back down to a cheek block the finally through a clam cleat. My adjustment is a couple of feet from the end of the boom which works well for me when raising the sail, or raising the boom to clear the bimini.

hope this helps some;
Bill c250wb #134 Serendipity
on beautiful Kerr Lake, N.C.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2008 : 22:34:37

We use a boomkicker and it keeps the boom well out of the way. Very happy with the device. We do not use a topping lift. The link below is where we got ours and it is custom fit for the 250 and includes an anti-rotation device for the boom which is also helpful.

[url="http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail-bk.htm?fno=20"]boomkicket[/url]

Here is a photo that shows the boom raised by the kicker.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 04/09/2008 22:40:31

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2008 : 22:38:22

Bill, my san juan was set up like yours except it didn't go through a block. On my san juan the line went straight to the cheek block on the boom. How is yourline attached to the mast head? Where did you attach it? I guess if I were going to do this I should have done it prior to raising the mast and putting the boat in the water. Of course the kicker may work out. I kinda like the idea of it.

Edited by - on

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2008 : 22:52:41

Wow that raises the end quite a bit!

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 01:01:34

Off topic, does anyone know when the topping lift became standard equipment?
My 2004 already had one.
The boom-end has 3 sheaves (Reef, Outhaul, Topping Lift).

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 07:41:35

My '99 has one, too.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 08:55:17

Randy,

Doesn't the boomkicker sort of eliminate the boom as a handhold like for instance, when you need to go to the mast in iffy conditions to bring the main down and secure it to the boom?

Edited by - on

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 09:12:04

I would think with that main up, hte topping lift would already be loose and the main would hold the boom up. Of course once you drop the main you are out of luck...

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 09:49:12

SC... You can generally adjust the topping lift so it goes slack with the main up and holds the boom at a reasonable level when you drop the main. The adjuster like Bill's makes it easy to raise further it at the dock or on the hook--I did roughly the same thing, and put a stopper knot for where I wanted the topping lift for sailing.

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 09:51:03

Randy,
I recognize the dock, picnic table, and scenery. Deer Harbor Marina, Orcas Island.

The kids love playing on the beach. It is one of my families favorite places to hang out for a couple days when we go to the San Juan Islands.

Edited by - welshoff on 04/10/2008 09:53:08

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 10:33:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 SC... You can generally adjust the topping lift so it goes slack with the main up and holds the boom at a reasonable level when you drop the main.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Exactly.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 10:48:03

Wil, you nailed it, that is indeed Deer Harbor! We really enjoyed that place and there is a great restaurant up the road. A few minutes after this photo a plane landed and taxied right up near us. Fun spot.

The boom is fine to lean on and support yourself when the main is up. When the main is down you need to be attentive because the kicker will flex and the boom will move. It will still act as a handhold but you need to be attentive. We are very happy with the kicker. It clears the boom out of the way, puts no lines up high, and is a set it and forget it piece of equipment.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 04/10/2008 10:48:55

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 11:20:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 When the main is down you need to be attentive because the kicker will flex and the boom will move. It will still act as a handhold but you need to be attentive.

We are very happy with the kicker. It clears the boom out of the way, puts no lines up high, and is a set it and forget it piece of equipment.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you need to be attentive of the boomkicker then you can't really forget about it.

With the way I have my topping lift set up, it truly is a set it and forget it piece of equipment.

Virtually everyone coming aboard my boat grabs the boom for balance.

Edited by - dlucier on 04/10/2008 11:23:07

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 11:34:47

So, Scott, after all this did anyone answer your questoins?

You can use a line attached to the masthead at the same place as the backstay extending it down to a block as in Bill's picture. Then, take a line from the aft end of the boom up to that block and then back down to a cleat at the boom. I'd suggest a cleat that you can truly secure the line to, not just a jam cleat. Don't ask! The block is a good idea because you can adjust boom height and sail depth (somewhat) using the lift. A fixed length line won't allow you to do that. While the boomkicker is pretty cool, I think the topping lift is the way to go. A whole lot less expensive.

BTW, my line is 3/16"

Edited by - John Russell on 04/10/2008 11:40:56

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 11:35:43

I'm in the market for a Bimini also. Isn't there a model that you can adjust the height? Telescopic poles of some kind?

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 04/10/2008 11:36:03

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 12:25:02

Scott, I have had the topping lift that Bill Bosworth has shown for the last six years, works good, last's along time, dont mess with it.

Edited by - on

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 13:40:37

I have so many lines coming from my boom I am lost. I need to take some pictures so you guys can tell me what all I have and don't have. My boom has a small fiddle block attached to the aft end. Couldn't tell you what it is for. I also have a small piece of cable coming out the top aft end from one of the sheaves. It has a hook on it. Currently I have that connected to the pigtail on the backstay. That little piece of cable is connected inside the boom to a piece of line that exits the boom about midway down on the port side. I also have a line that exits the boom on the top aft end from the starboard sheave that is connected to a good amount of line at the forward starboard end of the boom. I assumed this was for reefing but really am not sure. My san Juan was so simple comparatively.

Regarding topping lifts, The one that bBill has is very similar to what I had on my San Juan. It is cheap to make, versatile and easy to use. If I hadn't already raised the mast and put the boat in the water, that is what I would go with.

Can a rigid vang act in a similar fashion to a boom kicker?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 15:13:43

I'm having a little trouble imagining all of those lines--sounds like topping lift and reefing gear... but I'll comment on the pigtail on the backstay... Clip it to the backstay and fuggetaboutit for the duration. As you probably know, it's meant as an alternative to a topping lift while not under sail; however, the first time you forget to unhook it and pull your sail up, you'll know why I said to fuggetaboutit.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/10/2008 15:14:56

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 15:45:11

I'll second, third, and fourth Dave's comment about pigtails. They should be banned.

As to cleating location for a topping lift, if you intend on putting a bimini on your boat, you might want to consider a different location for the topping lift cleat to make access easier.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 16:23:15

I used a little Harken 245 fiddle block with jam cleat (a V in one side of the body) on the boom end, with a 1/4" line between it and a block on the topping lift--very convenient. (Got the idea from Jim Baumgart.) A simple tug pulled it up for more headroom, and a stopper knot allowed a quick release for sailing and prevented free-falls.

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</center>

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/10/2008 16:38:54

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 18:41:36

Check the front of the boom a see how many sheaves you have, if only two then the steel line is your outhaul and hooks to the clew of the main. The 5/16 inch line is as stated, for your single line reefing.
If you have the owners manual look in section one "rigging" and it will show you the routing of the single line reef.
If you have three sheaves in the front then there should be a third line, 1/4"x50ft. which is your topping lift. The lines that exit the boom aft are: reefing port sheave, outhaul (steel line) middle and topping lift starboard sheave. The topping lift if installed will lead over the boom's forward starboard sheave and come out a slot on the boom starboard to a boom mounted cam cleat.
If you don't have the manual click on "Manuals & Brochures" on the left side of the Association home page.

Edited by - frog0911 on 04/10/2008 18:49:17

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 20:13:29

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Randy, that pic appears to show a topping lift!

Paul

Edited by - on

slaedlein
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 21:17:12

WOW! Didn't think such a simple Q would result in this much attention! Sure glad I bought a 250, otherwise I would not have found this team of experts. This has got to be the best web site yet. Thanks for the help.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2008 : 21:45:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Randy, that pic appears to show a topping lift!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I thought about saying the same thing...

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