Topping Lift

[jgellis15]

I am guessing there is another novice out there lurking in the shallows like me, who admires the experience and creativity of most of you saged experts on this forum and just logins onto this forum to read, learn and become better sailors.
In light of all that my Mac 25 and my sons Rebel 16 neither one have "toppin lifts" (sometimes called a "boom uphaul")- such that our booms are constantly falling on our heads, if we try to reef the mainsail...or just want to motor out to the lake before we lift the mainsail. I came accross this link that has helped me alot...and I am guessing there is another person or two on this forum who might benefit from this link too...
so by way of my contribution to this great forum I would likt to post this link on how to build a topping lift that I ran accross recently......(see below)...

http://www.frankhagan.com/weekender/toplift.htm

Now that I have this toppin lift stuff figured out...I can turn my attention to "lazy jacks".......which is my next project.....
By the way....how many folks use lazy jacks anyway? Is it common or uncommon?
Hope this helps somebody...it helped me...
Greg

[Divecoz]

I think I have you beat . My system ( really Bills and Boats 4 sail) cost less and is simpler to use. Its an 1/8"( ? )black woven cord that runs from the top of the mast to the boom . It has a stainless Carabiner(?) but with no screw type safety collar. The Carabiner just snaps with a spring to hold closed. Need the boom up a bit ? Lift boom and loop once twice three times if needed. Works great, cost almost nothing, and as I carry my boom secured to the mast I just unsnap the carabiner and half hitch the boom and the shrouds to the mast. Add my two docking lines again half hitching and my mast and boom and all shrouds are ready to travel in 10 minutes max. Sorry I dont post pictures
Lazy Jacks??? There is a set I am thinking about getting. They swivel up like a child's gate ( accordion) when you need them, but they fold down out of the way and horizontal/parallel with the mast when not in use . There by not interfering with sail shape. I will go and try , to find a outlet and post the link.

[c130king]

Dive,

I think I have you beat. My Topping Lift is a piece of line (a little bigger than 1/8" I think) tied to the top of the mast and tied to the end of the boom. No carabiner, nothing metal or plastic at all.

If I want/need the topping lift higher I have to untie, pull more line through the end of the boom and then re-tie.

But I do have LJ system with small carabiners at each end for easy on/easy off. Love it...wouldn't be without it. But someday I might upgrade to some sort of stack pack.

Jim

[Divecoz]

Dive,

I think I have you beat. My Topping Lift is a piece of line (a little bigger than 1/8" I think) tied to the top of the mast and tied to the end of the boom. No carabiner, nothing metal or plastic at all.

If I want/need the topping lift higher I have to untie, pull more line through the end of the boom and then re-tie.

But I do have LJ system with small carabiners at each end for easy on/easy off. Love it...wouldn't be without it. But someday I might upgrade to some sort of stack pack.

Jim

YEA!!!! I can put that Carabiner in the parts box.. Now about your lazy jacks ? I dont suppose you have a link or a picture? I am leaving soon and I want good dependable but economical...
In Don Caseys 100 Fast & Easy boat improvements he shows how to build.
#1. Spreader thumb cleat to hold shrouds away from the mast... though use bungees
#2. Rigging rollers
#3.Bow netting for those if us too cheap or not ready to spend money on a roller furler. Netting out of rope holds Genoa on deck after lowering for about $20
#4. How to Coachwhip your steering wheel.
#5 Locker Baffles. Turns those all but useless black holes under the seats into usable bins.
and 95 other ideas. . . . .

[Terry]

Lazy Jacks??? There is a set I am thinking about getting. They swivel up like a child's gate ( accordion) when you need them, but they fold down out of the way and horizontal/parallel with the mast when not in use . There by not interfering with sail shape. I will go and try , to find a outlet and post the link.

Is this the one Dive?
http://www.sailcaddy.com/images.htm

[Boblee]

My topping lift is like Divecoz but didn't know it was that common just easy.
As for jacks don't know that I could be bothered but maybe one day.

[Divecoz]

Lazy Jacks??? There is a set I am thinking about getting. They swivel up like a child's gate ( accordion) when you need them, but they fold down out of the way and horizontal/parallel with the mast when not in use . There by not interfering with sail shape. I will go and try , to find a outlet and post the link.

Is this the one Dive?
http://www.sailcaddy.com/images.htm

Thats Them!! Does anybody have a set? Do they Work? Are they durable? Are they Worth Close to $250 to have in hand ?

[Wind Chime]

We use a "BoomKicker" instead of a topping lift. It works great for us.

I think they are advertized on this site.

[Divecoz]

We use a "BoomKicker" instead of a topping lift. It works great for us.

I think they are advertised on this site.

Wind Chime if you would please. . .tell me about your Walker Bay. . the good the bad and the ugly. I am looking and in need of purchasing a dink.

[Wind Chime]

I see this as becoming a potential new thread but ...


We love our Walker Bay. We row, motor, and sail.

The Good:
- rows very easy and straight (because of the lap strake)
- goes well under power (we have a 2.2 hp outboard and 36 lb pound Minn Kota electric)
- very solid in rough water. I was fishing/crabbing once in a 3 foot chop, and I took a few waves over the bow with no problems (for the boat).
- the sail-kit is lots of fun. 12 foot mast with a 6 foot boom. I take it to a local lake to get my sailing fix if I do not want to take the Mac out.
- tows well behind our . We use a 50 ft painter with a line snubber.
- just fits on the foredeck (if need be)
- only 78 lbs. I can carry it on my head to put on our van myself. Also has wheel-in-keel.
- never looses air like a RID

The Bad:
- sits pretty low in the water when both the wife and I, and a case of previsions are on board
- bow rides very high with just me and the outboard aft. I now sit in the middle seat with a tiller extension
- I have only sailed with myself. quite small for two and the boon is low.
- 8 foot is a little small for 2 of us, but the 10 foot one will not fit on deck in storm conditions.
- she likes to take on water through the keel-hole. There is a plate that you attach that covers the keel-hole be still comes in so after long trip you need to bail a few gallons.
- the ugly marks she could potentially make on or Mac hull. So far none, as I drop small fenders.
- only rated for 2 hp. the 10 foot is rated for 4hp.
- a little difficult to get her on the Mac-foredeck. I need a better rig to use with the spinnaker pole.
- very light on the water. I once caught a large ling-cod that pulled me around
- light bow tackle.
- not as stable as a RID when boarding.

The Ugly:
- price is about $800 CAD now. Sail kit about the same again. But is still less than most RID's we priced.

Misc.
- I had a cover made so green water does not board when under tow. It cost $200. The cover is black sunbrella that matches the sail covers, bimini/doger, etc, so she presents well under tow.
- we looked at getting the inflatable pontoons, but so far no need to incur the additional cost and hassle

Darry

[c130king]

Jim
YEA!!!! I can put that Carabiner in the parts box.. Now about your lazy jacks ? I dont suppose you have a link or a picture? I am leaving soon and I want good dependable but economical...

Dive,

Here you can see the small carabiners ($1.79 for 2 or 4 at WalMart if I remember correctly) at the aft end of my boom. I was using two but in this picture one is broke so I am only using one and it is snapped to my poor man's outhaul (just tied the end of the foot of the sail to the end of the boom). You can also see my poor man's topping lift tied to the end of the boom.



The main lines of the LJ system go up to pulleys that are hanging down off the mast and then down the front end of the boom where they are snapped into padeyes with the same red carabiners. The vertical parts of the LJ are tied to the main line, taken under the boom through a padeye and then up to the other side and tied. I do have a small piece of duct tape on the main line to keep the knots from sliding downhill.



You can see the second set of carabiners in this pic just next to the boom vang. And you can see the "vertical" part of the LJ system coming out of my neck. The knot just aft of that is simply a Boy Scout "Taut Line Hitch" that I use to tighten/loosen the LJ system if it needs a little adjustment.

When I am putting the boat to bed I unsnap front and rear carabiners, pull the whole system to the mast and then secure it all under the sail cover.

Hope that helps. Definitely very inexpensive. And it works fine. Occasionally a baten hangs up in the LJ on the way up. Just lower the sail a little, pull on the leech (and ensure I am straight into the wind) and then right back up. Makes single-handing a breeze.

Good luck with your trip. Wish I could go along.

Jim