What do you name the wire that goes from the end of the boom to the top of the mast ?
And do you take it off when you sailing ?
Me i have difficulties to tight the main sail whit the mainsheet because this wire is to short.
Thanks
Simsim
Main sail adjustment
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Default User
- Chief Steward
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
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Re: Main sail adjustment
I think your referring to the topping lift. Typically they are left in place. It should have a bit of slack in it when the main is raised.
Dave
Dave
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dennisneal
- First Officer
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Riverside, CA, '06 26M, 60HP Etec; Sailing out of Marina Del Rey
Re: Main sail adjustment
If the topping lift is still taut after raising the main sail, either the main sheet is too tight, or the main sail needs to be raised some more. The boom should easily clear the stanchions and lifelines if swung to the side when the sail is fully up. Typically, the head, (top), of the main sail should be about 8 inches from the top of the mast when it is fully raised.
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Berber Boy
- First Officer
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
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Re: Main sail adjustment
If you have a boom vang and have it on tight that will also impede your raising the Main
David
David
Re: Main sail adjustment
Our topping lift (TL) engages the aft boom end at 2 alternate points...
1 at free (bottom) end of TL, so TL is slack, when sailing,
2.at about 12-18 inches above TL free end, with mainsail furled, so TL is tensioned to hold aft boom end up and out of the way (at eye level or above), TL being tensioned by snugly cleating the main sheet.
In detail, our TL free end comprises a bowline. The closed eye of a fixed eye boat snap hook slides along and is trapped on the TL above the bowline. The snap hook is snapped on the stock strap eye (the reef line eye strap) on the side of the aft part of the boom. This leaves the TL slack for sailing.
To raise the boom before dropping the mainsail, we slack the mainsheet and pull the TL bowline forward along the boom and snag the TL bowline over the protruding end of the boom bail that carries the upper block for the mainsheet, then tension the mainsheet.
To take down the rig for winter storage, just unsnap the snap hook from the boom......reverse this in in the spring to up the rig....no need to untie/tie the bowline. Has worked for a decade or more.
Ron
1 at free (bottom) end of TL, so TL is slack, when sailing,
2.at about 12-18 inches above TL free end, with mainsail furled, so TL is tensioned to hold aft boom end up and out of the way (at eye level or above), TL being tensioned by snugly cleating the main sheet.
In detail, our TL free end comprises a bowline. The closed eye of a fixed eye boat snap hook slides along and is trapped on the TL above the bowline. The snap hook is snapped on the stock strap eye (the reef line eye strap) on the side of the aft part of the boom. This leaves the TL slack for sailing.
To raise the boom before dropping the mainsail, we slack the mainsheet and pull the TL bowline forward along the boom and snag the TL bowline over the protruding end of the boom bail that carries the upper block for the mainsheet, then tension the mainsheet.
To take down the rig for winter storage, just unsnap the snap hook from the boom......reverse this in in the spring to up the rig....no need to untie/tie the bowline. Has worked for a decade or more.
Ron