Lazy Jacks...With or without a topping lift?

[Lloyd Franks]

Hey guys and gals:

I just installed lazy jacks, and was told by a member of my sailing club that I no longer needded the topping lift. I tried it and it works. I haven't sailed this way, yet. I've been playing in my mind the sequence of raising the main, and can't really see an advantage to using the topping lift only...One less line, I know, but other than that, no other advantage that I see. Your comments please. Thanks for your help on this, and all the other questions I've asked. Fair winds.

Lloyd

[Graham Carr]

Hi Lloyd
I plan on installing a lazy jack system but I will not do away with my topping lift. Here are a few reason to keep your topping lift, but they require that you run your line aft. Mine is led aft.

When sailing downwind in a light breeze, you want your main to be as deep and rounded as possible. In addition to reducing tension on your outhaul and leech line you can raise the end of the boom as needed with the topping lift. This works well.
(Note: Although I mentioned adjusting the leech, I have not played with mine yet.)

If in a strong blow the main halyard jams aloft you may not be able to reef or drop the sail. The topping lift will allow you to hoist the boom up to the mast and secure with it line. Things always seem to go wrong at the worst possible time.

If you want to use a boom tent a topping lift will give you a stable center support for this.

Chip Hindes has also used his for lifting:

A generously sized topping lift is quite stable and doesn't "dip" if you lean on the boom. I used mine in combination with the mainsheet to convert the boom into a jib crane, and it was strong enough to support a 57 pound dinghy motor for lifting off the cockpit seat, swinging over the side, then lowering the motor into the dinghy. I'm considering upgrading it still further so it could be used in an emergency to retrieve a person overboard from the water.

See Chips post here

Graham Carr

[Jack O'Brien]

Hey Lloyd:

I use my topping lift to hoist flags and xmas lights up the backstay.

[galletas]

Lazy is dessigned to help to raise the sail, not for support the weight of the boom. You must use the topping lift.

[Catigale]

I like Heaths boomkicker which is available on buttons to left....

This does free up the topping lift for dropping kids overboard and the like..