What Is . . . ?

[w1651]

Thanks Guys ! I need a new topping lift. I was thinking about 1/4 Galvanized and a stay lock at each end. Hot dipped Galvanized of course.

Or do you recommend just a piece of polyester rope to get the job done?

[boatman61]

Some nice colour co-ordinated lines better.... wire will chafe and wear the sail... all it needs to do is support the weight of the boom and sail... underway it should be mainly slack..

[Pete7]

Potentially our Boom could be used to get a MOB back on board. The main sheet has a pair of carabiners to enable it to be swopped boom end for main sheet track, so the tail comes off the boom and the casualty gets the other end. We then have a 4:1 lift, however, it requires the boom to be supported by the mast and the topping lift, hence ours is about 1/4" wire and coated with the white plastic stuff.

Whether we would use this when we have a sugar scoop is debatable but it remains an option. Friends found this poor chap, but with just two on board one of the things they said afterwards was that it was incredibly difficult getting him out of the water.

Family vows to stand by the 'missing' diver | UK news | The Observer

Pete

[SkiprJohn]

Good questions here.
The topping lift is used to raise the aft end of the boom. It pretty much is necessary when reefing if you have any kind of weight to your boom. It also helps when stowing the boat because once you drop your mainsail there is nothing to hold the aft end of the boom up unless you have a boom crutch. I'd recommend a synthetic line for a topping lift as Roverhi recommended. The other option is a hard vang. A soft one won't help you raise your boom.
Good to have you here and asking questions.
kind regards,