Thoughts on boom topping lift. Like others, Touche' has a boom topping lift. It is the original wire with swage eyes on both ends. It simply runs to the masthead and terminates there. I just never built up the initiative to change it to Dyneema or equivalent.
Touche' has a Garhauer rigid boom vang. There is extra lift in the vang for raising the boom while sailing. However, I still like the topping lift for stabilizing the boom when flaking the main and whenever the mainsail is not hoisted. I added a purchase with a carabiner at the lower end. When sailing, I ALWAYS detach the topping lift and carry it forward to the base of the mast. The purchase is used both to adjust the boom height (when mainsail is not hoisted) and to tension the lift when attached to the mast. Here is a picture: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_sb5TfIENvsZ2ZKSGNuOThHTGs The purchase uses Harken 244 and 235 blocks. Never, ever sail with the main hoisted and a wire topping lift. The wire will abrade the stitching on the leech and you might eject a batten. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
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