Two quick questions

[PlanetExpress]

Hello all,

I just have two quick ones for you guys.

1. The line that runs from the top of the mast to the back of the boom. Do I leave that on or take it off when the main sail is up?

2. When I am motoring in waves, the boat gets tossed badly, sometimes as much as 15-20 degrees off course, I know the boat is light but is this normal? Any tips to make it stay straighter?

Thanks

[kmclemore]

1. It's called a topping lift. Leave it on.

2. Make sure your ballast is full... That helps with stability in rough seas when motoring and is mandatory when sailing. Yes, the Macs get tossed a bit, but usually if you're patient it gets tossed back... Just hold your course.

[Hamin' X]

Re: The topping lift, make sure there is a bit of slack in it when the main halard is tight.

~Rich

[Tomfoolery]

I just modified my topping lift so I can slacken it from the cockpit. It's cleated on the mast, and I added a small block I had laying around to the boom end, and ran a short length of small line from the boom through the block and back to the boom. I did this because I forget to slacken the topping lift before raising the main half the time, and then the TL is holding the boom end up high (for head clearance when not sailing), and I have to go forward to slacken it. Not fun on a small boat that's pitching in rough water.

My small line has a stopper knot in the end, so I can take it off the cleat on the boom and just let it go - the boom will drop to the correct height for a slack TL with the main up. Even if I forget to slacken it before raising the main, I can still cut it loose from the cockpit.

Oh, and my main halyard is lead back to the cockpit, so I do the prep work in protected water on the way out, then I don't have to go forward in the rough stuff. I leave a couple of sail ties on to keep the main from getting unruly, and I can reach them from the companionway, so no risking life and limb to go forward.

I probably don't really need the block, by the way. The boom is so light that I could just run the TL line through the boom cleat hole, with a stopper knot in the end so it's slack when the main is holding the boom up, and just cleat hitch it up higher when at the dock by lifting it with one hand and cleating it with the other, or even just taking a few turns (like around a winch drum).

[Russ]

1) As mentioned above, topping lift. Mine has 2 clips on it. The longer one allows me to sail with the line slack. Then above that about 2 fee is another that pulls the boom up high out of the way so I don't bang my head.

2) Lots of stuff on this one. As mentioned above, ballast in makes your mass heavier and more stable. You didn't mention the source of the waves. If they are from another boat, it's best to cross them at an angle. Turn your boat just before striking them to minimize the roll.
If they are steady waves, it might be best to use a similar approach. "Tack" back and forth so they don't hit you broadside. This will make life more comfortable.

[DaveC426913]

1) As mentioned above, topping lift. Mine has 2 clips on it. The longer one allows me to sail with the line slack. Then above that about 2 fee is another that pulls the boom up high out of the way so I don't bang my head.

This is what I have too. Two clips - one at the end of the TL , and one about 18" higher.
When sailing, I hook the bottom clip onto the boom, so it's long enough to be slack. But when I want the boom out of the way, I clip the higher one on.

Only thing I don't like about this arrangment is that the higher clip is so high, that I have to stand on the benches to attach it. Which I really hate doing in roley-poley seas.

[DaveC426913]

I just modified my topping lift so I can slacken it from the cockpit. It's cleated on the mast, and I added a small block I had laying around to the boom end, and ran a short length of small line from the boom through the block and back to the boom. I did this because I forget to slacken the topping lift before raising the main half the time, and then the TL is holding the boom end up high (for head clearance when not sailing), and I have to go forward to slacken it. Not fun on a small boat that's pitching in rough water.

Oh, so you slacken your TL from the OTHER end? It's on a block a the top of your mast, then runs down? Huh.

I slacken mine right at the end of the boom, like RussMT.