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I am not a racer and single hand mostly- so I rig for easy handling. Used the boom kicker a few times but the topping lift is easier for me (not a racer). As for the boom vang, it is only needed when reaching and when single handing was a hassle going forward to adjust. When reaching, I use ‘genoa track slides’ on the outer tracks and move the mainsheet attachment from the pedestal to the outboard track slide (a snap shackle makes it easy to move). Gives me a little better sail shape because it is pulling more downward plus the advantage of limited preventer function (and no destructive load on pedestal if ‘accidental gibe’). Again, I am not a racer. Closehaul

closehaul wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:26 pm I am not a racer and single hand mostly- so I rig for easy handling. Used the boom kicker a few times but the topping lift is easier for me (not a racer). As for the boom vang, it is only needed when reaching and when single handing was a hassle going forward to adjust. When reaching, I use ‘genoa track slides’ on the outer tracks and move the mainsheet attachment from the pedestal to the outboard track slide (a snap shackle makes it easy to move). Gives me a little better sail shape because it is pulling more downward plus the advantage of limited preventer function (and no destructive load on pedestal if ‘accidental gibe’). Again, I am not a racer. Closehaul

This is exactly what I was gonna say. I have one, will change to a topping lift as soon as that reaches the top of the to-do list!

Reviving an old thread because I finally talked myself into purchasing/installing a boomkicker and then removing all the lazy jacks and other items that might affect the wind over my mainsail.
I never used a topping lift, but many talk about them chafing the sail.
I set the boom up so the highest position gave me some mainsail twist, then I can use my vang to remove the twist if I want.
I was expecting the mainsheet to pull the boom down removing the twist, but to my pleasure, found it did not pull the twist out.
This allows me to match my mainsail twist to my foresail twist making the boat much more balanced.
I also feel I had much less tenderness due to the wind sliding off my main much easier, or the added twist, probably both.
Much easier to put the cover back on also, no lines in the way.
Results after first sail = I now highly recommend it.

I've never had a problem with the topping lift chafing the sail. BWY installed mine as a dealer option and it's worked perfect for how I use the boat.
They used 2 clips, one for sailing and higher to get the boom up out of head-banging territory.

The boomkicker seems like a great boom vang keeping the sail shape down wind and consistent.

I did install lazy jacks last year and yes, without modifying the sail cover, it's a pain to lower them for the cover. But keeping me off the deck has been awesome using my looped main haylard.

As for the "twist", I'm not sure what exactly you are referring to. My main is stretched out and has quite the Draft/Camber. When new it had a nice flat shape. Now it is so stretched out and the boom is substantially lower.

This is fine for light winds, but high winds a flat sail is preferred and mine performs poorly.

Ditto

closehaul wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:26 pm Used the boom kicker a few times but the topping lift is easier for me (not a racer). Closehaul

I have both Boomkicker and topping lift (no chafe problems).

On the rare occasions when I'm only going for a day sail I usually skip installing the Boomkicker and just use the topping lift.

Most of the time I'll have the Boomkicker installed and use it along with the vang to control the main shape. Even with the Boomkicker installed I'll still use the topping lift when the main is down at night or if I have a boom tent rigged.

The main advantage I've seen in the Boomkicker over just using the topping lift is to keep me from doing something stupid like:

• Forgetting to connect the topping lift when I'm lowering the main.

• Forgetting to disconnect the topping lift and then wondering why the vang doesn't seem to be working.

Russ wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2026 1:06 pm I've never had a problem with the topping lift chafing the sail. BWY installed mine as a dealer option and it's worked perfect for how I use the boat.
They used 2 clips, one for sailing and higher to get the boom up out of head-banging territory.

The boomkicker seems like a great boom vang keeping the sail shape down wind and consistent.

I did install lazy jacks last year and yes, without modifying the sail cover, it's a pain to lower them for the cover. But keeping me off the deck has been awesome using my looped main haylard.

As for the "twist", I'm not sure what exactly you are referring to. My main is stretched out and has quite the Draft/Camber. When new it had a nice flat shape. Now it is so stretched out and the boom is substantially lower.

This is fine for light winds, but high winds a flat sail is preferred and mine performs poorly.

Russ,
The twist he's talking about can be seen in the back edge of the sail (the leech). When the boom is lifted up the leech has less tension and will twist changing the angle the wind leaves the top of the sail vs the bottom.

Unless you have a rigid vang the Boomkicker does not replace or function as a vang but it does replace your topping lift for most applications. Short of getting a new main you can tighten your outhaul to try to pull some of the belly out of the main and tighten your vang to try to counter some of the vertical stretching. It can't fix the problem but it may reduce it some.

I have adjusted my "leech line" and the mainsail is too stretched for it to make a difference.

I thought the boomkicker served 2 purposes: a topping life to keep the boom off the deck and a boom vang.
It's a clever device.

I have new sails, custom built by Precision sails, so if I set them up right, very flat, enough that with no topping lift or boom-kicker, the main was flat and my foresail was only as tight as I could pull with no handle on the winch. Too lazy to find my handle, have to tack a lot in my lake.
The boom-kicker lifts the boom, but lets it lift further if it wants to. The lift re-establishes some twist in the main, enough to match my foresail.
The Vang pulls down, so keeps the boom against the boomkickers adjustment, and can be used to pull the boom down against the spring like action of the boom-kicker.
If my terms are incorrect, then do correct my terms, but... I can at least share my personal use now.

Lee

Russ wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2026 7:49 am I have adjusted my "leech line" and the mainsail is too stretched for it to make a difference.

I thought the boomkicker served 2 purposes: a topping life to keep the boom off the deck and a boom vang.
It's a clever device.

The leech line is an additional control to adjust the tension on the leech. The vang is another control and is used to keep the boom from lifting up when the boom is not on the centerline of the boat.

When the boom is on (or near) the centerline the main sheet does a good job of keeping the boom horizontal. As the boom moves away from the centerline the the downward force supplied by the main sheet decreases as the sideways force increases. This allows the boom to rise above the horizontal, decreasing the tension on the leech. The vang replaces the the missing downward force and allows you to maintain your sail shape.

All the Boomkicker can do is lift the boom while the vang pulls (or holds) the boom down. Some sources describe the Boomkicker as replacing the vang but they are referring to a rigid vang. A rigid vang is found on larger boats and is hydraulically operated so it can both lift the boom (like a topping lift) or keep it from lifting like the mechanical block-and-tackle vang we would be using.