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Ok got the sails up...but once i connect the MAIN SHEET HALYARD to the mainsail, there is nothing to keep the boom up....if the breeze is good enough, the boom stays up, if not it drops...what am i missing or doing wrong...and no, i was sent no manual or video from inmon...great dealer, but i think he dropped the ball there...any help...pictures would be great....as i am not up to speed on all the terms...26M is the boat.


[mod]ModEdit: Moving to P&T ~fc[/mod]

There is a "topping lift", a line running from the top of the mast to the back of the boom. This line supports the boom while the sail is dropped. With the mainsail filled, this line goes slack.

---Harrison

You can download an "M" manual form the "Manuals" section from this website. (comes to you in PDF format) I don't think it mentions anything about a topping lift though. It's been a long time since I read the manual.

---Harrison

If I am understanding you correctly, you do not have a dedicated topping lift, but the main halyard is pulling double duty by being attached to the end of the boom when the mainsail is not raised. If this is the case, when you disconnect and put the halyard on the head of the sail the boom collapses onto the deck. When you raise the sail however it will pull the boom back up.

As Harrison suggested, a dedicated topping lift, a simple piece of 3/16" line which is fastened at the masthead and at the end of the boom will fix this. The line needs to be sized so that when the main is raised it goes slack. Another alternative is to install a boomkicker which is a contraption which connects to the forward end of the boom and the mast base and serves the same purpose.

Kelly

The three choices I know of are...

The topping lift as Harrison described (I don't think it's standard equip though - I could be wrong)

The Boomkicker/Vang combo. A Boomkicker springs the boom up where the boom attaches to the mast. A vang is a block/tackled line that holds it down and allows it to be adjusted for different sailing conditions. The online catalog on this site features a Boomkicker.

The rigid vang. Similar to the above, but all in one rigid unit. Holds the boom in place both up and down.

The last two are definitely not standard equipment. Hope this helps...

~Bob

The topping lift is definitely not standard equipment although most dealers I have seen put it in their "standard" dealer package.

Kelly

There is a "topping lift", a line running from the top of the mast to the back of the boom. This line supports the boom while the sail is dropped. With the mainsail filled, this line goes slack.

---Harrison

Regarding the topping lift, I usually disconnect mine just before or after I run the main sail up, I don't remember why anymore, but it probably had to do with vang and sail shape, I suppose if it is loose enough it wouldn't matter. And of course if you rig an adjustable back stay, the boom can always be tied up to it, at least that is the way it is on our Morgan.

A topping lift is not stock. But, IIRC, there is a stock bolt and nut on at the top of the mast just port of the main halyard cheek block.

That, and a line and big washer, is all you need to rig a topping lift. Oh sure, you can get all kinds of fancy and even make the topping lift adjustible. Or your can keep it simple and just run a line down to the aft end of the boom and tie a loop in it to put over the boom when needed.

One more simple project for the next time you drop the mast...

Thanks guys, its been driving me crazy..i'll go put one one now....thanks...lol

it's hard to know if you don't know...

I have mine with a loop tied at the end of it. When I'm lowering the sail I'll throw the loop around the cleat at the end of the boom. When I don't need it I loop it around one of the halyard cleats if I think it'll get in the way. I have my lines led aft so I just leave it looped loosely on the the boom cleat most of the time.

Another option is lazy jacks. My LJs will hold the boom up when I lower the main.

I also have the non-adjustable topping lift. Tied to the top of the mast. A loop at the end I slip over the cleat on the end of the boom. But the LJs work fine as well...My topping lift has come off the end of the boom twice and I just used the LJs.

Just a thought.

Jim

Here’s another option

I use an adjustable topping lift for additional sail control. When sailing downwind in a light breeze, I want my 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 will give the sail more of a balloon shape thus inducing a little more draft.

Another advantage of the adjustable topping lift is; if in a strong blow the main halyard jams aloft you may not be able to reef or drop the sail. This could be disastrous not to mention stressful. The adjustable topping lift will allow you to hoist the boom up to the mast. Then you would secure the boom and sail to the mast with a line or bungee cords. You would not be able to secure the top of the mast/ boom plus the top part of the roach would stand out due to the battens. So the sail would flog and make a lot of noise, but that is still better then the alternative. Granted the odds of this happening are slim, but it is cheap insurance. Things always seem to go wrong at the worst possible time.

When I am motoring I keep the topping lift tight and swing the boom to one side. I then hook a bungee cord from the stanchion to the main sheet boom bail. This dampens the swing when hitting rough water.

When at anchor (and not using a boom cover) I raise the topping lift so the boom is up a little higher and then secure the boom to the stanchion.

When sailing on all points other than down wind I keep the line slack so the boom is supported by the sail. When running down wind I have the ability to adjust the sail shape while under way. My topping lift is led aft.

Graham

Im a Boomkicker fan - you can buy one right off this board from the Catalog Button on the left...



I also have a topping lift led aft which is useful for all kinds of things in addition to keeping the boom and sail shape optimal - I even use it to drop my tender motor from the mount to the dinghy

I use the boomkicker as well but still maintain my old topping lift... reason being that I and most of my crew have a natural tendency to hold on to the boom when climbing down from the deck to the cockpit. It is very disconcerting when the boom goes down a foot under your weight.

Kelly

Even though I prefer the adjustable topping lift, in all fairness I would like to point out that the boom kicker can also be adjusted for light air down wind sailing. You simply release the tension on the boom vang and the pressure of the boom kicker will raise the boom. Now just raise or lower the boom until you have a deep and rounded balloon shape. Also experiment by reducing the tension on your outhaul and leech line.

Graham