Re: [Cal_Boats] Topping Lift or Pigtail

I use both on my Cal 25-1. Pigtail when docked and topping lift when leaving. Pigtail secures boom when docked and topping lift allows for the boom to find the lee when hoisting and lowering the main. Kevin Cal 25 Panache Oneida Lake From: "david howe tr… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]" Sent: Dec 2, 2015 5:08 AM To: yahoogroups Subject: [Cal_Boats] Topping Lift or Pigtail I'm going to replace my standing rigging. Mast is unstepped so couldn't i add the topping lift? Should I just use a pigtail like I currently have or add the topping lift? David Cal 2-27 Follow Me Norfolk Va Sent from iPhone app, so ignore the typo's

On our old CAL 21 we used just the pig-tail for the first 21 seasons....... then we finally upgraded and added a topping lift. One of the best things we did! We still used the pig-tail while moored or any time the sail was furled, it took the weight off the topping lift (and kept the boom centered and restrained while moored. I would DEFINITELY advise that you add a topping lift for the many advantages that one offers, when using the pig-tail to support the boom.. it worked out OK with 2 or more persons aboard, since one could raise the sail and the other stand by to release the pig-tail, freeing the boom to swing wider than the pig-tail would allow (thus preventing the sail from filling). However, if my Dad or I were going out alone, using just the pig-tail meant that as soon as the main was raised, Dad or I would need to race back to the backstay to release the pig-tail before the sail caught the wind. 99% of the time that actually worked OK and kept the boom from dropping into the cockpit as the sail was lowered (or until it was raised)...... but it was not the safest procedure around! The topping lift would hold the boom up and allow us to release the pig-tail before starting to raise sail...... and allowed the sail to be lowered without first attaching the pig-tail...... MUCH SAFER! Also, with the topping lift we did not need to be headed precisely into the wind to drop the sail, although the closer to the wind the boat is pointing.... the easier it is to raise/lower the mainsail. On my Day Sailer, I use a boom crutch to support the boom while not sailing, like the pig-tail on the CAL 21, it works Ok most of the time...... but it is not ideal while I am alone...since I either have to drop the sail into the cockpit (timed just right to keep the boom near the center of the boat!) or drop the sail slightly, quickly set the boom in the crutch, then dash back to the mast to finish lowering the sail. A topping lift is still on my "I really should add that someday" list! Funny thing is..... next year will be my 21st season with my DS....... perhaps I should finally do it now! Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" 1979 O'DAY Day Sailer II #10201 Used to co-own "NODROG" 1970 CAL 21 #285 On Wed, 2 Dec 2015 02:08:38 -0800 "david howe tr… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> writes: I'm going to replace my standing rigging. Mast is unstepped so couldn't i add the topping lift? Should I just use a pigtail like I currently have or add the topping lift? David Cal 2-27 Follow Me Norfolk Va Sent from iPhone app, so ignore the typo's The 7 Most Amazing Credit Cards If You Have Excellent ... http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/565f586951b858681bf9st01duc

Topping lift I described has a lot to offer. Because it's adjustable you can leave some slack for the sail to take the full weight of the boom OR snug it up to pick up the boom a bit. You can sail directly into your slip and drop the main without having the boom in the cockpit. And tack and jibe in the harbor which isn't possible with the pigtail. George Barlow

Truthfully you don't know what true love is until you sail with a spring-loaded "hard" vang. Topping lift gets stowed in a new location: the garage. (or dumpster). Does everything an adjustable topping lift does (with the exception of letting people lounge on the boom) with none of the bad habits. No slapping on the main, no mark on the sail where it rubs, no getting wrapped around the back stay when tacking and no hooking around the spreaders when running deep. My first boat's topping lift originally was a wire dead ended at the top of the mast. That stopped a couple feet short of the end of the boom. Line attached to the wire ran into one of the sheaves at the end then through the boom out at the tack and to a cleat on the boom. Pain in the ass! Have to leave the cockpit to mess with it. No purchase. Just stupid. I put a block on the end of the wire, tied a line to the eye on the top of the end fitting on the boom, then bolted a little cam cleat with eyestrap to a flat spot on the end of the boom. Line goes up around the block and back to the cam cleat with a stopper knot. Stopper is at the maximum I would want to slack it with a couple inches of tail so you could grab it. This worked fantastically. 2 to one purchase, easy to adjust, right there above your head. This was on a 28ft boat. If I did another one like that I would use 1/8" Spectra instead of the wire. Cheap, soft and doesn't tear up the sail. Splice it yourself. However when I upgraded to the shiny stainless hard vang I never looked back. Have one ready to install on the Cal 35 now. Just need some more Tuits. (the round kind) > On Dec 2, 2015, at 16:44, 'Geo. Barlow' ge… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > Topping lift I described has a lot to offer. Because it's adjustable you can leave some slack for the sail to take the full weight of the boom OR snug it up to pick up the boom a bit. You can sail directly into your slip and drop the main without having the boom in the cockpit. And tack and jibe in the harbor which isn't possible with the pigtail. > > George Barlow > >

went from pigtail to Garhauer rigid vang on my 27. going from toping lift to garhauer rigid vang on my 36. Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 19:53:40 -0800 Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Topping Lift or Pigtail Truthfully you don't know what true love is until you sail with a spring-loaded "hard" vang. Topping lift gets stowed in a new location: the garage. (or dumpster). Does everything an adjustable topping lift does (with the exception of letting people lounge on the boom) with none of the bad habits. No slapping on the main, no mark on the sail where it rubs, no getting wrapped around the back stay when tacking and no hooking around the spreaders when running deep. My first boat's topping lift originally was a wire dead ended at the top of the mast. That stopped a couple feet short of the end of the boom. Line attached to the wire ran into one of the sheaves at the end then through the boom out at the tack and to a cleat on the boom. Pain in the ass! Have to leave the cockpit to mess with it. No purchase. Just stupid. I put a block on the end of the wire, tied a line to the eye on the top of the end fitting on the boom, then bolted a little cam cleat with eyestrap to a flat spot on the end of the boom. Line goes up around the block and back to the cam cleat with a stopper knot. Stopper is at the maximum I would want to slack it with a couple inches of tail so you could grab it. This worked fantastically. 2 to one purchase, easy to adjust, right there above your head. This was on a 28ft boat. If I did another one like that I would use 1/8" Spectra instead of the wire. Cheap, soft and doesn't tear up the sail. Splice it yourself. However when I upgraded to the shiny stainless hard vang I never looked back. Have one ready to install on the Cal 35 now. Just need some more Tuits. (the round kind) On Dec 2, 2015, at 16:44, 'Geo. Barlow' ge… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Topping lift I described has a lot to offer. Because it's adjustable you can leave some slack for the sail to take the full weight of the boom OR snug it up to pick up the boom a bit. You can sail directly into your slip and drop the main without having the boom in the cockpit. And tack and jibe in the harbor which isn't possible with the pigtail. George Barlow

Reggie, we got a rigid vang all spiffed up (by Garhauer) and ready to install but our boom is not rigidly attached to the mast, it is moveable to rotate. I fear a disaster could occur, so we are rethinking that part and if we should get a fixed bracket instead on our 36. How is the boom mounted on your cc36? Helen On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 8:34 PM, "r good my… [at] hotmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: went from pigtail to Garhauer rigid vang on my 27. going from toping lift to garhauer rigid vang on my 36. Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 19:53:40 -0800 Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Topping Lift or Pigtail Truthfully you don't know what true love is until you sail with a spring-loaded "hard" vang. Topping lift gets stowed in a new location: the garage. (or dumpster). Does everything an adjustable topping lift does (with the exception of letting people lounge on the boom) with none of the bad habits. No slapping on the main, no mark on the sail where it rubs, no getting wrapped around the back stay when tacking and no hooking around the spreaders when running deep. My first boat's topping lift originally was a wire dead ended at the top of the mast. That stopped a couple feet short of the end of the boom. Line attached to the wire ran into one of the sheaves at the end then through the boom out at the tack and to a cleat on the boom. Pain in the ass! Have to leave the cockpit to mess with it. No purchase. Just stupid. I put a block on the end of the wire, tied a line to the eye on the top of the end fitting on the boom, then bolted a little cam cleat with eyestrap to a flat spot on the end of the boom. Line goes up around the block and back to the cam cleat with a stopper knot. Stopper is at the maximum I would want to slack it with a couple inches of tail so you could grab it. This worked fantastically. 2 to one purchase, easy to adjust, right there above your head. This was on a 28ft boat. If I did another one like that I would use 1/8" Spectra instead of the wire. Cheap, soft and doesn't tear up the sail. Splice it yourself. However when I upgraded to the shiny stainless hard vang I never looked back. Have one ready to install on the Cal 35 now. Just need some more Tuits. (the round kind) On Dec 2, 2015, at 16:44, 'Geo. Barlow' ge… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Topping lift I described has a lot to offer. Because it's adjustable you can leave some slack for the sail to take the full weight of the boom OR snug it up to pick up the boom a bit. You can sail directly into your slip and drop the main without having the boom in the cockpit. And tack and jibe in the harbor which isn't possible with the pigtail. George Barlow

It has a gear drive which originally was designed for reefing the main around the boom. that system has been disabled so that the boom can no longer rotate. Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2015 07:15:23 +0000 Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Topping Lift or Pigtail Reggie, we got a rigid vang all spiffed up (by Garhauer) and ready to install but our boom is not rigidly attached to the mast, it is moveable to rotate. I fear a disaster could occur, so we are rethinking that part and if we should get a fixed bracket instead on our 36. How is the boom mounted on your cc36? Helen On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 8:34 PM, "r good my… [at] hotmail.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: went from pigtail to Garhauer rigid vang on my 27. going from toping lift to garhauer rigid vang on my 36.Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.comFrom: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.comDate: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 19:53:40 -0800Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Topping Lift or Pigtail Truthfully you don't know what true love is until you sail with a spring-loaded "hard" vang. Topping lift gets stowed in a new location: the garage. (or dumpster). Does everything an adjustable topping lift does (with the exception of letting people lounge on the boom) with none of the bad habits. No slapping on the main, no mark on the sail where it rubs, no getting wrapped around the back stay when tacking and no hooking around the spreaders when running deep. My first boat's topping lift originally was a wire dead ended at the top of the mast. That stopped a couple feet short of the end of the boom. Line attached to the wire ran into one of the sheaves at the end then through the boom out at the tack and to a cleat on the boom. Pain in the ass! Have to leave the cockpit to mess with it. No purchase. Just stupid. I put a block on the end of the wire, tied a line to the eye on the top of the end fitting on the boom, then bolted a little cam cleat with eyestrap to a flat spot on the end of the boom. Line goes up around the block and back to the cam cleat with a stopper knot. Stopper is at the maximum I would want to slack it with a couple inches of tail so you could grab it. This worked fantastically. 2 to one purchase, easy to adjust, right there above your head. This was on a 28ft boat. If I did another one like that I would use 1/8" Spectra instead of the wire. Cheap, soft and doesn't tear up the sail. Splice it yourself. However when I upgraded to the shiny stainless hard vang I never looked back. Have one ready to install on the Cal 35 now. Just need some more Tuits. (the round kind)On Dec 2, 2015, at 16:44, 'Geo. Barlow' ge… [at] yahoo.com [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Topping lift I described has a lot to offer. Because it's adjustable you can leave some slack for the sail to take the full weight of the boom OR snug it up to pick up the boom a bit. You can sail directly into your slip and drop the main without having the boom in the cockpit. And tack and jibe in the harbor which isn't possible with the pigtail. George Barlow