Topping lift... an essential piece of equipment that can easily be added to any trailerable sailboat. While the mast is down is the time to look for, or make an attachment point at the head of the mast. The line is then run to connect at the end of the boom to keep the boom up while lowering the mainsail. It's also quite useful to assist in raising the boom higher to facilitate adding a tarp in bad weather or just to keep it out of the way while at anchor or in the slip. It's possible to make the adjustable point either at the boom end as above. Or, if the masthead has an available block, the line can run from the boom end, through the block and down the mast to a cleat. In either case, adjustable is preferred.

Story and Photos by Bill Sylvester