Boom Height when using a Rigid Boom Vang (keep the topping lift?) E33RH

[Prairie Schooner]

Okay! So, this story has a happy ending!

Frank at Garhauer sent me the new tube and a new (additional) spring. Quick assembly work and reattached and! It works! The very end of the boom is now held about 6-9” above dead level when there’s no tension on the vang purchase.

Which is great because if I want to I can ease the vang and the sheet and the boom raises up high enough for the Bimini top to be opened or closed without scraping the boom.

So I disconnected the topping lift and … discovered that it’s actually a cable that’s permanently affixed to the mast and theres just a sheeve and cable in boom. So… need a rigger to get rid of the stupid thing. (Sigh).

Still net positive I think.

You could just run a bungee up from the lower backstay somewhere and clip the topping lift to that. Then, you'll have it in the offing if you ever need it to hold the boom up for some reason. Or, it will at least be out of the way until you have someone go aloft for something else more critical.