A main topping lift serves two primary purposes: 1) opening the top of the main to create more twist and 2) holding the boom up when the mainsail is not hoisted.
In my opinion, the former is more suited to a rigid boom vang or boomkicker. If either are properly installed, they should raise the boom enough to twist off the main. The big advantage of a rigid vang or boomkicker is that it will allow you to detach the topping lift and move it forward to the mast while sailing. Why? To prevent damage to your mainsail. Topping lifts, in particular, wire topping lifts, will abrade the stitching near the leech of your main. In severe cases, you might eject a batten as the stitching in a batten pocket gives out. Rope topping lifts don't abrade nearly as much but they will, over time, cause damage to the stitching. We never sail Touche' with the topping lift attached to the boom. It is always detached from the boom and carried forward to the mast. We have a Garhauer rigid boom vang. On Touche' the topping lift is only used to stabilize the boom when the mainsail is not hoisted. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
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