Currently own a Pedrick 35 which when purchased came with a sheet running from the top of the mast to the aft of camber spar on the jib. Assumed to be a topping lift, over the years the sheet has become tattered and in need of replacement. My question is, do I really need it? It seems its main purpose is to simply keep the jib off the deck at the end of the day which could simply be done with the jib halyard. Thanks!
No, you don’t need it. I never used it and simply tied it off to the bow pulpit. The jib actually comes down better without it. You can head to wind and drop everything right down on the deck. Then use the jib how halyard hold it up after everything is tied up, just like you’re doing. No worries!
The topping lift allows you to twist the jib by opening its leech. On my F32, I found it helped balancing the helm and it makes a difference on a broad reach. It is surprising considering the relatively small size of the jib, but I can definitely feel it. Hoyt wrote this on page 2 of the F32/33 manual:
Secondly, the other item that affects performance of the boat is the twist in the leach of the jib and this you will also need to experiment with. When the best tension is found, put a mark on the sheet next door to the jam cleats so it can be repeated. It is very difficult to give exact instructions on how to adjust the leach. You really need to experiment as with the twist of the mainsail; the only thing that is certain is that when going to windward if the mainsail is backwinding slightly, the leach of the jib is too tight, so ease off the sheet, only by about one inch as it is very very critical.