John,
It doesn't sound like you need it at all

John Smith wrote:
The six inches is beyond the foot tackle. -OK-

What is a topping lift; to hold the boom up when the sail is dropped?
- Yes - and some other times as well.

It could just be that they get the boom extrusion and make one cut to
get two booms. The to cut to length, extra cuts would have to be
actually measured and the foot long piece of Al sold as scrap. I have
know this to happen with other classes.

Matt Colie