We just bought this wonderful boat. A previous owner extended the boom and re-rigged the mainsail sheet for single handing. We don't like how the locking cam cleat for the sheet at the end of the extended boom doesn't work well. Maybe we would rather bring the sheet through the dodger and give up the single handed set up. I was wondering if some other owners of this boat could show us photos of their boom so we can see the original position of the sheet, or maybe someone has it going through a dodger. Would love ideas of how to rerig it closer to its original design.
1984 Newport 30 Mark III mainsail question
- Thread starter knotimpossible
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,161
Welcome to the forum.
Here is an image with the mainsheet rigging mid-boom.
While a mid-boom rig is feasible, you compromise some sailing functions while gaining more cockpit space without the boom intruding.
Some of the sailing issues are:
Here is an image with the mainsheet rigging mid-boom.
While a mid-boom rig is feasible, you compromise some sailing functions while gaining more cockpit space without the boom intruding.
Some of the sailing issues are:
- An extended boom means potentially larger Maine sail.
- Rigging the main sheet at the end of the boom makes the task of trimming the main sail easier.
- It takes more force to trim a midboom rig. That is why you see winches on the top of the cockpit to adjust the main sail trim.
- The distance from the helm to the mainsheet on the cabin deck means, if sailing short a crew member, you may be jumping about the cockpit every time you tack. It can be done, but not all sailors like it.
Welcome! Do you have any pictures of the current setup? That might help inspire ways it could be improved. I don’t really follow your description of a locking can cleat at the end of the boom. Usually the can cleat is on the cockpit side of the sheet, so if that’s not the case flipping it around may be a good place to start.
The Newport 30 is a Masthead rig. Which means the mainsail is smallish by comparison to a fractional rig. The Masthead type main is more like flap on a wing. It serves well to steer the rig.
So why extend the boom to defeat the design of the sail plan? It doesn't make sense to me.
You can have end-ish of the boom sheeting but it would cut up the cockpit. If it were my boat I would go that way. I don't like mid-boom sheeting. Four or six part tackle, end of boom sheeting, backed pad end on the sole and you are done. Add a traveler if you like. Still way better than mid-boom sheeting.
I like the Newport. It has a vee like fore foot which helps prevent slamming in waves. upwind. That also makes the boat a bit squirrelly downwind with a spinnaker. It has a fin keel and skeg rudder which make a 70's design a middle of the road 70's design. Similar to the Ranger's, Cals, and other Jensen Marine builds.
So why extend the boom to defeat the design of the sail plan? It doesn't make sense to me.
You can have end-ish of the boom sheeting but it would cut up the cockpit. If it were my boat I would go that way. I don't like mid-boom sheeting. Four or six part tackle, end of boom sheeting, backed pad end on the sole and you are done. Add a traveler if you like. Still way better than mid-boom sheeting.
I like the Newport. It has a vee like fore foot which helps prevent slamming in waves. upwind. That also makes the boat a bit squirrelly downwind with a spinnaker. It has a fin keel and skeg rudder which make a 70's design a middle of the road 70's design. Similar to the Ranger's, Cals, and other Jensen Marine builds.
Booms are engineered to withstand the forces applied to it. Shifing from mid-boom to end boom sheeting changes the forces applied to boom. Mid boom sheeting typically applies the distributes the load across several attachment points whlich reduces the load at any point. Shifting to end boom sheeting moves all the load to a single point at the end of the boom and multiplies the load at the goose neck and along the boom itself as the boom acts as a lever.
Shifting the attachment point can cause serious damage to the boom, it can cause the mid section to bow and break and/or damage the goose neck fittings causing them to break. Probably won't happen in light air and probably would happen at a most inopportune time. (Thank you Mr. Murphy)
Shifting the attachment point can cause serious damage to the boom, it can cause the mid section to bow and break and/or damage the goose neck fittings causing them to break. Probably won't happen in light air and probably would happen at a most inopportune time. (Thank you Mr. Murphy)
Thanks. I will take a photo on Sunday. The cleat is on the cockpit side, but when you have sail on a near beam reach it won't stay locked and just stays loose. Very frustrating.
ummmm. Not quite sure I know what you mean by: "Four or six part tackle, end of boom sheeting, backed pad end on the sole and you are done." Do you mean a row of 4 pulleys and then something on the floor? Obviously the two previous owners liked the end of the oom sheeting. They just have the sheet run through the boom to a locking cleat that doesnt actually stay locked.
Some photos would be really helpful to understand the current mods.
I have an O’Day 322, which is also a mast-head sloop. My boat has mid-boom sheeting, with a traveller and 6:1 mainsheet.
You see the arrangement in these photos.
The last photo is a closeup of the mainsheet, but there is also a vang on the far right of the shot (white flecked line). I have replaced that vang with a rigid vang after that shot was taken (you can see the rigid vang in the first 2 photos).
My mainsheet comes back to the cockpit as do my traveller lines.
Greg
Pictures may make it more clear than any narrative I could write
3 part block and tackle
3 part block and tackle
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,161
Here is what Harken calls a 6-1 system.
You can end it on the sole or a pedestal.
I have such a rig on my 35ft boat. I have a big main. The 6-1 system gives me the power to control the sail in more severe conditions.
Harken does something a bit different for dinghy racers.
They call it two-speed control. Think gross and fine-tuning.
You can end it on the sole or a pedestal.
I have such a rig on my 35ft boat. I have a big main. The 6-1 system gives me the power to control the sail in more severe conditions.
Harken does something a bit different for dinghy racers.
They call it two-speed control. Think gross and fine-tuning.
The J35 I crewed on had a Harken two-speed mainsheet system. It was necessary to have the low-speed part because of the loads, increased purchase was necessary.