I've owned my 1990 26S for 8 years now. She normally sits in a slip at my local marina all summer with a trip to the Great Lakes a couple of weeks a year. I'm getting ready to head down to Florida, a 3,000 mile round trip. I've tried a few different ways but have not been able to come up with a simple but effective way to stow the boom inside the cabin. At the moment, I am considering removing the port side bench seat cushion, wrapping the boom with heavy towels in a couple of places to cushion and prevent wear, then finding a way to strap the boom down to the fiberglass bench. It seems like there should be a better way. Any advice would be appreciated!
Where to Stow The Boom for Travel
- Thread starter Saxacussionist
- Start date
3000 miles is a long way. Maybe some fitted padded 2X4s strategically placed so you can secure the boom to them?
I used some heavy duty bungy cords and gorilla tape to affix it to the mast on a roundtrip to Florida (2000miles) on my last trip. My first trip I tied it to the compression post, wrapped the ends in beach towels, and slid it into the vberth as far as it would go. It didn't move any, but took up lots of room and we wanted to sleep in the boat on the way. That is why the next trip I kept it on the outside.
I would do what @Cuscus recommends but with ratchet straps. Maybe a few blocks of wood to avoid scratching and in case hardware gets in the way
Our main stays on the boom in a sail-pack and we tie that to two of the port side stanchions on trips. It is out of the way and we can still raise and lower the pop-top with it there. Above was one of the 2200 mile one-way trips to Florida where I wrapped the boom/main and the mast/genoa with tarp pieces.
Now I don't bother with the tarps to keep road rash off as it didn't materialize. The boom/main/sail-pack are tied to the stanchions and the mast/genoa are cover with the cover I made,
Sumner
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1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
I don't tow very far but I like Sumner's idea but not with the sail on. I stow a 10 foot jib boom on the life lines when not in use, it is out of the way and safe.
I trailer all the time and I just strap the boom with the sail flaked and tied on it between the stanchions on deck.
Never had any problem with it.
Never had any problem with it.
If your looking for a way to pad the boom, try buying a couple of swimming noodles. Slit it open, and put it around the boom. I have to think the boom fits in your cabin, but assume it doesn't lay flat anywhere. I don't know that to be a problem. My boom sits on the bed with one end on the counter. If you want to support it batter, throw a couple of life jackets under it. Unless you roll the boat in an accident, it should be just fine. I've never seen mine move around in the cabin, even after a panic stop.
Saxacussionist, that looks very secure and ship shape. I can't imagine any problems with that plan.
-Will (Dragonfly)
-Will (Dragonfly)
That forward end of the boom won't bang on the Vberth will it? Can't tell from the angle.
Do you think those towels will keep everything from bouncing up and down on the road? One last thing I would do is tie a line around the boom above that forward hatch, run it thru the settee and back up thru the aft hatch. Then snug the line on the aft end of the boom.
Have a safe trip! Post some pics of your new place.
Do you think those towels will keep everything from bouncing up and down on the road? One last thing I would do is tie a line around the boom above that forward hatch, run it thru the settee and back up thru the aft hatch. Then snug the line on the aft end of the boom.
Have a safe trip! Post some pics of your new place.
I jam mine all the way to the tip of the v-berth and set that end (goosneck) on a flotation cushion. The other end (clew) has a short line that I fasten to the port chain plate. Clove hitch. I wrap that end in a small towel. It sits perfectly behind the sink faucet. I remove the sail for travelling.
Update on the trip, a month late, sorry! The boom/gin pole made the trip perfectly! I don't think it moved at all. Justin, the end of the boom was a good 2" from the v birth. Absolutely no rubbing or chaffing at all. Yes, it's a bit overkill, but it gave me exactly what I was looking for! Thank you all for your help...!
Attached is a pic as we are headed out to the Atlantic from our house in Marathon Key, FL
Attached is a pic as we are headed out to the Atlantic from our house in Marathon Key, FL
I would look into pipe insulation. The same stuff as the pool noodle but would come pre-slit and you could get it made for a larger inside diameter.