Boom angle

[Randy]

Well I finally got my 240 in the water.I've noticed the the aft portion of the boom sits about 18" higher than where the forward "mast connection" sits. I'm thinking this can't be right.Is there suppose to be an addition cable that extends the backstay or what ever they call the steel cable that extends from the top of the mast to the rear of the boom? Despite this problem I took it out in light winds from Tawas Bay to Oscodaand had a great time for my first sail.Any input would be appreciated.

 

[David Foster]

Topping Lift

The cable from the top of the mast to the aft end of the boom is the topping lift. Its function is to hold the boom up (off your head) when you drop the mainsail.When your mainsail is up, the topping lift should be a little slack at any angle of sail. That is, only the mainsail should be holding the boom up. This allows the traveler and mainsheet to play their role in shaping the mainsail.If the topping lift is too short, your main will have too big a belly, causing less drive, fmore heel, and more weather helm as the wind increases.You can extend the topping lift to free the main with a short piece of cord, running in several plies between the end of the topping lift, and the end of the boom. (Mine is rigged this way.) Of course, this also lets you raise the topping lift in port to free the cockpit space of the boom, then lower it to sail.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Ken Koons]

topping lift attachment point

Randy,There are three lines coming out of the aft end of the boom on the 240. One is the reefing line. The second is for attaching the end of the sail (outhaul if I remember my jargon) and the third line is for raising and lowering the boom with the topping lift. You attach the line to the end of the wire topping lift wire line. This let's you loosen and tighten the topping lift and raise and lower the height of the boom.