Boom rigging question on H23.5

[Captain Bob]

It seems that the cam locks on the boom that secure the topping lift, reef line and outhaul do not do a very good job of holding.Any suggestions on a solution are appreciated.My first thought was mounting a few cleats on the mast to secure them better.

 

[Frank Ladd]

I've had good luck with them

I've had really good results with mine. the only trick I had to learn was that they are not like other cam cleats that have springs in them. You actually have to push them up to get them to hold.

 

[Ed]

Similar Problem

The topping lift works its way loose pretty easy on mine since there isn't a steady tension on it. I've taken to tying a loop in the line and hooking a bungee cord between it and the mast tabernacle. The outhaul and reefing line stay engaged OK. There isn't the same constant surging like the topping lift just a steady pressure.

 

[Captain Bob]

Found the problem!

It turned out that the casting marks on the side of the cam cleats were binding. When I ground them down flat, they all worked flawlessy! Even with little pressure.

 

[crazy Dave]

Z Spar and US spars

That was always a problem with those boom fittings as the casting needed to be filed on the edges. For the record, Z Spar built those rigs at that time but they left in a hurry from the USA. US Spars is a completly different company but when comparing masts, they are the same and we will leave it at that. I can tell you Julian at US Spars is one superb person to help you with your mast or boom needs.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Julian at USSpars - my man too!

I just happened to talk to Julian myself today; questions about SS versus aluminum rivets for boom bails. Always enthusiastic and a pleasure to talk to.More to your topic, I've been thinking of looking for single blocks with cam cleats to attach to the mast base or the mast itself. This wouldn't be as neat as turning blocks and another organizer to port, but this would need more cleats on the cabin top near the bulkhead. Not alot of room there, not to mention a whole lot more work, more money, and more holes to drill....RickM...

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Here's a picture of the block I have in mind

Here is a picture of what I'm thinking of using. Just bypass the jammers at the forward end of the boom. Instead, run the lines straight down to something similar to Harken 140 or 141 exit blocks mounted off to the sides of the mast near the base. I considered these once before, but then figured that the lower boom vang fiddle block would interfere with them when the boom was over the side.I'm going to revist the idea. Perhaps if I put a strap of some kind between the mast base and the vang block to make some separation there would be enough clearance under the vang to operate these other lines.I'd use two of these. One for the outhaul and one for the reefing line. My topping lift terminates at the aft end of the boom with a block/cleat combo, so I have only the other two lines running through the boom and out at the mast.Any comments on these ideas?...RickM...