Boom Stay for Cat 27 ???

[Terry Goodin]

I have a 1974 Catalina 27 and I don't have a stay to prevent the boom from coming up so far that it slips out of the slot in the mast. When the boom vang is completely loose, it will lift right out of the mast. This happened once, just after I purchased the boat while raising the main. I looked on another Cat 27 and saw that the only thing preventing the boom from coming up and out of that slot was a tie down to a cleat just below the boom.Is there a reason that Catalina saw fit to avoid putting a screw in the mast to avoid this problem ? There is a 1 1/4" bolt above the slot on the mast that prevents the sail slides from falling out (duh !! )Why didn't they do the same thing for the boom ?Thanks,Terry

 

[John V.]

Down haul

The thing you need is called a down haul. The feature of allowign the gooseneck to slide in the track is actually useful at times, and allows easy tightening (or loosening) of the luff. You can make a simple one.

 

[MJ]

You need a downhaul

which is a basic sail control which modifies the luff tension on the mainsail (which changes draft position). The cunningham (a hook attached to a line) is a similar sail control feature. You use the cunningham when the boom is secured to the mast. So the way your boat (and mine) is rigged, you need the boom to slide up and down so you can adjust the luff tension. I don't think your boom should rise far enough to come out of the slot when raising the main. It sounds as if your mainsail is too short. Check the dimensions of the main and compare them to the dimensions for a Catalina 27 main. Keep in mind that there are tall and standard rigs for the C27. Good luck.

 

[Walt]

Put a stop screw

The PO of my C27 put in a stop screw just below the feed slot (drilled and tapped for about a #10 or so screw). That lets the boom slide but not out the feed slot. You could also use one of those slot stop screw sold in the marine stores.

 

[Terry Goodin]

Thanks

Thanks for all your great responses.