Boom Support
- Thread starter folmerb
- Start date
Your wife is a pixie?But, but, overkill!
I often dream (fantasize?) of using my vang as an "overboard recovery system" off the end of my boom, relying on the topping lift to support a drenched dog, or even my 105 lb. wife, if I felt so inclined.
Did I just say that?
Just from muy perspective, I've had a nylon topping lift for 5 years and it was installed by a PO. never had any problems whatsoever. just my observation.I understand your point, but as for me, when someone asks for information, I will freely offer what I know about it, however little that may be... quite frequently, they dont even have to ask
on a mac25, the dry weight of the boom with the sail furled, the aft end weighs less than 10lbs. hardly nothing, so when there is a stretchy nylon line tied to it as a topping lift and you have much wind, the windage of the line can cause the boom to lift a bit... and yes a vang will prevent this.... but not all of us had a vang on our first boat, until later.
and im NOT guessing about this, as I had a boat that was rigged with a nylon topping lift... it really doesnt work too well, as opposed to the method i changed it to.
others may disagree, but I have a strong dislike for a stretchy topping lift line.
so when there are options available and the cost difference is negligible, why not go with the best product for the task?... and even if the OP chooses to stick with his nylon line, I will always offer the best information as i know it from experience.
some of these questions may seem a bit silly to an experienced sailor, but to the less experienced ones, these "silly" questions are part of the learning process to becoming an experienced sailor. and as insignificant as the question may be, its quite likely very important to the one asking it....
This is the mainsheet block. at least on my boat...Dang.. I didn’t even remember that being there.. LOL..
I guess the PO must have put it there for some reason. funny..
Edit.. before I remove that block at the top of the mast in the picture below, do you suppose it was put up there for a spinnaker? I may try that next winter but really don’t have much of an idea how they rig.. maybe I should just leave it on.
Try dyneema, stronger than wire, weighs nothing, easy to work with and windage, who knows. I use a small block and cleat at the boom end to set the boom height, works well for me.
Erik
Erik
like a lot of things in life, until you try the difference, you will never know the difference.
if you're happy with what you have, and it works great to the standards that you need it for, then i agree there is no reason to try anything else.
Attachments
Yeah, I like that too. If nothing else it's nice to get the boom out of the way when at the slip or working on it. Also won't kill ya if you forget to detach it.
Brings back some "fond" memories of raising the main, getting a fresh breeze and then have a real oh sh_t moment realizing the end of the boom is still connected to the back stay pig tail.. You would think I would have only done that once.. lol..
We've all done it. I took my nephews out for 3 hours and couldn't sail worth a crud. Finally I decided enough was enough and started to drop the main when I realized it was still on!
yea.... too many times I forgot it.... and then there is the trouble that can happen when you drop the main in a hurry, and have forgot to connect the pigtail up before hand.... but then maybe thats only something ive ever done
... but i bet not!!
there is no need to detach it.... until you are derigging the boat and taking the mast down.
just adjust it...
I guess that's what I meant. When I said detach it, I was referring to the pigtail versus the topping lift.
A few years ago, I ran mine as a fractional rig so I could look like other macs (yea mine is masthead). Anyway I used my spare halyard as a topping lift and loved it.
A few years ago, I ran mine as a fractional rig so I could look like other macs (yea mine is masthead). Anyway I used my spare halyard as a topping lift and loved it.