Has anyone tried the boomkickers in place of a topping lift? Our topping lift became disconnected from the mast on our Lapworth 36 and I was wondering if these things actually work and how well. (Yes I am trying to avoid climbing the mast -previous owner installed steps which are too far apart for me but too small for my husband's big feet!)
boomkickers
- Thread starter mysticpuffin
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Any solid vang will be preferable to using a topping lift.
But an L 36 may present some design challenges,
since the spars are generally wooden, and the boom is low
and close to the top of the doghouse.
But an L 36 may present some design challenges,
since the spars are generally wooden, and the boom is low
and close to the top of the doghouse.
Garhauer Marine can provide you with a economical solution.
http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=40
If you have mounting points for a rigid boom, they can adapt their units for that purpose. Otherwise they will make custom fittings for the Mast & Boom included in their price.
http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=40
If you have mounting points for a rigid boom, they can adapt their units for that purpose. Otherwise they will make custom fittings for the Mast & Boom included in their price.
I have one on my boat for the past seven years and still love it. I perviously had a solid vang, the type with a spring inside a tube and hated the constant squeaking when the spring was compressed and released. It was effective but very annoying. The Boomkicker is silent. It's also a very simple design so it will probably be trouble free forever. It's lighter than most other solid vangs and probably less expensive. If anyone's interested, I have a brand new, still in the box, #1250 Boomkicker for sale.
I had one on my last boat for 3 years. It is well made, easy to install, works well. This site has the best price, quick delivery too.
The only thing I did not like was with the mainsail down and crossing a wake or in large waves the boom would bounce up and down. This could be stopped with the mainsheet and a topping lift but would really defeat the purpose of the modification.
Bob
The only thing I did not like was with the mainsail down and crossing a wake or in large waves the boom would bounce up and down. This could be stopped with the mainsheet and a topping lift but would really defeat the purpose of the modification.
Bob
Bob, Wouldn't tension on the mainsheet stop the boom bounce problem. That was what we did for years on our last boat. I parked the boom as far starboard as the traveler allowed and then pulled tension. Just an idea.
Ray
Ray
Ray the bimini was about 4 inches below the bottom of the boom so sheeting the boom hard without the main up you could make it touch the first hoop on the bimini. With the bimini folded back out of the way and the boom sheeted down hard it seemed the boom just kept coming down, the boom kicker just keeps bending.
I also found that on a small boat without a dodger I often used the boom as a steady while coming back into the cockpit after going forward. I learned to be careful doing this after I put on the boom kicker, the boom would drop away as you put weight on it if the sail was not up.
Bob
I also found that on a small boat without a dodger I often used the boom as a steady while coming back into the cockpit after going forward. I learned to be careful doing this after I put on the boom kicker, the boom would drop away as you put weight on it if the sail was not up.
Bob
I have one on my Capri 22 and love it. A word of warning though - use the factory mounting systems, don't jury rig something. These things are under tremendous pressure and home-made solutions can be downright hazardous. How do I know? Prior owner manufactured his own boom mount out of a 3" chunk of acrylic. It literally exploded on us the first season we had the boat. I ordered the metal factory boom mount and we've been much happier/safer ever since.
I've had one on our H26 for years, love it, no drawbacks, it came with 2 sets of rods, I ended up using the smaller diameter ones, when you install you have to set it so it will carry the weight of the sail at the highest boom level that you prefer, otherwise it will sag when sail is down. with the sail down I pull the sheet tight and it won't come down more if you use it for balance.
Boomkickers work well. I bought one for my Precision 23 - after I forgot to attach the topping lift before lowering the mainsail. I hit my wife on the head with the boom. That was not going to ever happen again - ordered the boomkicker the next day, and got rid of the topping lift.
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