fractional vs. masthead rigged, pros and cons?

[kpgraci]

Just don't keep it attached when you raise the mainsail. Without a topping lift the boom will fall into the cockpit when you drop the main. No reason you can't use both to your advantage.

It never occurred to me to detach the pigtail and let the boom fall into the cockpit before raising the main...that seems not quite right, what of the crew in the cockpit? - dealing with a flogging main and boom as it is being raised? Topping lift or attached pigtail seems the only reasonable choice and the pigtail has a definite disadvantage. As far as raising the boom out of the way, I can do that with the topping lift as well. No, I don't miss the pigtail at all.

Actually there was another reason I added the topping lift and it was already mentioned - reefing. Attaching the pigtail in need-to-reef conditions is a very bad idea, releasing the halyard drops the boom until which time you can haul in the reefing lines - I tried it once and decided I did not want to do it again.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ken, you're right. My ONLY point was that AFTER one does the sail raising or dropping the boom lift is handy to keep the boom high enough to avoid head knocking. It all depends on how it is on your particular boat. On our C22, it was great. We did have a topping lift, too.

 

[Joe]

it's not speculating, it is a fact.....

Well perhaps we differ on what is fact and what is speculation. ...Sorry....

Let me offer you an olive branch, please... Here are a couple of interesting discussions on the masthead vs. fractional rig comparison.

The first from a site called boatdesign.net

The second appeared on a competing forum... but the subject matter and a few of the contributions are very understandable.

 

[Manureva]

it seem you are a lost cause solo sailor Joe.....now go on with your tinfoil hat....

 

[shnool]

I am familiar with a masthead rigged boat and its easy to figure out how to tune the rigging, but this new-to-me mac 25 is a fractional rigged boat and I am curious as to the advantages and disadvantages of masthead vs. fractional.... why couldnt they have added the extra few feet of cable and went to the top of the mast? is it tuned differently? the only thing I can see the rear stay is used for is to add a bit of bend to the mast, and then its still seems loose... it has the pigtail attached to it, but i will replace it with a topping lift soon....

Ok I think I can help more... its tons easier to get even a BIG genny around on a fractional versus a masthead. ON my fractional the 155 was pretty easy to get around on a tack, the 110, was practically self-tacking. ON my masthead even my 130 is a PITA to track around getting hung up all around, obviously light air is the problem as it comes up a bit, the wind helps it around.

The fractionals are easier (opinion) to sail with less hands. Since most of your power is in the mainsail, the trimming is more at the hands of the skipper (on most boats).