Help

[sailnoproblem]

I just retired and purchased a 1970 Tartan 34C. I have little to no experience in sailing.( mostly the rigging) It has a long boom and would want to put a Bimini over the cockpit. Can the boom be raised?
I know this may sound stupid to you with experience, but I am learning as I go.
I was in the marine industry, in the construction end. However it was in the power boat sector (Sport Fish).
Any help with any knowledge of the Tartan 34C would be appreciated.
Regards,
sailnoproblem

 

[Bill1565]

I have no knowledge of mast construction, but a sail maker at North warned me that the mast may be reinforced at the gooseneck (where the boom joins the mast). Advised me not to think about raising the boom.

I am something over 6 feet tall, have sailed on at Tartan 34 and don't remember the boom as problematically low.

 

[kloudie1]

Instead of raising the whole boom to clear a Bimini , consider raising only the aft end and having a sailmaker re-cut the main (don't forget the reef points too) to set correctly.. As Bill says, though, I have been on a couple of T-34's and not found that the Bimini on those boats fouls the mainsail.. A buddy of mine campaigns his successfully on the Gulf Coast racing circuit.

 

[Merlin Clark]

If you get no response from a fellow Tartan 34 owner here on SBO, these guys should be able to help http://www.tartanowners.org/

 

[higgs]

Kloudie1 has a suggestion worth looking into. If you contact Tarten, they could tell you if you can raise the boom. Problem is, though, your boat will not perform as well with less sail area.

 

[sailaway78]

Standing head room

Are you just trying to get standing head room under the bimini. Klaudie has a good idea in raising the back of the boom some. You might also consider having a shorter bimini, ending just behind the boom. Is your primary interest in shading more of the cockpit, or just where you will be at the helm.

 

[sailnoproblem]

Thank you for the help. I am looking to shade as much as possible. The problem is the boom is low, and I don't see how I can have a bimini.
Regards,
Frank

 

[WayneH]

Frank,

I've got a different version Tartan. My 1980 Tartan 37 has a full cockpit bimini with standing headroom even for me at 6'1". We looked at the 34's when we were shopping but I don't recall the height of the boom on them. The standing headroom was indeed a point in the 37's favor.

Raising the boom will indeed get you headroom but performance will suffer somewhat from the elevation of the center of effort.

A second option is shortening the boom. You still take a performance hit but the center of effort does rise nearly as much. It does move forward and can lead to a lee helm unless you balance it out with a smaller jib.

I'm not a naval architect but I play a sailor on weekends.

 

[Joe]

Have you hoisted the mainsail to see where the boom sits with the sail up? I'm not going to recommend you start chopping the boat up right away.... you don't have enough experience with it yet.