High boom over cockpit and traditional mainsail...

[VanIslandGuy]

Hi Folks,

We're having fun learning all about our new to us H410. One challenge has been nicely flaking our traditional, (non-furling), mainsail. We've got lazy jacks, the issue is the height above the cockpit means its really tough for either of us to grab the back of the sail and give it a good tug as we drop it. It's simply too far above our heads.

Also, our plan was to get a stack pack boom cover. With a dodger or bimini cover, getting the thing zippered after may be mission impossible. Anyone else have this issue, (I'm 5'9", wife is 5'7"), and have some good tips to share I'm all ears.

 

[Bill Murray]

The H410 is a great boat - we really enjoy ours. I have roller furling main so do not have your problem although adjusting the leach line can be a real challenge. My friend do have your same situation -- and they are quite short people. They carry a couple of step ladders.

 

[GorillaToast]

Also, our plan was to get a stack pack boom cover. With a dodger or bimini cover, getting the thing zippered after may be mission impossible. Anyone else have this issue, (I'm 5'9", wife is 5'7"), and have some good tips to share I'm all ears.

Why not rig a couple of small cords to the zipper and run one to a micro block at the mast and the other to the boom end. Simply pull the proper line to zip-up or unzip.

 

[artboas]

The H410 is a great boat - we really enjoy ours. I have roller furling main so do not have your problem although adjusting the leach line can be a real challenge. My friend do have your same situation -- and they are quite short people. They carry a couple of step ladders.

I gave posted in the past the solution for adjusting the leech line from the cockpit.
Please look through my posts, and you'll find it.
It permits you to tighten it in seconds from the cockpit, and (most importantly) release it before you furl. Keeping a leech line tensioned when furled will bag out the leech over time
Best of luck!

 

[All U Get]

Why not rig a couple of small cords to the zipper and run one to a micro block at the mast and the other to the boom end. Simply pull the proper line to zip-up or unzip.

We have that set up and with a new sail the material doesn't flake easily. The result is that I have to lower the boom to one side of the Bimini and stand on the winch to pack the sail and pull the zipper. Sometimes the zipper gets stuck or the sail won't lay flat just when my feet slip off the winch. Oh and the small cord gets folded under the sail so I have to dig it out occasionally before I can even start to zip. Figured that one out by using a small Velcro tie on the fore and aft lazy jack line. That holds the little cord to the side as you drop the sail.

We're going to the boat this weekend so if you listen toward the east, you'll hear me cussin.

All U Get

 

[VanIslandGuy]

Why not rig a couple of small cords to the zipper and run one to a micro block at the mast and the other to the boom end. Simply pull the proper line to zip-up or unzip.

We had actually thought of this as a possible fix. Sounds like it could work if we could find a way to avoid the issue that "All U Get" is dealing with too.

 

[geek_guy]

I added a bimini and the boom wasn't clearing. So I have been storing off to the side. But discovered that by having it off to the side I can get to it easier to flake and put the cover on. Not sure if that's possible for you, but it helps us.

 

[ahansom10482]

Have the same problem on our 380. I ended up having a regular type sail cover made that lays on top and hangs down.

 

[Don Lucas]

I have a Dutchman on my 410 but it normally doesn't flake straight on the boom. I normally pull the boom over with the traveler to straighten it out and put the cover on.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I added a bimini and the boom wasn't clearing. So I have been storing off to the side. But discovered that by having it off to the side I can get to it easier to flake and put the cover on. Not sure if that's possible for you, but it helps us.

I have a factory bimini and I had the same problem of the boom sometimes hitting the bimini. Mostly when the main sheet was tightened. My solution was to cut the bimini frame to lower it about 3 inches. I am not tall, so that worked for me. After cutting the bimini was still 8-10 inches above the dodger.

Regarding the sailcover, I had a Dutchman system that I could never get to flake properly. I just had to stretch and climb over the bimini to flake and zip up the cover. It was always a problem that I never solved.

 

[David Knauer]

I had the similar problems with my Hunter Legend 40.5. The headboard for the mainsail was 9' off the deck. It required lots of athleticism to attach halyard and cover mainsail. I retro-fitted a strong track and stack pack. This shortened the sail stack height and made the above problems easier. It is not perfect though - just better than it was.