Boom stuff
Clayton: I don't have any pictures of the gooseneck end of the boom. I will try and remember to take some the next time I am at the boat. I took those other pictures a couple of years ago to help me remember how to set up the reefing lines on my new sails. As for steering, I agree with Ross; I have my outboard tensioned so that it stays steered in the direction I leave it. For the most part, I steer with the rudder only. However, while manuvering in my marina, I often steer with both. It is one of the great advantages of an outboard that you can adjust the direction of the propeller. With the shallow draft of the 23 and the ability to steer with the outboard, I can back up straight in strong winds and make sharp turns that make other sailors envious. Kevin: the mainsheet attaches to that triangular plate. The back stay on the 23 is really in two pieces: one long piece that runs from the top of the mast to about two feet short of the transom. The other is that triangular plate and tail. Attach the long backstay to one hole of the triangle, and the tail that is attached to the triangle to the chain plate on the transom. Make sure that when you do this, the remaining hole or point of the triangle POINTS INBOARD. You can now affix the bottom block of the mainsheet to the remaining hole on the triangle. Not an ideal set up, as you have no traveller, but it is workable. You can fix the sail shape to a good degree if you install or have a boom vang. That line attached to the end of my boom does go to the top of the mast. It is called a topping line. You don't "need" a topping line, but it performs a very valuable function on my boat. It keeps the boom from lowering itself into the cockpit when the sail is down. I adjust it so that the boom is above seated head hight when the sail is not pulling up on it. As I think I described in an earlier post on this thread, I also keep the boom from sliding down at the mast by using a sail stop slide in the mast. The boom is small enough so that this little gadget works fine. Many sailors make the topping line adjustable (then it becomes more commonly called a "topping lift) by running the line down to the foot of the mast from the mast head. That way, they can raise the boom at the end, creating more draft in the sail for light wind conditions. I don't do this; my topping line deadheads at the top of the mast.
