O'Day 22 Boom Set-Up

[markd3825]

I have recently purchased a 22', 1979 O'Day which required alot of fix'n. We have had the boat out twice now, the second time we camped and slept on the boat a couple of nights in the mighty St. Lawrence. We had a great time. My questions are with rigging. According to the instructions(I did sail lazers when younger but never anything this size) it says to attach the boom, slip the gooseneck into the slot on the mast. The bolt on the fore end of the boom(at the gooseneck) is very loose. I have read that you can roller reef the main by winding it aroud the boom. How loose should this bolt be. My problem is holding up the aft end of the boom. Unless we are sailing, the boom hangs freely from the loose gooseneck with the boom vang helping to swing it down. I does say in the instructions to hold up the aft end of the boom attach the tail with snap on backstay to the aft end of the boom. What do they mean by this? What is a snap? Where on the boom? Where on the backstay? I see other sailors motoring around with there boom's at a normal height, unless I remove it, we are motoring around with ours hanging like it is broken. Can anyone help. Thanks Mark

 

[Warren]

O'Day 22

The snap they are talking about is on a short lenght of wire off the backstay. If your boat does not have this item, the standing rigging may have been replaced. The snap would attach through the aft hole in the outhaul fitting at the aft end of the boom. You could "crimp" a wire lead and snap hook the the backstay. I would use a solf type of crimping material (lead?)as one would not want to weaken the backstay.St. Lawrence? Anywhere near Chaumont?

 

[lloyd7284]

Sounds like somthing is missing...

Hello Friend to the North, I have an oday 22.On mine,there is a little "leash" made of cable (the same size as the rest of the rigging)that is crimped onto the back stay.It is located on the stay where the boom is in a horizontal position.One end is crimped to the stay the other has a little snap.The leash is 5" long.The snap goes into a hole on the fitting that is bolted to the aft end of the boom.That holds it up in a "normal" position.It could be that someone replaced the stay,and didnt add the "leash".Try and find a 1/4" hole in the fitting.Then you would know At least that part is correct.I hope this helps. LLOYD

 

[Keith L]

Boom Topping Lift

What your describing is a boom topping lift. Some are as you describe and are short lines or wires running from the back stay and others like the one on my Oday 25 come from the mast top. Mine is a wire coming to within 5 feet or so of the boom end. A small block is attached to the end of the wire. A line then runs up to the block from the end of the boom and back down to a cleat. That allows me to adjust the boom when the mainsail is down. I can keep it level or even raise it up to give more clearance in the cockpit. Another option is a rigid boom vang which can eliminate the need for the boom topping lift.