Raising the boom

[geek_guy]

I added a Bimini. But the boom doesn't clear. I think this is a common issue with the 37 Legend. I've seen that others did it, but wonder if there is an issue with the sail still being able to raise fully?
Or is there something I should check first?

Thanks

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Well, GeekGuy; you got me going on the silicone and you've just raised another of my pet peeves! You might prefer, to spare your feelings, to take some 'advice' from someone else here.

I don't consider a Bimini more important than sail trim. Go figure! I know some people do. To me the mainsail is the driving wheel of the boat, providing the most actual power. It's not call the MAIN sail for nothing. Mainsail trim is vital to sailing well, especially quickly. And what is sailing speed but a safety factor anyway? 'The less time you're out in it, the less can hit you.' --my dad. Fast boats are safe boats.

I would go back to the Bimini-installing guy and tell him the problem. You should have, with sail up and drawing, outhaul snug, topping lift slightly loose, about 4-6" under the boom. Cinch the topping lift, lower the sail and maybe you have 2-3". This won't hit the canvas even in gnarly weather.

You might read Don Guillette's recipe for good mainsail trim. If you haven't contemplated this before, it'll open your eyes. You'll realize leaning off to the side and ducking now and then may be worth it.

No-one ever claimed you have to have 6'5" headroom under a Bimini. Even tall people get used to it. Rarely (maybe only at dock parties) does anyone actually stand straight up in a cockpit under sail anyway. I don't have one; but a friend of mine does and on his boat I get used to standing with my head brushing against the underside of it. He has a 26-ft boat; that's to be expected. You have a 37' boat. If the boom cleared your head by 6-8" without the Bimini, there's no reason you can't have one fit without raising the boom.

Now other people will weigh in with anecdotal 'evidence' that when they raised the boom and clipped 6-8" off the sail there was 'no difference in sailing characteristics'. But there was, most likely due to the loss of draft and general area. Their boats heel sooner and farther now; and they are slower and more tender. The facts are so; math is inescapable. People's perception is that they don't notice it.

Your boat was designed to be as it is. Modifications to rigs made by non-designers almost always have detriments. But it is, of course, your boat. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I added a Bimini. But the boom doesn't clear. I think this is a common issue with the 37 Legend.

I agree with JC. PPPPPP, who "planned" your bimini?

 

[Justin_NSA]

Both of my boats have needed a cringle added to the main at the aft end of the boom to raise it enough to clear the bimini. It 'reefs' the aft an inch or two but allows the sail to be raised fully.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Justin, your idea is okay but see Don Guillette's mainsail-trimming Q&A. You lose less area that way than by snipping off the whole sail; but your draft depth and location move. Trimming the outhaul end of the sail 2-3 inches while leaving the tack end alone might be just the thing. Don G says the draft should be about 60% back along the boom. Hopefully your little tuck still allows some 'belly' there.

 

[JohnVTX]

Simply put you adjust the bimini, not cut the sail, period. Bimini is a convenience. Sail is a necessity on a sailboat. You want your bimini to fit you, then get a power boat.

 

[Jackdaw]

Justin, your idea is okay but see Don Guillette's mainsail-trimming Q&A. You lose less area that way than by snipping off the whole sail; but your draft depth and location move. Trimming the outhaul end of the sail 2-3 inches while leaving the tack end alone might be just the thing. Don G says the draft should be about 60% back along the boom. Hopefully your little tuck still allows some 'belly' there.

Done and cut correctly, this 'tuck' would not need to effect overall sail shape. Indeed the 'level boom' is an artifact of old rating rules, now modern boats designed without regard to these rating rules often ignore it; and with good effect. You got the draft number backwards; 40% back along the boom (I guess thats 60% FROM the end of the boom, going forward).

 

[HMT2]

If you hired a canvas shop to make your Bimini, they didn't plan or execute well and I would make them correct it. Period.

 

[markwbird]

Interesting, the New Jersey guy is telling the Florida guy that a Bimini is not that important. That Florida heat with no shade may change his mind. I recently moved from Texas to Northern California. In Texas a Bimini was an absolute necessity. You bought the Bimini first and then mounted the boat to it. I do not have one on my boat in Cali and I don't want one.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I find that everyone in a forum has an opinion. Sometimes they are written well and clear, other times not so much. You glean what you need from them and ignore the rest.

 

[Sailor_Jeff]

Don't listen to those guys.

My wife said " You can go out alone or we could get a Bimini". I really don't want to impress that hairy fat old boat captain always hanging around the marina "alone" bragging and telling you how to race.

The man who made the custom Bimini also modified the sail cutting a wedge out. This way the boom did not need to be repositioned on the mast. Sail shape no problem when properly done, no noticeable drop in performance. We are in the process of getting new sails moving to loose footed which is even better we were told. Sail maker making the sail to fit our slightly raised boom. 12" at the clue end.

We have a ton of fun with our boat. It is sad watching the racing captains that seem to dominate their crew like military drill sargents, and are always looking for new recruits to be crew. I don't have crew, I have a lover that also sails... We have fun on board!

 

[geek_guy]

Thanks Sailor_Jeff. You sound like my kind of sailorman. It's so easy to be extreme, rigid, and opinionated. Sometimes forgetting that your extremes may not be shared. There are many ways to enjoy our sport. Some with effort toward perfection in the performance, others just by the joy of the air and water. Neither is right or wrong.

I do appreciate the thought of cutting a wedge out of the sail. That would certainly help my issue. I had seen other 37 owners raise the boom. I guess my question is whether I can just do that without regard to the sail still having enough mast to raise fully. Or if I would need to somehow measure the available track, and then the sail. Or if I would then still need to cut down the sail. Frankly moving the boom up would be simple and cheap. Two prime movers in my world.

The rest of the opinions on sail trim, what's the most important part of the boat, or how high a bimini should be would be excellent points to a different post. However they aren't what I was requesting help on. Also some of us do our own work and selection. I thought that was a benefit of this type of group. To gain opinions and information, not for unrequested rants.

Thanks so much for the ideas and opinions. Curious if you think I can just raise the mast 6 inches. No fuss no muss

 

[JohnVTX]

Thanks Sailor_Jeff. You sound like my kind of sailorman. It's so easy to be extreme, rigid, and opinionated. Sometimes forgetting that your extremes may not be shared. There are many ways to enjoy our sport. Some with effort toward perfection in the performance, others just by the joy of the air and water. Neither is right or wrong.

I do appreciate the thought of cutting a wedge out of the sail. That would certainly help my issue. I had seen other 37 owners raise the boom. I guess my question is whether I can just do that without regard to the sail still having enough mast to raise fully. Or if I would need to somehow measure the available track, and then the sail. Or if I would then still need to cut down the sail. Frankly moving the boom up would be simple and cheap. Two prime movers in my world.

The rest of the opinions on sail trim, what's the most important part of the boat, or how high a bimini should be would be excellent points to a different post. However they aren't what I was requesting help on. Also some of us do our own work and selection. I thought that was a benefit of this type of group. To gain opinions and information, not for unrequested rants.

Thanks so much for the ideas and opinions. Curious if you think I can just raise the mast 6 inches. No fuss no muss

I have raised the mast on every boat I have had, except my current one. Just raise the sail, see how much more room you have to the top and move it about 4 inches short of that.

 

[Justin_NSA]

You guys mean raise the boom, not the mast right? That would mean longer standing rigging.

 

[geek_guy]

Yes the boom. I speak bad.

 

[JohnVTX]

Yes, Boom....