Solo boom mounting - work smarter not harder

[BobM]

This is an obvious one, but worked so well I had to share. As I get older, I try to figure out ways to use my brain and not my brawn.

I had to remove my boom so they could crane my boat out. I had help taking it off, but had to put in on by myself. I figured that it couldn't be too hard with pulleys overhead and a few thousand dollars worth of winches on deck, and I was right. It worked out just as I had thought it out. :dance:

I have the equivalent of an ATN tacker that I used, but I am sure you can do it without it. I placed the tacker just aft of the mid-point of the boom, which was lying on the port deck. I clipped the main halyard onto it (I am sure you could just loop the main sheet around the boom, but I had the tacker so I made use of it, as I thought it would offer a little more control). I made use of the cabin top main halyard winch and hoisted it right up using a single had to guide it while raising it. By the way it was gusty as hell, 20+ knots blowing right down the bow. Once it was at an appropriate height I engaged the halyards lever lock and went to the mast to pin the boom on. Piece of cake.

Anybody else have a similar story to share?

BobM

 

[Tim R.]

I once lifted my Universal M25xp out into the cabin with a 4x4 and a come along in order to change my tranny. Did it at a mooring in a day. 2 guys helping.

 

[Richard Bryer]

I have put the boom on and taken it off every year by my self in a somewhat similiar way- I leave the topping lift attached and I can unbolt the gooseneck, swing the boom out and lay the forward end down on the cabin top. I then ease the topping lift down and lay the whole boom down. Putting it on is just the reverse. Other things I have done by myself- lifting the motor up to pull the drive shaft forward and out then lifted it again to put the drive shaft ( with flange on) back in while replacing the cutless bearing and prop. I also had to winch the mast forward on the spin halyard enough to un hook the forstay and turn the furler 180 degrees.

 

[sailingdog]

I use the topping lift to support the aft end of the boom, and just carry the forward end of the boom to the gooseneck and pop in the clevis pin. Trying to balance the boom on a ATN tacker seems like it'd just be more work...but it also depends on how large your boom is. On a S2 9.2, it probably isn't much bigger than the boom on my boat... and using just the topping lift might be simpler...

 

[BobM]

I can't use my topping lift, because it is fixed. It runs to the mast head, which is really a pain because it tends to chafe the main or wrap around the back stay unless I tie it up really well and I am still working out a good way to do so. The boom is probably 12-13 feet.

 

[sailingdog]

Bob-

You could use the main halyard instead then... My boom is 12' long, and supporting just the aft end works pretty well. I have a pretty good idea now of how much I have to lift the aft end for the forward end to end up where I want it.

 

[Joe]

Uh... I assume you remove the sail first, but I would simply use the main halyard shackled to the boom end to lower it to the cabin top, then disconnect the mast end. My boat's only 27 feet so the boom can be easily handled without any assistance. But, hey.... sounds like it worked for you.

 

[sailingdog]

Joe-

If he's mounting the boom, chances are pretty good the sail isn't on the boom, unless it is an in-boom furling boom, in which case, it may be stored in the boom. However, I don't think the S2 9.2 came with in-boom furling.