Why is boom riding soooo low?

[gwp]

1984 TRBS
Does everyone's boom ride so low that it won't clear your head? I'm about 5-9 and it split my head open at about ear level in the event of an accident. The mainsail luff is stretched tight but does not go completely to the masthead. However, the gooseneck is not adjustable. Is my only option to have the foot of the sail cut to bring the boom up some? Help appreciated

 

[fox islander]

Bandaged head

I'm around 5-8 and my boom hits me about an inch above my ear...so sounds like our booms are in about the same place. My main also does not go all the way to the top of the mast (see pic). I was once told to have the sail measured and make sure the bolt rope hasn't shrunk.
I too wish it were a bit higher.

 

[jimg]

The main should go all the way to the top. Take a closer look and see if the gooseneck doesn't slide or move in some way.

 

[Maine Sail]

I'm around 5-8 and my boom hits me about an inch above my ear...so sounds like our booms are in about the same place. My main also does not go all the way to the top of the mast (see pic). I was once told to have the sail measured and make sure the bolt rope hasn't shrunk.
I too wish it were a bit higher.

From the small image it looks to me as if you need to let out the main sheet, vang and outhaul, then finish raising the main sail.

The leech is very tight yet the luff is loose and sloppy, a sure sign the vang or main sheet were pre-loaded before hoisting the main..

Another thing I noticed, and it may just be an illusion, but after saving the image to my computer, and blowing it up as much as I could, it really looks like you are using a jib or spin halyard to hoist the main and it appears to be wrapping the top of the mast which would also prevent a full hoist..?

If you send me the full size image, straight out of the camera, I can tweak it and zoom it to confirm this, or not, for you.

 

[Dean5735]

Mine too

My 85 C30TR has the same thiing going. I have studied the boom mast connection and I think it could be moved up about 6-8 inches without bothering anything. Then I could make a new dodger tall enough to see under easily and extend it back another 8-10 iinches for more wind protection. I just end up putting it on in the same ol spot and getting out there. Maybe when the dodger actually rotts out, I will do it.

Dean

 

[Stu Jackson]

Low boom

The C25s have a tall rig option with a taller mast but the boom is designed to be much lower. I do not know for sure if the C30s are like that, but they came from the same drawing board. If you have the tall rig option, then the boom could well be designed to be lower. Doesn't your manual or the C30 Assoc. website tell you these kinds of things, like moving goosenecks and that kinda stuff?

 

[Maine Sail]

Be careful doing things like moving a goose neck up. This can change the designed C/E of the boat and she may sail differently afterwords and not behave as you may like it to..

 

[tomfoolery]

I concur with Maine Sail, I have a standard Cat 30, I am 5'10" tall and my boom is no where near my noggin when the main is at full hoist.

 

[Stephen K]

same here...my boom clears my head and I'm 6'1". DON'T mess with the goose neck...Catalina has lots of engineers and didn't screw this up.

Go back to what Fox pointed out...and how old is your mainsail?...if its 10 plus years, have your sail maker inspect and "ease" the bolt rope. I had the same exact issue..was not getting a full hoist by about 8-10 inches. Friends came by and actually thought that Catalina had put a C-28 sail on my C-30...sailmaker eased my boltrope and $75 bucks later the problem was solved...the boom cleared my head and the bimini again.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[gwp]

Thanks for the thoughts. On a Hunter 31 I owned years ago I had same problem and had a sailmaker cut a "pie" shaped section from the foot and brought the aft end of the main up a bit. This reduced sail area but was well worth it in my opinion. I also had him remove the bolt rope from the foot to make it loose footed. Liked that much better too. At least now I know other C30s are designed this way and nothing out of whack with mine. Thanks.......

 

[fox islander]

Maine,
I'm going with the optical illusion theory on the halyard...the pic shows things up closer. you might have been seeing that twisted up dutchman control line, since replaced. That right there is as high up the mast I can crank it. You are right tho...I have a bad habit of raising the main with a loaded up mainsheet and a tight outhaul.

-steve
S/V Sonrisa

 

[Bob4203]

Definitely the bolt rope! The Cat 30 tall and standard rig mainsails do not go all the way to the top. On the older boats or better yet, with well used sails, the bolt rope will shrink over time from heat and moisture and you will loose some of elasticity and several inches of height on hoisting. Its a cheap simple fix performed by a local sailmaker. Try that first. As stated before, DO NOT MESS WITH THE GOOSENECK fitting. They are not meant to be adjusted.

 

[ldhilljr]

Not that I have much to add, but FWIW I have an '89 standard rig with original sails and although I can't recall if the the main hoists all the way to the top (or if it's just a little below), there is still plenty of room above my 6' 0" head for the boom to clear.

 

[gwp]

Bob4203.....That sounds logical. If the bolt rope were to shrink....somehow....this would account for the "space" at the masthead and the lowering of the aft end of boom. I will call local sailmaker tomorrow. Thanks for the info