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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Boomkicker

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Rich G
Navigator

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226 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/18/2006 : 11:43:10

Thinking about adding a Boom Kicker this spring and doing away with the topping lift altogether.

My boat has no pop-top, so there's no interference issue.

Any suggestions, comments, recommendations, endorsements or discouragements?

Any and all are welcome.

Rich

Cerberus
Hull #4695
1984 SR/FK No Pop-Top

Edited by - on

RickStevens
1st Mate

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USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 11:50:31

Rich,

I have a question for you. Why are you thinking of changing? Is it just because using the topping list is a pain? I ask because I've priced both options, and the boom kicker can be pretty expensive. (Silly me - I'm worried about $$$ and got a boat.

)

Edited by - on

Rich G
Navigator

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226 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 13:37:57

I'm tired of forgetting to tell guests to loosen the lift after raising the main and having it interfere with the sail. I'm tired of forgetting to tell guests to tighten it before lowering the main and having the boom thump down on my head or feet. I'm tired of remembering to tell guests about it and having them not understand and then get a thump on the foot or head.

I see the Boom Kicker as a way of eliminating this awful, potentially hazardous process. I entertain a lot of people on my boat and it would be one less thing to worry about having to explain to them.

I think it would also make reefing much easier, safer and quicker, but I'd like to hear from people who have one to tell me if these things actually work the way they're supposed to, or if I'm just falling prey to good advertising.

They also don't seem that expensive, about $160 at Catalina Direct.

Edited by - Rich G on 02/18/2006 13:43:43

jaclasch
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 14:18:58

Rich,
I tried the boomkicker and returned to the topping lift for two reasons:
1. I am used to using the boom as a handhold when the main is down and unless the boom is on the pigtail it just flexes down.
2. I use a boom downhaul at the mast. The boomkicker produced a bind in the boom slide.
This is not to say I couldn't change my way of doing things, but it was easier to go back to the topping lift. Maybe you could find someone with a boomkicker in your area and see if you like it.
Regards,
James

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 16:31:22

Rich,

I thought about a boom kicker too but went with a rigid vang from Garhauer and haven't looked back. A very well made piece of hardware for around the same price as the boomkicker.

I went with the rigid vang to eliminate the block and tackle all together. I know of only two other friends who have owned Boomkickers and they felt that it was....OK. You are right about the convenience when reefing, raising and lowering the main. A vang, boomkicker or rigid, adds an additional measure of safety in the cockpit when the boom starts bouncing around - it's only moving horizontally and not horizontaly, verticaly, and diagnaly. It's much easier to anticipate and control.

Check out the Garhauer. It's a better option.

Edited by - aeckhart on 02/18/2006 16:33:24

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 17:34:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 Rich,

A vang, boomkicker or rigid, adds an additional measure of safety in the cockpit when the boom starts bouncing around... - check out the Garhauer. It's a better option.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree with Rich. My boat has had a BoomKicker for years, but a rigid vang will be on my next boat.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 17:38:43

I'll third mark and rich. Rigid Vang!! there are many out there too not just Garhauer.

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danandlu
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 18:11:17

Dumb question, but here goes - What's the difference between a boom kicker and a rigid vang?

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 18:32:43

boom kickers just hold the boom up

Whereas a rigid vang is just that, a vang. It contracts and expands and acts like a real vang, but it also has a big spring in it, so that it will hold the boom upright.

(picture isn't going to show the size for our boats, but will give you an idea)
dw

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 19:00:08

The rigid vang is a cylinder with springs and a purchase. The boomkicker is fiberglass rods that is used in addition to your existing vang. James said a mouthfull, When people see the boom standing there they think they can lean on it and it will collapse and dump them on the deck, it is very dangerous. I have a boomkicker on my 89, I will add a topping lift before it goes back in the water, I may take the kicker off, may leave it on. Rich what you have not done with your topping lift is set its range, a topping lift should have a hard stop to preclude the boom from dropping any lower than is safe. You really should only have about a foot to 18" of travel to the end of the boom. I used a wire topping lift with a small block on the end. It went from the mast head to about 18" above the end of the boom. I then ran a line from the end of the boom, up through the block and back down to the boom and then lead it where I wanted it to cleat. The boom could not fall even if I forgot to harden it before I dropped the sail.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 02/18/2006 19:01:09

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 20:02:10

My topping lift is like Franks but even simpiler. There is no line to run back along the boom. The topping lift is a wire that ends in a eye. From there a little line runs through a block with its own jamb cleat. You can see it snugged up all the way in this photo. When up, I wrap the tail of the line to the backstay and tie it off.

Buy one Harken block with a jamb cleat and accomplish everything you want for much less $ than a boomkicker.

Edited by - on

danandlu
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2006 : 22:10:38

Duane, Frank, & Jim,

Thanks for the explanations. It is clear to me now.

Dan

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