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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Pig Tail

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/18/2008 : 12:10:15

OK, not wanting to start a holy war here but am interested in options.

I know some people, like me, use the "pigtail" off the backstay to hook to the boom while the sail is down. This prevents the boom from swinging at anchor or while in the slip.

Others don't like the pigtail and consider is potentially dangerous if you forget to unhook it.

OK, some dummy I know has forgotten to release it twice this summer so far. Neither case resulted in a problem but if a big gust had come along - right after raising the main - it could have been sketchy. This has <s>me</s> that dumb guy I know thinking of going without the pigtail.

But, how do you stop the boom from swinging in the slip? Or, do you just let the boom swing within the range afforded to it by the mainsheet?

We cannot direct the winds but we can adjust our sails.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 07/18/2008 12:10:58

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 12:19:30

I occasionally use my pig tail, and on those frequent occasions where I have forgotten to unhook it, I unhook it and continue sailing. It has yet to be a big deal for me.
I mostly use a topping lift to keep the boom up while not sailing.

In both situations, I harden the mainsheet to keep the boom from swinging.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 12:35:23

Using a traditional topping lift, I just harden the mainsheet to prevent the boom from swinging. If it does move, its only a few inches at most.

(After learning several lessons on my first boat, the pigtail on my current boat goes unused and has been taped to the backstay for years.)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 12:35:31

It'll wiggle on the pigtail at least as much as on the hardened mainsheet (with a topping lift). Also, an adjustable topping lift allows you to raise the boom further at the dock. I had a stopper-knot that allowed me to quickly drop the boom for sailing.

Edited by - on

gop711
1st Mate

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Armenia
83 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 12:38:21

Randy

I have a bungie cord attached to the boom and attached the other end to the port railing. Then I have the traveler all the way to port and tighten up the main sheet. The boom stays put and is out of the way going into the cabin.

Greg
1990 C25 wk

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 12:45:52

I also know of a dummy that occasionaly forgets to untie the pig tail after raising the main sail. I heard that this dummy lowers the sail when in such a situation which is probably the safest way. The problem with fiddling with the pig tail when attached and the main sail up in windy conditions your head is quite close to where it shouldn't be. This dummy always raises his sails when in irons, I imagine a greater dummy with the wind on his back could get in trouble this way.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 14:30:58

I'll bet there are a lot of those "dummies" out there who just won't admit it but have gone to the topping lift solution. This dummy went a little further and added a rigid vang and hardens the main sheet to minimize boom swing. Dave's probably right. Unless you tie it off port-starboard, you'll always have a little swing in the boom.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 14:37:49

Well this dummy has a topping lift and used the pigtail. Just cuts down on the boom swing I hear.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 14:46:07

We keep our boom in place with the boom tent!

JD's hat has a slot in the back where it passes around the topping lift, then twist snaps where the tent attaches to the bimini.

We never sail with the boom tent setup

Paul

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 15:56:29

The first time I used the pigtail was in 1992, St. Patrick's Day I believe, it was also the last time I used it. Just checking out the new boat and the pig tail was a redundancy overshadowed by the topping lift. Occasionally I forget and find myself looking at it and wondering what the fu@& is that thing up there and then ,"oh yeah the thingy what's never used but persists, I don't know why"

Some replace its use with hard vangs or lazy jacks, each well suited to the task, which brings me back to the question posted. Just short sighted I guess. Works while at anchor yet easily overlooked when casting off, and more a problem than a solution.

EGAD !!!

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 16:53:43

"just let the boom swing within the range afforded to it by the mainsheet"

bingo.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2008 : 17:21:16

I use the pigtail, out of habit I guess, when I secure the boat to go home. The habit of releasing it is apparently not as well established. I always raise the sail while powering into the wind, and if I forget the pigtail it becomes apparent as soon as I bear off. I never stop the engine until I am settled in under sail, so it is an easy matter to round up and release it. But there is really no good reason to use it in addition to the topping lift and sheet.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 16:57:46

I use the pig tail - will swear by it...don't know how you're using it...we strike the mainsheet once docked and clip the boom onto the pigtail...the mainsheet block clips into the same swivel tab at the end of the boom as does the pigtail...take one out - put the other in...couldn't be easier...

Edited by - jerlim on 07/19/2008 17:23:42

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 20:09:28

Traveller to port, Mainsheet hardened, topping lift secure. Although Jerry's idea would certainly force you to think of the pigtail before trying to sail.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 20:20:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 we strike the mainsheet once docked and clip the boom onto the pigtail...the mainsheet block clips into the same swivel tab at the end of the boom as does the pigtail...take one out - put the other in...couldn't be easier...

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, it could be easier, if you used a topping lift which would eliminate the clipping and unclipping that you are currently doing.

Edited by - on

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 20:27:45

I hope this question isn't a dumb one, but does a topping lift need to be on a halyard? Mine is made fast at the top of the mast and adjustable at the boom only by changing the knot.
Ed

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 20:55:06

Not sure how others have the trim set, but we've got the pigtail set to hold the boom basically horizontal, which is slightly higher than the topping lift's usual setting.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 20:55:17

Mine is fast at the masthead and comes down to a block that attaches to a line that is fed forward thru the boom to near the mast and is cleated on the starboard side. Man! Now that I type all that, I wonder why the DPO made it so complicated? I think I'll replace all that with a snap shackle at the end of the boom.

Edited by - on

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2008 : 22:27:16

I don't know about the newer boats, but the older ones came with the pigtail specifically for the purpose of hanging the boom when the mailsail is down. I've used it for nearly 20 years and I've never had a problem with it. I have a topping lift fitted also, which I use to keep the boom off the deck when the sail is being lowered, but the boom stays supported from it only until it is attached to the pigtail.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2008 : 00:10:53

Just rig the topping lift with an adjustable slide at the boom. I have a piece of wood, 1.5" X 5" with two holes, the size of the topping lift's lines diameter at either end of the 5" piece of wood. Run the topping lift's line through one of the holes then through a pulley at the boom's end then up through the other hole in the piece of wood and make fast there. If you want to adjust the lift upward you grasp the wood with one hand while lifting the boom, when you release the piece of wood it will jam and hold the boom. It's a copy of an adjustable camping tent device.

Val on Calista, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2008 : 07:10:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stardog
 I have a topping lift fitted also, which I use to keep the boom off the deck when the sail is being lowered, but the boom stays supported from it only until it is attached to the pigtail.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you have a topping lift installed, why the need to use the pigtail at all?

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2008 : 09:24:51

>"I hope this question isn't a dumb one, but does a topping lift need to be on a halyard? "

The topping lift can be used to adjust mainsail shape in light air.
Kinda the opposite of the boom vang.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2008 : 13:43:28

The topping lift on a C250 comes from the factory with 50 feet of 1/4" line that when rigged, runs from the masthead to the aft boom, around a pulley through the boom to a pulley on the starboard front and then back inside the boom to a slot were it comes out to a jam cleat on the starboard side of the boom. See page 1.9.2 in the owner's.
Hope that helps the new 250 owners.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2008 : 10:17:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim

we strike the mainsheet once docked and clip the boom onto the pigtail...the mainsheet block clips into the same swivel tab at the end of the boom as does the pigtail...take one out - put the other in...couldn't be easier...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, it could be easier, if you used a topping lift which would eliminate the clipping and unclipping that you are currently doing.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

For security/ anti-theft reasons, we don't leave the main sheet connected, it's stowed and locked in the cabin. While the topping lift can/does support the boom w/ the sail down, the pigtail keeps the boom centered over the cockpit and from swinging around...

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2008 : 10:39:33

Does your marina have a mainsheet theft problem?

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2008 : 10:42:46

Not if we don't leave them out.

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