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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Shorten boom

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hafcat
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/26/2009 : 19:06:13

I have a 1980 Catalina 25 Tall Rig and was wondering has anyone ever shortened the boom. The boom is about 11 feet long and when the main sail is up there quite a bit of boom (1 1/2 to 2 foot) sticking out past the sail. Since the tall rig means the boom is a foot lower and the boom can become an issue with tacking or gybing. I do not race or cruise so I'm not concerned about any real performance loss. Does anyone see any other possible negative ramifications?

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2009 : 19:11:29

You probably need just a little bit of boom past the clew to attach the outhaul. In light conditions, you should keep the outhaul loose to provide a baggy sail, in heavy air, you want to flatten it by tightening the outhaul.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2009 : 20:22:34

I expect it is that length because of the end boom sheeting to the transom. I would leave the length alone.

Edited by - on

mlg3733
Navigator

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118 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 06:51:24

If your concern is the possibility of being hit by the boom, I would suggest you replace your main with a shorter one, a main for a Capri 25 is a foot shorter, allowing for six foot headroom under the boom. I did that on our Tall Rig and performance did not seem to suffer while comfort increased tenfold. Your estimate of one and a half to two foot sticking past the sail doesn't seem right, it should be less than a foot at the most with the outhaul tight.

Edited by - mlg3733 on 08/28/2009 08:42:45

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 07:27:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hafcat
 Does anyone see any other possible negative ramifications?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Because the boom extends aft as far as it does, the mainsheet attaches to it at a point further aft. That means that, when you tack or gybe, the mainsheet will swing across the cockpit near the transom. If you shorten the boom, the mainsheet will swing across the cockpit further forward, and there will be a considerable risk that it will foul itself on one of the cockpit occupants, creating a hazard to the occupants.

Personally, I would never alter a structural element of a boat, and wouldn't own a boat that has been so altered. My assumption is that the designer knew what he was doing when he specified a spar of a given length and dimensions, and, if he thought that extra boom length was unnecessary, he would have saved the builder the expense of providing it. Others might see it differently.

I sailed a tall rig C25 for many years, and didn't find the low boom to be a problem. You certainly have to be aware of it, but it isn't difficult to keep clear of it. I didn't think of the low boom as an annoyance. I thought of it simply as a factor that I couldn't ignore and had to adjust to.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 08/27/2009 07:38:19

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 08:47:33

I had the standard rig--the boom height was much more comfortable than on a friend's TR, and made a bimini more practical. The Capri sail sounds like a good idea if the gooseneck stays below the mast gate so it won't jump out. That'll put the boom at the same level as on the SR while still having a 2' longer luff.

I agree with Steve--the boom length was for a reason--maybe two. (I would add to his that it gives a more efficient sheeting angle to the transom.)

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 09:57:24

I fully echo Steve's sage words above.

But if you are set to make a change I would think that a shorter boom would require the main sheet being moved forward, which would require a new track and re-thinking everything with the likely result that overall inconvenience would be moved not eliminated.

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 10:58:20

I agree with all above (I think). If you shorten the boom and keep the mainsheet attached to the boom end, you're even more likely to be clotheslined on tacks and gybes than before. The Capri 25 sail works well -- see my TR bimini modification in the tech tips. If you don't race, then relocating the mainsheet isn't a class issue.

Fully hoisting the Capri 25 main will put the tack above the gate. You can either leave it down a little, or install some mastgates, which is what I did. They work fine.

If you neither race nor cruise . . . what do you do with the boat?

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 11:58:19

There is a very nice couple at my marina who spend nearly every weekend on their beautiful 32 or 35 foot sailboat but never seem to take it out sailing.

They don't race or cruise, but, who knows? ...They might day-sail once in a while.

Edited by - JohnP on 08/27/2009 12:00:47

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 13:04:33

Cut off the end of the boom and weld that piece onto the bottom of the mast. That will get the boom higher above your head and further foreward too.

I agree with those who advise not to alter a structural component. The Capri 25 sail idea sounds the most reasonable.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2009 : 19:43:35

I think that if you do shorten the boom, you'll also have to move the traveler and mainsheet to the front of middle of the cockpit, because the angle to the transom mounted traveler will be wrong.
Also, Dave B., on my TR the boom at full hoist is just below the mast gate, so, apparently our mast gate is lower on the mast than on a SR. I refer to Brooke's comment above. Because of that, I have a second sail stop in the slot below the boom so when I reef I can move the boom up above the gate and keep it there. BTW, we were out last Sat., beautiful day, with a reefed main and working jib and the GPS clocked us at 6 mph several times. Sweet!

Edited by - on

hafcat
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2009 : 22:33:47

Thanks for all your comments and I have decided to follow your advice and not shorten the boom.

Edited by - on

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