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Boom height questions

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/25/2004 : 18:20:33

The bottom of the boom on my '82 standard rig stands at 27" above where the mast meets the deck. The boom on the standard rig in the slip next to me is 30" above the deck and there is another C25 in our marina that's a whopping 39" above the deck (I assume this is a standard rig also... hard to tell and the owner is not around). With my main sail fully raised, there is still about a foot to the top of the mast slot <b>but the gooseneck won't come up any more</b> so I can't get the sail any higher on the mast. In fact, I've got the downhaul line cleated above the boom just to keep the boom from dropping any more.

What "should" the boom height be? What might be keeping my boom from rising?

Thanks.

Steve

Steve Madden
'87 WK #5668 "Lorica"
Fort Myers, FL

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2004 : 18:42:34

Do you have a sliding gooseneck?

Assuming you have a sliding gooseneck, you should be able to slide it up and out the sail slug opening unless there is a sail slug stop or something else impeding the upward movement of the gooseneck.

Edited by - dlucier on 07/25/2004 18:45:34

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2004 : 18:44:08

If your mainsail is a standard C25 mainsail, the headboard should go all the way to the top of the mast, and that will dictate the height of the boom.

I don't know what the height of the boom is supposed to be, but, if your sail isn't going to the top of your mast, you need to figure out why.

The most likely thing that is preventing your sail from going to the top of the mast is that there is a piece of hardware (called a "stopper") in the mast slot, just above the boom, that is preventing the gooseneck from rising as far as it should. Often, the stopper consists of a knurled round knob. If you unscrew the knob, that should allow you to slide it up further in the mast slot. Sometimes the only part of the stopper that is visible is a small screw and perhaps a small washer in the slot, just above the gooseneck. That type is loosened with a screwdriver. Look carefully just above the gooseneck and see if you don't find something of that sort.

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2004 : 18:54:25

Thanks for the responses. The only knurled round knob is higher on the mast, just above the wide area of the slot and it's there to keep the slugs from coming down and then out. So, if I have a stopper, it must be one of the inside screw types but I sure didn't see anyhting in there when I was trying to figure out why the boom wouldn't go up.

dlucier - I believe it's a sliding gooseneck. There's room for it to slide down about 1 - 1/2 inches from where it is now and it will 'til it hits a cleat in the slot. But it just doesn't want to go up more than that 1- 1/2 inches.

Dumb neophyte question: What's the headboard?

Steve

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2004 : 19:31:38

Headboard = The piece of flat material (like a board) that's built into the top of the mainsail where the halyard attaches.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2004 : 20:39:06

Steve: Given that your boom moves, I suspect something about your mast slot is preventing it from rising. The boat with the 39" high boom might have a stopper holding it up, and the sailor might release the stopper, hoist the sail, and then pull down the downhaul--lowering the boom (so to speak) to tighten the luff. Inspect the slot for any distortions or material (muddauber nests?) inside the slot that might be hanging up the gooseneck slider. Be careful about not having a downhaul cleated below the boom--if the boom pops up to the gate in the slot and the gooseneck slider comes out (possible in a gust), things could get a little hairy (and very hard on the sail).

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/25/2004 20:42:05

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2004 : 21:33:22

Again, thanks all for the feedback. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get back to the boat until Saturday (I hate it when work gets in the way of the important things in life) so the recalcitrant boom will have to remain a mystery until then.

Dave - Hadn't thought about the gooseneck sliding up and out of the mast but I could see how it could happen if and when my boom decides it wants to rise. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll make sure re-cleat it properly.

Steve

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2004 : 21:39:23

An update on my non-moving gooseneck: While I was out of town this week, a sailing buddy went over to my boat, laid down on the deck and, using his feet, pushed up on the boom until the ornery gooseneck came loose. Something I wouldn't have tried for fear of bending or breaking something. Fortunately for me (and him), nothing broke and it slides up and down just fine now. Tomorrow, I adjust the boom and topping lift up so I don't have to crouch so much.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

Steve

Edited by - Lightnup on 07/30/2004 21:40:31

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2004 : 22:36:33

Steve: I put a sail stopper (the little plug in that goes in the slot and has a knurled nob to tighten) below the gooseneck to hold it up when the sail is dropped. It's just low enough so that when I hoist the sail, the boom lifts off the stopper as it starts to tension the downhaul. The only issue is that if you release the halyard suddenly, the boom can hammer the stopper down a little--no matter how much you tighten it. I try to release gently, and have a "dousing line" to help get the main down the last few feet.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/30/2004 22:37:33

IndyJim
Navigator

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USA
130 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2004 : 23:07:34

It's been mentioned several times on various threads but don't forget the benefits of mast gates. They allow complete vertical gooseneck travel without the fear popping out. I do use stoppers to limit the travel. But after I installed the mast gates, I wondered how I survived without them for so long.

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