Association Forum - Fixed Gooseneck Vs. Adjustable Gooseneck

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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Fixed Gooseneck Vs. Adjustable Gooseneck

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tcufrogger
Deckhand

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USA
8 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/15/2005 : 23:14:22

Hello All -

I had my Gooseneck Casting (End of the Boom) on my Original Adjustable Gooseneck assembly. So I am going to buy a new Boom fitting tomorrow from CD and noticed they had a retrofit kit for a Fixed Gooseneck and that got me to thinking if that would be a better solution than the sliding one. Has anyone installed the retrofit and have any thoughts on the pros or cons?

Thanks!

John

Three Sisters
1986 C-25 SK #5335
Murphy, TX

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Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2005 : 06:50:23

I am putting one on an older boat this week. As long as you have a halyard winch there is no dissadvantage that I can see and it does simplify things. Dave

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2005 : 18:28:14

When I was installing my bimini, it was nice having an adjustable gooseneck to help me tweak the fit.

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Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2005 : 19:41:33

Thats a good reason but now your back to treating it like a fixed one right. Dave

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2005 : 19:55:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Laux
 Thats a good reason but now your back to treating it like a fixed one right. Dave
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Right.

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 06:33:46

John:

I might be misreading your post, so forgive me if I'm missing the point but I think you're talking about doing away with your mainsail downhaul and making it fixed?

If it were me (and it isn't) then I'd leave it sliding for 3 reasons:

First, it's a valuable sail control, to be able to tighten up the luff while under sail. True, you could tighten the halyard instead, but the downhaul's much quicker and easier while under sail.

Second, maybe yours does, but most 25's don't have a main halyard winch, so it's difficult to tighten the luff without the downhaul.

Third, if you buy a new mainsail in the future that is taller than your current mainsail, you might want that ability to adjust the height of the foot. Same issue if you install a bimini as Don pointed out.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 07:34:38

I am going fixed when I pull next fall. I hate the current gooseneck. My cunningham serves for sail shape. I think it is a design detail carried over from the very trailerable 22 that has no real benefit for us.

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 08:21:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 I think it is a design detail carried over from the very trailerable 22 that has no real benefit for us.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You'll find downhauls on much bigger, non-trailerable boats as well.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 08:28:24

I agree with the points made by brother Matsche.

With a sliding gooseneck, you can sit on the boom to put extra tension on the luff of the mainsail in high winds. To put tension on it with a fixed gooseneck, you either need to use the halyard (and you can't put that much tension on the main halyard unless you have a second winch on the mast for that purpose), or you need to use a heavily reinforced cunningham and the tensioning device has to have adequate purchase.

Also, if you have a tall rig, you can only install a functional bimini if you can raise the boom in some way, either by using a flattening reef or a short reef. I doubt that you can raise it enough with a fixed gooseneck.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 05/17/2005 08:39:48

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 09:12:55

John's points are well taken to which I'll add that an adjustable gooseneck is a must with a dodger.

Val on Calista #$ 3936

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