Boom - Boom and bust

[johnphilip]

Curiosity over occasionally getting stuck when releasing a reef led me do dismantle the Selden single line reefing boom. (See picture). To release the internal sliding cars from the boom you have to undo the "Halyard" knot holding the tack line to the shackle which goes to the sail. About an hours struggle to undo each knot. Come on you pundits what better knot is there, small,secure and undoable?
Worth persevering however as I find the little nylon ? grommet shaped wheels on the edge of the fitting are missing, although a couple fall out of the boom when upended. Little wheels, about the size of a half inch tap washer, a few pence each? No this is yachting, a pound each? no, spare yottie bits £2.96 each plus VAT = £3.48 times 8 required. Small in overall boat terms but an arrogance by Selden.

 

[prv]

Well, if you will go for these posh hi-tech booms

Mine is timber with a few generic Barton blocks and some plastic fairleads.

Pete

 

[Bav32]

Think the knot you are referring to is a Blood knot. Dreadful thing to undo if it's been in place for a while.
I eventually got mine out using pliers and marlinspike etc then replaced with a Bowline.
Re the sliding plates; had this trouble too and had to replace the plastic rollers.
Good advise from my local seden supplier was to remove the plate and flatten out the bends to make it less of a rattle fit in the grooves in the boom. I also cleaned out some grot from inside the boom and applied a little greese to the rollers and the inside of the boomand cleaned and lubricated everything that moved.
Big improvement this season although my next plan is to replace the rope with better quality thinner rope as I think the friction of the rope on the sheeves is a major contributer. ( The old thick cheap rope does not stretch much trick me thinks)
Suggest you stitch some eyes in to the ends of each rope using sailmakers twine so that you get mouse lines through all the sheaves .

 

[vyv_cox]

Halyard knot is excellent, does exactly what you want - remains tied and occupies little volume. For the number of times you are likely to want to undo it I would stick with it.

My in-boom reefing is home made, without the wheels and track but using Selden balance blocks. No problems at all over nearly 20 years.

I replaced my 11-12 mm reefing pennants with 8 mm Dyneema, reducing friction significantly.