Boom strut-advice please

[Amari]

Grateful for any thoughts. Recently purchased 1985 Wauquiez Pretorien 35ft. 6.5 tons. Mainsail area 24m2. 2 aboard, retirement live-aboard Turkey. We feel boom strut would be a safety feature, and we could then use topping lift for passerelle etc. Do we need the best with gas spring etc or something simpler/cheaper (we have no experience of struts). Many thanks.

 

[poter]

Yes a boomstrut makes life real easy, no more topping lift for a start.
I assume you have slab reefing?

I used a Barton strut on my Moody 30 ' & I will be fitting one on the new Dufour 35.
its real easy to fit but do make sure you get a NEW drill tap, say from axminster tools.
Barton site here
Axminster tools here

poter

 

[Amari]

Many thanks Poter
Yes, slab reefing. I will consult the web sites you recommend

 

[Robin]

The most common ones are made by Selden, used to be Kemp. They will be a bit more expensive than the Barton ones and are the conventional gas spring type. the advantage of the gas spring (or the flexy rods of the Barton) are that when you release the loads from the mainsheet and the kicker, the strut will lift the boom and this will help set the main better in light winds, it also lessens the leech load when pulling in a reef. The Barton ones I think are for up to 35ft boats so you might be close to their limit, Selden do a range that will suit much bigger boats.

See http://www.seldenmast.com/

 

[poter]

A bit more expensive......no must disagree....a lot more expensive.
Yes for large ocean going yachts or even racing a seldon gas rodkicker is the buisiness. But to toddle round the Med. a Barton is much better value. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

poter

ps the barton will do up to 40' yacht.

 

[Amari]

Many thanks Robin and Poter. I've got the message

 

[ashanta]

I would agree with Poter. I fitted the Barton on my 31' ter and find it does everthing I wanted at a very reasonable cost. One word of advice. Read the instructions carefyully before attempting to fit. Ensure you calculate the size correctly as they supply the fibre glass rods in different thicknesses and lengths. If you cut the rods to length and they are the wrong size they will not exchange them. You do not want it to be too difficult to flex when using the main sheet or kicking strap. It should be a very easy haul with about 5-10kg of pressure, no more.

Regards.

Peter.

 

[Amari]

Many thanks Peter. I have decided on a Barton and will heed your advice