rolling boom main - pain in the arxe

jimi was last time !!

Reason I posted that comment this time !!! Just in case he fancied commenting again !!

Truth is - that slack is nearly always there - the b****y top slug gets skewed at mast head and is a devil of a job to get that last bit sweated up ... so often I just say " ...... it - that'll do !!"

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Re: jimi was last time !!

I knew you'd come out of woodwork sooner or later .... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Actually since your last jibe at it - I give it that last bit of "Jimi" as I call it and get it tight now !! Well most times anyway !!

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Re: jimi was last time !!

If you go back to my pick of the headboard, I got exactly that problem with the top slider. I whipped the tape between the slider and the headboard and that firmed it up stopping the slider canting over and allowed it to slide right up the track.
I also moved the halyard out on the masthead crane by moving the sheave further out so that it didn't crush the headboard and slider against the mast groove.
That may help the problem.

NewHalyardRun.jpg
 
Re: jimi was last time !!

Only time I got my masthead that close to the water was during a chinese gybe - somehow forgot to take a picci......
 
Re: rolling boom main - pain in the arxe ...

I can't believe someone is still using a roller furling boom. Last time I used one was in the70's. Biggest problems is that some poor bu__er has to stand by the mast cranking the handle and yelling at the person in the cockpit to let out more or less halyard. As soon as there's any wind or sea, neither knows what the other wants. Get rid of it for slab or single line reefing and get a lighter boom as a bonus.
 
Re: rolling boom main - pain in the arxe ...

Of course, on a small old boat as the main halyard is at the mast it makes it easy.
Having said that I've only used it twice.
 
Keeping boom up ..... what is so hard about it ??

Simplest way is as I said already ... have a line of reefpoints in sail ... or actually you only need at leech to lift boom end ... lot simpler than slab lines etc.

It may be old-fashioned ... it may not be best sail shape ... but many boats still have halyard at mast base ... many boats still have the system fitted ... it works whatever Barton, Gibb, Harken etc. say ...
 
Re: Roller reefing

I use it. I hate the b*gg*r, but it's not worth fitting another reefing point on a sh*gg*d sail, and I can't afford a new one yet. I'm saving, though.
 
On older boats such as mine ...

The conversion to cockpit led lines would be quite a job ... and would mean ... various blocks on deck - my genny and main halyards are out front of mast base not aft ...... the sprayhood would need alteration etc.
This is not unusual on many older boats and variations on the old roller boom / reefing points in sails etc. appear .....

Not getting at anyone ... but the reply that advises "Change to slab reefing - you'll not regret etc. etc. " is not always fair .. the boat may be like mine - a PITA to change it over. Therefore other ways are found ...

My boat suits best the amalgam of roller boom and reefing points ... but previous owner started a disastrous project to change it .. and in so doing removed reefing possibilities such that the compromise is darn right awful ...
 
Re: On older boats such as mine ...

Your photo showed exactly the same boom (Proctor?) and roller mechanism that Avocet had. Eventually, the little tufnol gear in the mechanism stripped and I converted to slab reefing. Best thing I ever did! the sail sets so much better - it's a different boat when reefed! I added a Barton slab reefing kit at the back of the boom and at the front I machined an aluminium block that replaced the middle part of the roller casting. This has three big stainless rings in it through which lines 1, 2 and 3 are passed. These then go to clam cleats on the boom - about half way down. I felt this was a reasonable compromise between wha tI had an leading all the lines back to the cockpit.

Gooseneckcloseup.jpg
 
Sorry but I don\'t have a Barton Roller Boom ....

I have a Through mast roller boom .... not the side handle Barton type. There is no gear to strip as the handle is the "axle"...... : >

thYarmouthmay-day2006maintenance.jpg


Sorry pictures a bit small .... but I was a silly ass other day and re-sized the picture ...... forgot it was the only copy I had !!! If the person whop took the photo at Yarmouth May BBQ can send it to me again ?? I would be very happy ... !"

Another shot showing the standard through mast roller handle and also halyards exiting base of mast ..... >

April21_2005h.jpg

With such system ... it would be easy to change the split pin holding the boom onto the roller spindle for a pin and eye ... giving me a haul-down on the luff ... but doesn't change the fact that my halyards exit the front foot of my mast ... so would need blocks etc. "strongly" fitted to deck ... which still leaves me with sprayhood mods etc. etc.

I like my through mast sort - even though at present it's not used ... as the handle cannot be lost !! Unlike the side Barton type ! Lost a few of those cranked handles overboard over the years. BUT the Barton type has the advantage of the boom usually fitted to a slider so that luff can be adjusted by sliding the boom up / down ... the through mast type cannot - only by use of halyard..

Lakesailor has a Barton Roller boom .... maybe you have us confused ?

The bit I would like to have on mine is the "guard-plate" that sits at boom end as a "stop" to prevent sail from bunching up against the mast when rolled ...
 
Re: On older boats such as mine ...

Yup!

Not there any more - having a long refit in the garden for the next year or so but I can thoroughly recommend it! (Whitehaven that is - not my garden)!
 
The mast on my Snapdragon has a strip of spring steel at the bottom of the groove. This stops the slides falling out when lowering the sail. When reefing, the lower slides have to come out of the groove as the sail winds round the boom. I just push the spring strip in a little to let the slides out. I don't know if this is original equipment, but it should be easy to rig up something like it. The main thing when reefing is to shove a length of foam pipe insulation into the sail as it folds round the boom. This does a good job of maintaining a good sail shape.
 
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