Sail removal on a Westerly Centaur

[Stemar]

Slab reefing is simple enough. A little way aft of the leach cringle, pop rivet a deck eye on one side of the boom and a cheek block on the other, reverse the sides for the second reef. At the gooseneck, another cheek block each side to turn the line up to the luff cringle, through the cringle, and back down to the foot of the mast. On my Snapdragon, I had a clamp of stainless steel with a fold on the top to hold more blocks, then the usual turning blocks, and clutches to take the two reefing lines, the mainsheet, topping lift, kicking strap and a line to allow me to adjust the stakpak lines. Since I didn't need a winch on the mast any more, I removed it and fitted it to the coachroof to handle the mainsheet and reefing lines.

A bit like this

 

[ashtead]

Without wishing to be a damper on the plans I did wonder whether the cost of a stack pack was merited on a small centaur boom and how reefing would work based on pictures supplied -I guess selden or a rigger like JTR based in Gosport might be worth speaking to about options though if heart set on stackpack though.

 

[justanothersailboat]

Converting roller booms of that generation to slab seems to have been common enough that someone sold a kit for it with a track (concave back to match the boom) and two reef blocks that slide on it. I know this because... I've just taken one off a scrapped Centaur boom. I'd be happy to clean it up and give it away to someone, but I can't speak for whether it works well or not.

I can see a lot of value in upgrading an old Centaur in any way that makes it easier or more convenient for the current owner to sail. If that's stack pack so be it. I'm not sure how far you can improve the boom before you're better off swapping it, though. They're also now so old it's hard to generalise about condition - some have been well looked after and are lightly used - others are totally past it. If the ends are ok and the tube shows no signs of damage how bad can it be?

 

[Stemar]

Without wishing to be a damper on the plans I did wonder whether the cost of a stack pack was merited on a small centaur boom and how reefing would work based on pictures supplied -I guess selden or a rigger like JTR based in Gosport might be worth speaking to about options though if heart set on stackpack though.

A stackpack and slab reefing with lines led aft is a huge improvement to any boat, and needn't cost a fortune. An old Singer sewing machine and some basic sewing skills - little more than the ability to sew a straight seam - means a DIY job is entirely possible for the stackpack.

Once done, the OP will bless the day he did it when he finds himself out in a bit more wind than expected.

 

[oldbloke]

While a good stack pack is great, on a small boat like this , just the lazy jacks gives most of the benefit for a trivial amount of money and effort

 

[Stemar]

While a good stack pack is great, on a small boat like this , just the lazy jacks gives most of the benefit for a trivial amount of money and effort

Very true, but for full benefit, you need at least the main halyard and topping lift to be led aft.

 

[chrishscorp]

Have you joined the Westerly Owners Association ? £17.50 per year best £17.50 you will spend in your sailing season.

The area rep will be driving past your club next weekend both days and has had a Centaur....
The boom fitting is unobtainable so ideally soft shackles or you will be having a new one cut out of Aluminium sheet.

 

[DinghyMan]

Have you joined the Westerly Owners Association ? £17.50 per year best £17.50 you will spend in your sailing season.

The area rep will be driving past your club next weekend both days and has had a Centaur....
The boom fitting is unobtainable so ideally soft shackles or you will be having a new one cut out of Aluminium sheet.

Replacement boom fittings are available in 316 stainless, as are replacement bushes for the boom fittings:

 

[Daydream believer]

Very true, but for full benefit, you need at least the main halyard and topping lift to be led aft.

Why does the main halyard need to be lead aft?

 

[Daydream believer]

Replacement boom fittings are available in 316 stainless, as are replacement bushes for the boom fittings: View attachment 190377

How does the boom rotate if the topping lift is fastened to the main boom & not the swivel on the end?

 

[chrishscorp]

Replacement boom fittings are available in 316 stainless, as are replacement bushes for the boom fittings: View attachment 190377

Interesting, I presume the stainless fitting has some sort of bush so the stainless does not grind away the cast ally boom end ? and where is this available from ?

 

[justanothersailboat]

How does the boom rotate if the topping lift is fastened to the main boom & not the swivel on the end?

Presumably this is someone who's given up on boom roller reefing?

 

[DinghyMan]

How does the boom rotate if the topping lift is fastened to the main boom & not the swivel on the end?

In the photo it doesnt, but just move the attachment point to the figure-8 swivel and it will

 

[DinghyMan]

Interesting, I presume the stainless fitting has some sort of bush so the stainless does not grind away the cast ally boom end ? and where is this available from ?

Yes, its just a copy of the aluminium original in 316 and has the same tapered bush in the middle as the original has

Available from us at https://www.ff-systems.co.uk/westerly_rudder_bushes.html about halfway down the page

 

[Daydream believer]

In the photo it doesnt, but just move the attachment point to the figure-8 swivel and it will

I gathered that. But with the botch of cord around the topping lift & the state of that cord, one might think that has not been done for some time. So the boom must be rigged for slab reefing, or no reefing at all which is a possibility.

 

[DinghyMan]

I gathered that. But with the botch of cord around the topping lift & the state of that cord, one might think that has not been done for some time. So the boom must be rigged for slab reefing, or no reefing at all which is a possibility.

You are probably right, could be either - more than likely the attachment was moved when the figure-8 aluminium wore thin / wore through and never got moved back - the photo was sent to me by a customer who bought the fitting from us as a replacement

 

[oldbloke]

You can't easily have a stack pack and roller reefing

 

[justanothersailboat]

You can't easily have a stack pack and roller reefing

I think we're only looking at situations where roller reefing has been abandoned... which is fair enough

 

[Daydream believer]

I think we're only looking at situations where roller reefing has been abandoned... which is fair enough

I just think that someone might point that out to the OP just in case he has not sussed that.
It is a pity that like many inexperienced forumites they ask a question then never post again.
Perhaps we have frightened him off which is not the intention.
I just hope that he pops up in this thread again & makes some comments. He may already be aware of the pitfalls or be embarrassed by the possibilities which he should never be.
No question is silly if one does not know the answer

 

[steveeasy]

I just think that someone might point that out to the OP just in case he has not sussed that.
It is a pity that like many inexperienced forumites they ask a question then never post again.
Perhaps we have frightened him off which is not the intention.
I just hope that he pops up in this thread again & makes some comments. He may already be aware of the pitfalls or be embarrassed by the possibilities which he should never be.
No question is silly if one does not know the answer

Quite often posts such as this tend to be the most interesting too.
Everyone has to start somewhere and many of us end up back where we started. What a great boat to get to grips with. Hope the Op keeps us updated.

Steveeasy