Sail removal on a Westerly Centaur

[ashtead]

If the OP is in Gosport ever a visit to Haslar Weill no doubt reveal various Westerly with stack packs in case of interest. There’s one at bottom of ramp although of the ketch 32ft version in pentland type but you might gain some inspiration.

 

[kevsbox]

Thanks for all the advice, we fitted it today, will look at the end boom fitting next

 

[Daydream believer]

Is the bit that goes round the mast a separate removeable section?

 

[Boathook]

Is the bit that goes round the mast a separate removeable section?

Doesn't look like it.

 

[DinghyMan]

Is the bit that goes round the mast a separate removeable section?

I'm pretty sure it is - in as far as "removeable" means a long job fighting with corroded fasteners

There is a handle that passes through the boom, a casting that tends to break, some roll pins that seize in place, and a ramshorn for reefing

They are similar to these, which were off a Contessa 26 and remade by us, dont believe when anyone says that obsolete parts are always unavailable



They can be removed and replaced with a modern Selden fitting and a blanking plate fitted where the handle went through the mast

 

[ducked]

No question is silly if one does not know the answer

Disagree.

"Would it be a good idea to inject bleach?" was a silly question to which the questioner did not know the answer.

 

[Daydream believer]

I'm pretty sure it is - in as far as "removeable" means a long job fighting with corroded fasteners

There is a handle that passes through the boom, a casting that tends to break, some roll pins that seize in place, and a ramshorn for reefing

They are similar to these, which were off a Contessa 26 and remade by us, dont believe when anyone says that obsolete parts are always unavailable

View attachment 190544View attachment 190545View attachment 190546

They can be removed and replaced with a modern Selden fitting and a blanking plate fitted where the handle went through the mast

I was referring to the sail cover which will have to be tucked away somehow if not separate from the main section. The whole thing looks a bit of a pigs ear. But the photo may be at the wrong angle & the lazy jacks may not be set upcorrectly. Normally the lazy jacks would support the cover. However, these seem to come from the boom, which is not very helpful.

 

[Stemar]

Disagree.

"Would it be a good idea to inject bleach?" was a silly question to which the questioner did not know the answer.

If you genuinely don't know the answer, and have been exposed to Qanon advocating it, I'd say it's an extremely sensible, potentially life-saving question.

As a head of state with any number of specialists to ask, it's still sensible to ask them, but to speculate in public, well, I'll say nothing because my thoughts on the matter would earn me a good spell of shore leave.

 

[Daydream believer]

Disagree.

"Would it be a good idea to inject bleach?" was a silly question to which the questioner did not know the answer.

As they say;- "It is the exception that proves the rule"
But in this case you thought it silly.--Was it? Only on your mind if you already knew the answer.
Now ask yourself--Did the person asking it think so & did he want to know the answer?
Or was he putting out options, however wild, to make observers think laterally.

 

[justanothersailboat]

This thread has gone down a strange sideroad.

Meanwhile, I'm glad Kevsbox has been able to fit the cover. It might be the kind of job that needs a few adjustments as he gets used to it, many boat jobs are.

Interesting that the boom still has the ring used to fit a kicker to roller reefing (right? how on earth can that work?) - this might not be as much converted away from the original roller hardware as some Centaurs I've seen. I would be very tempted to change that, but I am an incorrigible modifier.

I have a Centaur boom end fitting I would be happy to give away if anyone has a use for it. It's pretty scruffy, but I don't think it's worn out. It is easy to rivet on.

 

[DinghyMan]

This thread has gone down a strange sideroad.

Meanwhile, I'm glad Kevsbox has been able to fit the cover. It might be the kind of job that needs a few adjustments as he gets used to it, many boat jobs are.

Interesting that the boom still has the ring used to fit a kicker to roller reefing (right? how on earth can that work?) - this might not be as much converted away from the original roller hardware as some Centaurs I've seen. I would be very tempted to change that, but I am an incorrigible modifier.

I have a Centaur boom end fitting I would be happy to give away if anyone has a use for it. It's pretty scruffy, but I don't think it's worn out. It is easy to rivet on.

If no-one else wants it I'll take it and use it as a pattern to make some more obsolete parts available

 

[ashtead]

I was wondering how the rotating boom reefing if it’s still in situ works with a stack pack in place but maybe that lethal handle on the front of the mast is a throwback to the 1970s and now serves no propose save as a reminder as how things have moved on. That said the claw vang or kicking strap if preferred seems to have also remained. I am puzzled as well . I would expect the boot at front of stackpack to be separate from the body of the cover otherwise where does it go when sailing.

 

[Daydream believer]

I was wondering how the rotating boom reefing if it’s still in situ works with a stack pack in place but maybe that lethal handle on the front of the mast is a throwback to the 1970s and now serves no propose save as a reminder as how things have moved on. That said the claw vang or kicking strap if preferred seems to have also remained. I am puzzled as well . I would expect the boot at front of stackpack to be separate from the body of the cover otherwise where does it go when sailing.

The claw does no harm. In fact more power can be applied to the vang. As opposed to, say, the typical pop riveted keyhole plate which involves corosion inducing holes in the boom & can pull out. Why not keep it on a round boom?

 

[ducked]

As they say;- "It is the exception that proves the rule"
But in this case you thought it silly.--Was it?

That would be to praise with far, far, far too faint damning.

 

[Rappey]

maybe that lethal handle on the front of the mast is a throwback to the 1970s

On mine the handle folds and clips into the mast creating a fairly smooth profile. It functions fine but I'm sure there is a valid reason this system is rarely us3d nowadays.

 

[ashtead]

Might not be used nowadays due to number of injuries caused by unwitting crew releasing the handle without letting of the tension on halliard when reefed -that wizzing handle only has to catch the novice crew once though we found . In reality in the 70s I suspect stackpacks were unknown at least in Waterlooville where sales were made by grizzled salts with many years afloat who would have laughed at idea- even the idea of a forehatch with a window/transparency was unknown in the era of Hank on headsails with pistons -it was all fairly basically put together based on my experiences if very robustly built etc which always looked after you -I’ve never sailed so close to the wall by the Gosport dive tower every since but the chop showed what they could cope with.

 

[kevsbox]

Is the bit that goes round the mast a separate removeable section?

Yes it is