Securing the Boom/Mainsail Cover. Best Way?

savageseadog

savageseadog

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Ours came adrift yet again during the recent gales. Our had sewn on plastic hooks along the underside one side and a bungee cord threaded through eyelets to create loops on the other. The problems are that the hooks tend to unhook at times and they also break off along the stitching. The straps with two part plastic clips seemed to work OK at the mast end, not sure how UV proof they are. Has anyone any better ideas. We need a big cover at times but the existing cover can't be tightened up easily.
 
savageseadog said:
Ours came adrift yet again during the recent gales. Our had sewn on plastic hooks along the underside one side and a bungee cord threaded through eyelets to create loops on the other. The problems are that the hooks tend to unhook at times and they also break off along the stitching. The straps with two part plastic clips seemed to work OK at the mast end, not sure how UV proof they are. Has anyone any better ideas. We need a big cover at times but the existing cover can't be tightened up easily.
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I always add a few sail ties.
 
The one that came with out boat has substantial metal 'poppers'. Although they are secure, the cover is comfortably loose and although it has never given trouble, I occasionally tie the cover in with a single continuous line if very high winds are forecast.
 
I have used a number of methods, the one that suits me uses a D ring in stainless secured by a short loop of canvas, on the other side is a length of, sewn on, c1in soft webbing. Rope is an alternative if you prefer.
A couple of half hitches secures the thing and you automatically adjust it according to how well, or not, you have flaked the sail each time. It's easy to make and repair and as secure as the knots you make.

Forward of the mast I have grommets done up with a fixed line.
 
Thanks for the ideas. I could look round the boats in the Marina but there's not many sails on booms or people around to ask permission for a look.

In that storm Emma blow last week the boom/sail/cover was laced with a line but the eye at the outboard end tore off with its surrounding fabric and the shock cord snapped. The cover is only four years old so isn't decrepit. We should have taken it all off before the storm of course but we couldn't get to the boat.
 
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I have just shut the stable door after the horse bolted by winding a rope around the sail cover which I will do now every time before leaving the boat for long periods.

Ours stayed fully attached but there was enough gaps and enough breeze, presumably often enough during the winter, to cause the boom cover to flutter at lots of different points between the fasteners. The impact of that on our 5 year old cover is a load of frayed splits in the cover along the top, like the way a cheap flag frays.

Irritating but my wife's reaction was delight as she started regretting the original colour within a year of getting it. I then looked at the matching Bimini and Genoa strip which are fine and am now delaying the inevitable expense of it all being redone then carried by us via Ryanair in the stylish new shade of Taupe or Stone or Weasel
 
On mine the mast bit is covered by a zip from the bottom. The bit along the boom is held to gether by twist fastners with velcro in between. Looks good and never flaps.
 
Most if not all insurance companies wont insure the sail if left on the boom in the event of wind damage.
I remove mine in the winter but during summer I spiral a rope around the boom to hold the sail and cover in place.
 
My cover now has a zip up the front and two zips underneath with a gap for the kicking strap. There is still a webbing strap just behind the mast to hold the cover together so that it is easier to start the zip.The cover came with velcro fastened taps underneath which I removed. The cover still has some ventilation and has fewer / smaller gaps for birds to try and enter for roosting / nesting.
 
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