Yacht boom

[andythefiddler]

I am preparing to have my mast stepped for the winter.

I have been asked can I remove the boom.

It’s around 4m aluminium (alloy?)

How much will it weigh (roughly)

TIA

Andy

 

[dankilb]

You could find the closest match to your profile from one/other manufacturer and use their weight spec per metre to calculate, e.g.: Aluminium booms : Seldén Mast AB

 

[dunedin]

Don’t know - but heavier and more unwieldy than you think.

To take our boom off solo I use main halyard on the end of the boom, spinnaker halyard on the front, and a restraining rope to stop it swinging forward. Disconnect boom vang, gooseneck etc carefully, then lower on the ropes.

 

[PetiteFleur]

No problem, mines about the same length, just ĺower the boom til it touches the deck, undo the gooseneck at the mast and lower. I can easily carry it and I'm ancient! Obviously remove the mainsail first. No idea of the weight though.

 

[penfold]

Unstepping maybe? A 4m boom will be a heavy, unwieldy load for one person, doable but I wouldn't recommend it, readily manageable with two. It will likely be 10-15kg, it's more about the length and that most of the weight is at the ends which makes it awkward.

 

[dankilb]

Our boom apparently weighs 6kg per m and is around 15’/4.7m. But it feels a lot heavier and is quite unwieldy. With the weight carefully taken on the topping lift, I can just about safely lower the end from the mast gooseneck to the deck. Have some under-inflated fenders and/or other cushioning ready on the side deck. Then carefully lower the topping lift. Much easier with two or more, but perfectly possible with a bit of planning/thought solo.

 

[William_H]

Yes the trick is to use the topping lift or main halyard to support the aft end. You may be able to take the weight of the front end but will probably need to remvove weight from goose neck to get pins out. Get them free and unlocked first off. As said a helper can be very useful especially getting boom off the boat and away. ol'will

 

[B27]

Disconnect the kicker, free the sheet and you can feel the weight at the outboard end.

A modern boom designed for sheeting systems where the sheet attaches near the middle of the boom can be a lot heavier than an old style boom for boom end sheeting.
Use a halyard to take the weight near the gooseneck, and lower it onto some fenders on the deck?

 

[The Q]

Without knowing your boat or type of boom we can have no idea of who difficult it is to remove the boom. Mine is a fraction short of 4M and I take it off when the boat is left alone on her moorings and store it below decks.

 

[Refueler]

My boom at just under 4m (11+ft) - I remove sail, remove kicker, drop outer end so boom rests on companionway hatch .... pull gooseneck pins .. unclip topping lift and sheet gear .... lift myself and place where wanted ...

But my boom is a traditional boom without any reefing lines etc. I'm 67yrs old and still suffering from having snapped spine.

 

[andythefiddler]

Sorry for the slow response, worked well, boom off and all lines now replaced with Mousing for mast stepping.

Biggest THANK YOU everyone.

 

[alan_d]

Sorry for the slow response, worked well, boom off and all lines now replaced with Mousing for mast stepping.

Biggest THANK YOU everyone.

You don't seem to have picked up the point in post #5. Stepping a mast means erecting it, taking it down is unstepping it.

 

[Refueler]

You don't seem to have picked up the point in post #5. Stepping a mast means erecting it, taking it down is unstepping it.

Or lets be 'common' ... raise / lower ??

 

[alan_d]

Or lets be 'common' ... raise / lower ??

I think you are taking me to task unnecessarily - erecting/taking down would be in common use in connection with scaffolding or tents, for example. I could also plead greater accuracy; one could raise or lower a mast without it leaving the vertical (by, for example, placing or removing a spacer under its foot) but this would not be stepping/unstepping.

 

[Refueler]

I think you are taking me to task unnecessarily - erecting/taking down would be in common use in connection with scaffolding or tents, for example. I could also plead greater accuracy; one could raise or lower a mast without it leaving the vertical (by, for example, placing or removing a spacer under its foot) but this would not be stepping/unstepping.

My post was in 'jest' .... not to be taken seriously.