Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I know I should be able to remember but its been two years since my boat was in the water. I had the mast stepped down and now after restepping my pigtail is gone. Where did it attach to the backstay. What are the connections on either side usually. Is it easy to replace. can I get a few pics? Thanks
Here a pic in the water, swing keel cable replaced and ready to go.
Don't know how you could loose it but CD doesn't sell them anymore so you will have to make one or have a rigging shop make one for you then attach it with a crimp sleeve or a wire clamp. As to where to attach it, Straight up from the boom end casting makes sense.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
It would have been crimped onto your backstay above the split and above the end of your boom. If you have a topping lift, forget about the pigtail! You won't need it anymore.
DavidP 1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52 PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess" Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN
Personally, sense its off or gone already I would use this as an opportunity to upgrade to a real topping lift. Easy to do and not very expensive. But in the mean time you can just tie some 1/4" line above your split ring and lead it to your boom end. Wont be very convenient but it will give you a temporary fix.
a pig tail holds the boom up AND keeps the boom centered to the boat. a topping lift will only keep the boom up. I prefer both especially when your on anchor and the wind is blowing 40.
Lynn Buchanan 1988 C25 SR/WK #5777 Sailynn Nevada City, CA
Lynn, I have both and for parking the boom I use the pig tail. As you said it keeps the boom from swinging left and right a lot less than the topping lift does.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
The pigtail I see as opportunity to forget when hoisting the mainsail, which can lead to issues with no means of easing pressure on the mainsail. I do not have a pigtail on the current boat, and don't miss it. Parking the boom involves setting the topping lift, adjusting the mainsheet car to the "far" end, and snugging up the mainsheet. That said, I did use the pigtail on my C25 even with a topping lift, becasue it was there.
s/v No Worries, O'Day 28 PO Moe'Uhane - C25 SR/FK #1746
Another advantage of the pig tail is when at anchor you can disconnect the mainsheet from the boom end to get it out of the way without having to tie the boom down. Without the pig tail it would have to be tied off somewhere.to keep the boom from swinging. As to forgetting to unhook it I have to say that I have never done that. It's just routine and you should be loosening the mainsheet before raising the sail. When you go to loosen the mainsheet you would notice that the boom was still hooked to the pig tail.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688 Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound
I have forgotten to release the pigtail a few times but haven't found it especially difficult to lift the boom and release it, although it is somewhat stressful and preceded by expletives.
Dave B. aboard Pearl 1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399 Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle
I have forgotten to release the pigtail a few times but haven't found it especially difficult to lift the boom and release it, although it is somewhat stressful and preceded by expletives.
I agree, the 1st year I owned the boat I probably did it 3 or 4 times while single-handed (I don't learn very quick ). At least twice it was blowing above 10 knots and the boat fell off to one side.
Stood up on the seats, centered the boom, and un-clipped with the other hand. It was stressful but really not that difficult.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.