Association Forum - Boom restrainer

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Boom restrainer

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/15/2007 : 08:45:05

I was thinking about a boom restrainer yesterday as I was dead down wind. I was thinking about it. I didn't do it. I wish I had. My 40Lb 8y/o daughter caught the mainsheet (the lengths between the blocks)in the jaw when the wind shifted and the boom went flying. Scared the hell oughta me and her. She ended up on the cockpit floor with a bloody lip. I'll surely tie it off the next time I'm downwind.

The question is: Where do I secure the restrainer? I'm picturing a flying stanchion if I use that. I have a starboard midship cleat (for docking) that I could use but anybody have an idea for the port side? I thought about using a winch but they are aft of the boom when the sail is that far out.

I'm thinking about making a line just for this purpose using a caribiner or some other kind of clip to attach to the boom at the mainsheet shackle. I'll just tie it at the other end.

Anybody have any clever solutions?

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - John Russell on 06/15/2007 08:59:20

mfasis
Navigator

Members Avatar

114 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 10:18:02

I think this question applies to the C-25 as well. I usually disconnect the boom vang from the mast and attach it to a stanchion base.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 10:18:04

And to think I dun gradiated kollege 2. Jus kain't seem to read so gud.

I'd delete it but ain't smart enuff.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 12:40:41

Actually, logging on as me wouldn't do it. duanewolff or admin would do it.

If you cleat the vang to a car on the jib track you still get the downward action of the vang, with the added benefit of a preventor. I'll move this over to general, since it can apply to both.

You really don't want to put that against a stanchion - I wish I had the photos to show you why, but I wasn't really concerned about the camera. (not a c-25 by the way)

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 13:48:34

John,
So sorry to hear about your daughter being hit, and glad to hear she wasn't hurt too badly. Thankfully the scare is now just be a valuable learning experience. I've been bonked in the head a couple of times with a boom and it's never pleasant.

I've been thinking about this as well for our 250. I think a handy billy connected to the main sheet attachment point (or vang attachment point?) and the baby stay loops on the stanchions would work fairly well. I haven't had a chance to test this theory, we've yet to experience a downwind run on the boat, it's all been reaches & beats so far. I think my handy billy is long enough to make the connections, and I've got a couple of small Wichard carabiners on each end that'd make it easy to attach or move.

You'd still have to shift the attachment from port & starboard as you gibed, but it'd keep your boom from trying to take off your head.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 14:13:01

I was thinking of putting a snap shackle at the boom end of the vang. Just unshackle the vang and shackle it to the stanchion ring that the "baby stays" connect to when raising the mast, or put in another attachment point such as a folding padeye. Then the vang is your preventer.

I am glad it was the mainsheet and not the boom that caused the injury. I feel for you and your daughter, a scary moment.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 14:56:51

I was thinking of a block and tackle device that looked a lot like the vang, I.E. a Handy Billy. I guess I didn't realize it had a name. Add a cam cleat and some quick connects and I think that's the answer. What's left is the connection point. I'm still reluctant to use the stanchions. Even the one for the baby stays. I have images of the stanchion coming out. I'm liking the idea of the jib track car. Thanks for the ideas.

BTW, Emma's OK and still wants to go sailing. Thanks for your kind words.

Edited by - John Russell on 06/15/2007 14:57:23

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 17:29:23

Mid boom connection for the Billy or other type of preventor is probably best, as the closer you are to the mast, the shorter the preventer line needs to be - there fore the shorter the boom is allowed to travel. The objective being, to have the boom stop before it travels through the cockpit.
If you connect to the end of the boom, the preventer might not arrest the travel until its passed to the other side of the boat.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 17:31:39

Consider using a folding padeye. We have several of these on the boat for clipping our tethers to. They hold over 4,000lbs and fold flat so no stubbed toes. Put one on each side.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/40096/0/0/folding%20padeye/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0

Or use a rail mounted cleat. We have a couple of these and they are sweeeet.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/71998/0/0/cleat/All_2/mode%20matchallpartial/60/0

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2007 : 17:59:37

You make a good point, Mike. Fortunately the mainsheet on the 250 is attached mid boom and thats likely where I will attach the preventer. I think I can attach it to the same shackle that holds the sheet.

Randy, I like the padeye idea. I have yet to put a hole in Kaija however. I know that day will come but trepidation persists. I also like the rail cleat. We have one starboard. Maybe I'll just get one for the port side as well. Yeah, I know I could move it but that would include removing the jibsheet car as well since The cleat is aft of it and there's a stopper at the end. (BTW, Defender has a better price.) Do you know off-hand if the car that holds the jibsheet fairlead has an attachment point on it?

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

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.