[Public-list] some rigging questions

[J Bergquist]

Mike-

Thanks for the responses. 

When you eliminated the sliding boom on your boat, with what did you
replace it? Did you buy a new gooseneck fitting? Where did you find it?
Did you have to buy both a mast and a boom fitting? Or did you just put
screws in the track that stick out proud and thus prevent it from
sliding? I read some trials and tribulations about this at:

http://www.triton381.com/projects/maintenance/gooseneck.htm

I think you might find it interesting. 

Do you really think the problem with my headfoil snagging the halyard
could be because of failure in the mast beam? This thought had occurred
to me, but I discounted it because I have not noticed other evidence of
mast beam failure (the forward cabin door having less clearance or
sticking, for example). My rig seems to not have changed tension much.
My mast beam has been repaired with a through-bolted aluminum plate, but
this is only on one side of the beam. I understand that the repair
should be made with plates on both sides of the beam. 

Anyway, do you think that deflection of the mast beam could be
sufficient to change the masthead geometry enough to make the halyard
snag on the headfoil where it did not do so previously? I thought it
more likely that other changes I was making (like more frequent halyard
tension adjustment, raising and lowering the sail more often...we
started taking it down when we put the kite up rather than furling it)
were more likely causes than beam deflection. However, I am very
interested in your opinion on this point, because I know you have a lot
of experience with the mast beam repairs and their ramifications. 

Speaking of rig tension, what do people use for adjusting backstays. I
have seen hydraulic rams and wheel-screw systems. Has anybody ever used
J-24 style block backstay tension adjusters?

Thanks for reading, and for the responses!

J Bergquist
Calliope #287

P.S. You got exactly the reason why I sprung for the rigid vang. I was
totally sick of the topping lift. It's a long story. Maybe I'll tell you
over beer sometime. Certainly it's too long for e-mail...

PPS. I have seen larry's internal halyards and harry's rigid vang. I was
interested to know if there are any others who have these features. 

PPPS. Should I bring up the issue of loose footed mains to the rules
committee? I don't know about interest, but it's kind of why I asked the
question. I'm not about to go out and buy a new main just to have a
loose foot, but the next time I buy one, it might be nice. It gives you
much better control and consistency in the main foot tension, I think.
With the footed boltrope, there is a lot of friction so that when you
ease the outhaul in light air you need to scrunch the foot along towards
the mast to get it to take up and increase draft. Maybe I just need to
lube my boom track or something. Anyway, when I ordered the current main
2 years ago, the sailmaker wanted to make it a loose foot but I told him
I couldn't have that because of class rules, and I'm just wondering if
other people have some strong objection to loose footed mains? Because
if not, I think it would be a nice improvement in overall adjustability
of the main shape, both for cruising and for racing. Anything that
approves overall sailing pleasure, I for one am all for. Anything that
would make other boats obsolete on the racecourse, requiring new
equipment purchases, I would say that I am against. Since I don't think
that loose footed mains are going to provide any major competitive
advantage, but will contribute to increased sailing pleasure, without
additional cost (I don't think they charge extra for them, because
they're simpler to make than shelf foots anyway), I think it might be a
good change. 


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