mainsail attachement question

[Jcolman]

Can anyone tell me if this is a correct setup? I snapped this photo during the survey trial sail. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to how the mainsail was attached to the boom and mast at the time, but after looking closely at the photos, I'm wondering if the PO has the correct setup.

If I remember correctly, my previous boats all had a hook of some sort where the mainsail tack attached. This boat has the old roller furling boom (which I am not familiar with and plan on changing to a slab reef in the future). I enlarged the photo to show the attachment point. It just doesn't look right to me. It seems that the shackle should be attached to the boom.

Thoughts?

[donradcliffe]

It should be attached to the hole in the casting.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

It should be attached to the hole in the casting.

Indeed....

Not familiar with this furling boom... But this owner was just lazy or uninformed....

[Jcolman]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

It should be attached to the hole in the casting.

Where exactly? Ah...nevermind. I see it now. Thanks for the replies!

[roverhi]

The sail should be attached via the hole just aft of that flat plate like thing. If you can't find a shackle that will fit, lash the sail with small diameter Dyneema line.


This looks like a roller furling boom. Those were invented by the devil to ruin sails and relieve sailors of their hard earned money. If the boat hasn't already been set up for jiffy/slab reefing I'd do it yesterday.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

It should be attached to the hole in the casting.

Originally Posted by Jcolman

Where exactly?

Run a shackle through the clip on the tack and the pin through the cast hole at the base of the boom....

[Ziggy]

You need to be able to apply varying degrees of tension to the foot of the mainsail. This is the function of the outhaul, a line that usually leads from the clew, around a sheave at the aft end of the boom, and then forward to a cleat near the mast. The tack of the sail (the corner in your photo) needs to be shackled to a hook or a ring at the forward end of the boom. It looks like the boom casting has a hole for the tack shackle, but you'll need another shackle to put through it. Alternatively, you could just lash the ring at the end of the shackle hanging from the tack of your mainsail to the hole in your boom.

[Jcolman]

Thanks for all the replies. It's been 34 years since I last owned a sailboat so I'm a bit rusty.

I do plan on converting the sail to slab reefing as soon as I get the boat to it's new home where I can work it without having to drive 3.5 hours each way. I also plan on adding an outhaul and boom vang. This boat has the mainsheet at the end of the boom and a vang is sorely needed, especially for down wind running. I'm having the yard where the boat is currently at, pull the mast to replace the step. Once the mast is out, I'll be replacing all the standing rigging and most of the running rigging as well as doing some other repair work.

[sailr69]

nothing here is anything to worry about, just looks like he forgot to attach a shackle to the gooseneck, looks to me like the snap shackle is not attached to anything, just hanging there. needs a home! while your at it, whip that line hanging there as well.

[HappyMdRSailor]

PS:

Just in case nobody else mentioned it....

She's PURTY! (congrats)

[Jcolman]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

PS:

Just in case nobody else mentioned it....

She's PURTY! (congrats)

Thanks! She is a pretty boat. She has a new Perkins diesel and new electrical system. There are a number of other minor things I need to take care of, but the mast step and standing rigging are the big items. Once those have been replaced, it should *hopefully* be warm enough I can sail her to her new home in Oriental NC.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Jcolman

Thanks! She is a pretty boat. She has a new Perkins diesel and new electrical system. There are a number of other minor things I need to take care of, but the mast step and standing rigging are the big items. Once those have been replaced, it should *hopefully* be warm enough I can sail her to her new home in Oriental NC.

Sounds like you are headed on the fast track to fewer worries!

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

It should be attached to the hole in the casting.

Spot on Don.

You want a long D shackle whose base width fits nicely over the casting with the shackle pin through the casting.

CHEAP source, probably Chinese.

Marine Part Depot

I agree with the others - slab ASAP especially if the main is in good shape. Invite a sail maker to take a look and see if your main can be modified.

[Jcolman]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Sounds like you are headed on the fast track to fewer worries!

Hopefully! This is the oldest boat I've ever owned, but she surveyed well. The hull and deck are in remarkable condition, just a couple of small wet spots to take care of.