I'm a newbie....

[Lionspride]

This is my first post on this site. I own a Bristol 39, and I have a few projects that I need some advice on. I think my first big project is going to be switching from end boom sheeting to mid boom. Any advice on how to get started?

[Ex-Calif]

Hi Lionspride and welcome aboard.

The sub forums on boat maintenance are probably your best bet to get specific project discussions started.

There have been a few heated debates about mid-boom sheeting.

[Celestialsailor]

Aloha Lionspride. You well receive many opinions here. A recent thread was a chap commenting that his boom was bent due to mid-boom sheeting...

[jack7382]

Hello LP from someone in the DC area

[Lancerbye]

Welcome aboard. Someone should be able to help you.

[Lionspride]

Thanks everybody. I'll start poking around to see what there is to see.

[geordieschmalz]

Nice boat!

My two-cents: Not sure what you have for winches, but you should know it will take more force to sheet the boom at the midpoint, and the winch may not be large enough. Also, the boom should be replaced to prevent the aforementioned mid-boom 'snap', your present boom was designed for end-boom sheeting.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Lion,
Welcome aboard!! There has been lots of discussion about that and about loosefooted mainsails. You might do a search here on the forum. I'm going to mid-boom too and will have 3 bails at about the 3/4 point on the boom to spread the load. I'm also reinforcing the interior of the boom with wood to spread the load so hopeful boom snap won't happen to me.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Lionspride]

I'm concerned about the stresses on the boom, but I plan on using 3 bails to spread the load. I've looked at the threads with the bent and snapped booms. I think that both booms were fairly thin walled oval shaped booms. Mine is an aluminum pipe that I think came off a North Sea oil derrick. I'll get exact dimensions, but it appears to be approximately 5-6" in diameter, with a wall thickness of 3/16-1/4". With the loads spread over 3 bails, and possibly a boom brake, I feel pretty confident.