Dropping and furling the mainsail

Submitted by Monroe Cowan on Fri, 05/21/2004 - 12:41
I am a new Scot sailor with a new Scot--strictly daysail, 95% single handed. Don't laugh, I always have a small outboard on the transom and a roller furling jib. Harry Carpenter set very nice Harken jib cleats, with rollers, further aft for me and I am using mid-boom sheeting. All that is working to perfection, but dropping the main and furling it on the boom by myself is still a bit clumsy. Does anyone have any advice or experience using a boomkicker, something like lazyjacks, maybe even slugs on the mainsail. With the boat in a slip all year, these are the only "improvements" I can think of to help keep an old daysailor sailing. This is my first post since getting the Scot a couple of months ago and I need to express my appreciation for the comments I received on the old forum, especially from Greg, as I was trying to decide on a Scot. The boat is superb, the skipper is slowly improving. Monroe Lake Norman, NC
‹ Location of jib sheet turning block Jib sheet block and cleat arrangement ›

Comments

Monroe: I am very interested in your experiences with mid-boom s

Submitted by Bob41 on Sat, 05/22/2004 - 12:18.
Monroe: I am very interested in your experiences with mid-boom sheeting as I am about to rig my boat that way - per Harry's suggestion. Can you provide a photo or describe how it's done? I have a email from the people at "Boomkicker". They state that they have them installed on Flying Scots and the prices don't seem too bad. Do you have one or are you considering one? I am thinking about placing an order if I can have it on a trial basis. Furling while sailing solo can require some quick footwork. You can put the factory-provided crutch into one of the holes provided, usually the one to the side so you can still access the tiller, but any kind of breeze that comes up while you're furling can cause the boom to snap that piece of plastic (speaking from experience). In my case, I stand on the starboard side of the boat and next to the mast so I can control the winch. I lower the sail, quickly or slowly depending on conditions, and push it all over to the port side of the boat. That way I can flake the main onto the boom without changing position and stand on it if it wants to get away. I use a dry lubricant in the sail track on the mast.

Bob:I have an extra bail on the boom close to the original, and

Submitted by Monroe Cowan on Sat, 05/22/2004 - 13:11.
Bob:I have an extra bail on the boom close to the original, and an eyestrap on the centerboard trunk cap just forward of the mainsail block and cleat using a pair of the same screwholes oeiginally in the cap (with two new ones). The entire set-up is Harry's suggestion, gives a 5:1 or 6:1 purchase and has performed extremely well. I can email a sketch to you if you wish. I raise and drop the main in much the same manner as you and have not had any major problems when dropping, just clumsey to flake the main on the boom by myself. I allow plenty of searoom as invariably the main slips off at least once from one end or the other until I get at least one lashing on. I am seriously considering a boomkicker. On two ocasions when raising the main the wind was strong enough to push the bow off the wind while the boom was still in the crutch even though the tiller was free. I had a topping lift on my previous boat that made things easy, but I think a rigid vang would be a lot simpler and better. Monroe Lake Norman, NC

To make a "basket" to catch the mainsail when dropping it, I rig

Submitted by jcastig on Sun, 05/23/2004 - 15:36.
To make a "basket" to catch the mainsail when dropping it, I rigged some trial lazy jacks by running lines from the mast attachment for the spinnaker halyard to a point about two thirds the length of the boom from the gooseneck. When ready to drop the main, I loop a couple of long bunge cords from the lines around the underside of the boom. This works fairly well. I also use it to gather the mainsail before hoisting it. Once the sail is raised the bunge cords are removed to reduce windage and clutter on the rig. The only problem is that the battens tend to get caught on the lines when hoisting the main, and require some attention then. With this system I don't need the boom crutch. I'm also curious about midboom sheeting. Does this require a stronger, i.e. replacement, boom? how difficult is it to retrofit a very older Scot. Would appreciate sharing anyone's experiences, comments on this. Joe C. in Texas

I too am curious about midboom sheeting.

Submitted by Marty4831 on Wed, 05/26/2004 - 11:29.
I too am curious about midboom sheeting. I talked with Harry about 4 years ago about it and he said that he thought the boom was not strong enough to handle it. Has someone found a way do do this?

Harry emailed me two photos of the midboom sheeting setup that s

Submitted by Bob41 on Thu, 05/27/2004 - 09:30.
Harry emailed me two photos of the midboom sheeting setup that should provide a reasonably handy person with enough information to set it up. If I can figure out how to get the attachment from my email into iPhoto I can upload them with my online photos of the factory so everyone has access.

Boomkickers come in two styles and for 19' boats cost from 150.00 to 190.00. Their web page has decent photos.

I would like to see the photos of midboom sheeting.

Submitted by jcastig on Thu, 05/27/2004 - 22:53.
I would like to see the photos of midboom sheeting.. hope you can upload them. [:)] The Boomkicker is interesting. Does anyone know if it can be removed easily and quickly, or does it require a permanent installation? I trailer my Scot and therefore must lower the mast alot. Joe C Texas

quote:[i]Originally posted by jcastig[/i] [br]To make a "basket

Submitted by schreru on Mon, 06/14/2004 - 19:35.
quote:
[i]Originally posted by jcastig[/i] [br]To make a "basket" to catch the mainsail when dropping it, I rigged some trial lazy jacks by running lines from the mast attachment for the spinnaker halyard to a point about two thirds the length of the boom from the gooseneck. When ready to drop the main, I loop a couple of long bunge cords from the lines around the underside of the boom. This works fairly well. I also use it to gather the mainsail before hoisting it. Once the sail is raised the bunge cords are removed to reduce windage and clutter on the rig. The only problem is that the battens tend to get caught on the lines when hoisting the main, and require some attention then. With this system I don't need the boom crutch. I'm also curious about midboom sheeting. Does this require a stronger, i.e. replacement, boom? how difficult is it to retrofit a very older Scot. Would appreciate sharing anyone's experiences, comments on this. Joe C. in Texas

Jcastig I've been having 'fun' dropping the main singlehanded

Submitted by schreru on Mon, 06/14/2004 - 19:40.
Jcastig I've been having 'fun' dropping the main singlehanded and your notion of a basket is intriguing. Any chance of getting photos emailed or a hand sketch/parts list? my email is r...@nyc.rr.com Thanks