Trailering--Boom Storage

I'm curious to know how other FS owners stow their boom when trailering. I use the standard wooden mast crutch at the mast step and the stainless crutch at the transom to secure the mast, but I haven't found a good way to secure the boom. For a while, I secured the boom under the deck along side the stantion forward, and the storage compartment aft, by wrapping bungies around the mast and boom. This worked to hold the mast down and kept the boom from banging around on the floor. Then I noticed that this caused the mast to bend slightly. Any one have any suggestions other than just laying the boom on the floor?

B. Pfund
FS 5139
Flying Fish

I have my Scot for less than a year and have wondered how well items stored in the boat while tailering will stay put. My method so far has been to put most of the line tails on the stbd. side of the trunk and lay the boom on top of them. I don't worry much about scratches, and since the paint on my floor wore off years ago there isn't much to scratch. In order to speed set up and take down I leave every item possible rigged for sailing; Spin and main sheets, vang, shrouds etc. Thanks to the recent hurricanes here in Florida I was able to perform a little test this past weekend. The boat had thousands of oak leaves and some small branches in the cockpit. I had about 20 miles to trailer and so we took off for the club. The leaves on deck blew away quickly but then it appeared the others were staying for the ride. We never exceeded 75 mph but still I was suprised that I did not see any indication of the leaves leaving in my rear view mirror. Sure enough upon arriving at the club and inspecting the boat I don't think any leaves blew out. We did notice on previous trips that the empty beer cans have no tendency to fly out of the boat either. So the bad thing is we had to clean out the leaves but the good thing is I will no longer be concerned about securing items in the boat.
PS I bet there are some good tailering stories out there quite to the contrary.

The prior owner mounted a strategically notched 2x4 under the carpeted trailer support. The boom is lashed to this using two straps. The boom is then under the boat and nestled between the boat and the trailer wheel fender. It seems to be a very safe spot but a bit of a pain to put through and then attach the straps. For short rides to the lake I just throw it in the bilge on two cushions.

"If the sea did wild or wicked things, it was because she could not help them." - Hemmingway

Giving credit to Bob New in Merritt Island, his method has been adopted on my Scot.

Simply insert the end of the boom (tackle and all) into the rear storage compartment and then lay the front of the boom into the centerboard drum cavity. Lines up perfectly and no damage.

quote:[i]Originally posted by FS5257[/i]
[br]Giving credit to Bob New in Merritt Island, his method has been adopted on my Scot.

Simply insert the end of the boom (tackle and all) into the rear storage compartment and then lay the front of the boom into the centerboard drum cavity. Lines up perfectly and no damage.

Sorry for sounding obtuse, but what do you mean by centerboard drum cavity? The space between it and the floor which would be on the starboard side? (Kind of where the photo is looking?) Also, when you say rear storage compartment, do you just mean the area under the rear deck (near the drain hole)? I am just envisioning that you put it on the starboard side of the centerboard trunk but something tells me that's not what you mean.

Thanks
http://www.flyingscotracing.com/cgi-bin/i/new_scot_images/flying_scot_ce...
"If the sea did wild or wicked things, it was because she could not help them." - Hemmingway

The 'rear compartment' is the tupperware tray under the rear deck; by centerboard winch cavity, it is the actual drum area where the centerboard control line resides. The board will be up, so the drum area is 'empty'.

Yes, my dishpan wouldn't support a boom (so I didn't try). But that wooden jamb cleat on the stbd side of the tabernacle won't let me rest it in the cb drum. My FS is 30 years old - perhaps newer ones are different?

"If the sea did wild or wicked things, it was because she could not help them." - Hemmingway