Does anyone know the overall length of the boom on an NS33?
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Seems like a good question for Mike Quill and/or Mark Ellis.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Marina del Rey, California
Hi Brian,
Soave’s wishbone is down at the moment for some corrosion remediation on the pad-eyes. I can measure it and let you know… my next work day at the marina is tomorrow.
My rough guess is about 31’ because lying on Soave’s deck it hangs off the end of her bow pulpit and runs back just short of her binnacle.
Planning some work on Vela’s wishbone ?
Rob Cohen
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Cedar Point YC
Westport, CT
Wishbone Length as measured today on Margery
31’-6.5” including pad eye at clew end and flag halyard block at bow end. I could be off by 1/2”.
Ward Woodruff
N33 #8 Margery
Niantic Bay, CT
Thank you, Ward! That was fast. And to the 1/2 inch.
So your flag halyard block is on the boom. Hmm. Mine is at the top of the mast. The boom would work better in some ways, but doesn’t the movement of sheeting in/out and choking (chokering?) play havoc with the tension?
Also, to answer Rob’s question. (Easier here at home than on the boat with the little cell phone keyboard.) I need to remove the mast and replace the heel plug which has corroded so badly that the tab broke off and the mast has rotated about 5 degrees (in one sail.) I’m trying to figure out the best way to brace the boom so that I can still drive the boat across the bay back to me slip and then return to the yard a day or two later to get the mast replaced. I had to do this when the boat was first trucked into San Diego. The dodger had been removed and the boom and sail and all just laid right on the cabintop. Great for trucking, almost impossible to drive or get in/out of the cabin. I’m hoping I can put a prop beneath the aft end of the boom and secure it there, then drop the boom onto some sort of cradle farther forward which would hold it above the dodger and cockpit. But I need to be sure that the forward end of the boom will be far enough forward to be able to remove and replace the mast.
I know many of you guys do this kind of thing all the time for annual haul-out. Do any of you ever prop the boom up like this so you can still drive the boat around? Is it likely to work out how I want it to? Any advice would be welcome.
–Brian M. Godfrey
Vela, NS33, San Diego
Last fall I removed Soave’s dodger and bimini frames to store at home. Both came off pretty easy, but were awkward to transport home. I did have them stored in the cabin for a bit but they render the cabin unusable.
The Marina she’s stored at for the winter lowered her wishbone and set it on a crude cradle that sits on the cover that her companionway hatch slides under. ( I’ll take a picture and send it tomorrow ) The forward end of the wishbone was lashed to Soave’s bow pulpit. I wasn’t thrilled with their solution mostly because the weight of the wishbone was enough to induce a little flex in Soave’s bow pulpit. Before the shrinkwrap went on, I built a sawhorse cradle to support the fore end of the wishbone to avoid using the bow pulpit for support. It’s still lashed to the bow pulpit but not bearing weight on it.
On a calm day I would move Soave a short distance in this configuration. A couple photos will do a better job explaining.
I’m sure there are better ways than I’ve done this season. Mine is a “cheap and cheerful solution”, as my friends in the UK would say.
Rob
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Cedar Point YC
Westport, CT
Brian,
I’m sure you are going to get lots of suggestions for the wishbone cradle, permanent or temporary.
Yes, we do this each year in the marina and move around with the boat rigged like this very comfortably. Those who have transited the canals will probably have done something similar
I’ve attached - if it works - a couple of photos.
I use a Mastercraft workbench topped with a 9x9x9" beam to support the rear of the boom placed on top of the cabin at the companion way. Other solutions I’ve seen include a crucifix structure in the cockpit, the vertical element secured to the pedestal or cockpit wall/winches. Obviously everything gets braced/tied down as appropriate to ensure nothing moves.
At the front it is supported at the Samson Post - I made a simple supported beam from scrap wood that spreads the load a bit between the post and the deck (and copied from my neighbour, Ken Dakin, NS33 Sashay). Many boats simply secure the boom to the pulpit but like Rob I was uncomfortable with that arrangement.
Cheers, Neil
NS30, #488
COLLINS BAY
KINGSTON, ON
I tried posting with two photos but it said the message was too long! Would Discourse allow that?
Here is another example. We do support the front of the boom from the pulpit. It hasn’t been a problem. We do take the Bimini and dodger down first
Bill Kroes
Canatara
NS36 No. 24
Sarnia, lower Lake Huron
Rob, good estimate on the boom length.
Brian, my burgee block is mounted on the boom. I splice a section of bungee cord into the flag halyard to allow for the swing of the boom.
Mark Piwers
So it looks like the general plan is to shift the boom forward and set the fore end of it on the bow while building a prop on the cabintop. More work than I was hoping for, but I’m not so stupid as to ignore those who know what they are doing. I’ll probably take the sail and stack pack off and store it in my truck. Should I remove the dodger or just prop the aft end of the boom high enough to clear it?
Mark: great idea with the bungee! I will probably do that with mine when I get around to it. The top of the mast may not move as much as the boom, but it still moves and would benefit with some stretchiness.
Brian Godfrey
Vela, NS33, San Diego
To support the aft end of the boom over the winter when I take down the mast on my 30C, I use a foldable bench ladder (sometimes called a platform ladder) on the cabin top at the forward end of the companionway hatch. Mine is the Werner Pro Linking Platform Aluminum from Lowes. It is just the right height at its lowest, and I can raise it if I need clearance in the cockpit while working on the boat or underway. I did have to make it wider by bolting a 2x3 on top (removable via wing nuts), but it has worked out great. Forward I secure it to my bow pulpit since the majority of the weight is on the bench ladder (it is nearly balanced). If you want a photo let me know and I’ll get one.
Dan Weinstein
Look Farther, 30C #205
East Greenwich RI
Brian,
Would work either way… dodger up or down. The higher support will take more materials and effort… but removing the dodger also requires effort.
( HERE ) is a photo of the solution I used this winter.
For Soave, my concerns were:
Maybe you can talk the yard into placing your wishbone on a mast rack while they are working on your mast ?
Good Luck,
Rob
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Cedar Point YC
Westport, CT
