[C320-list] Bent out of shape! Securing Boom and Genny

[Robert E. Sloat]

Brad-I am at a slip in Waukegan Harbor on Lake Michigan from early April 
until mid October.  My drill to keep the boom from wiggling around and the 
150 Genoa from accidentally unfurling follows:

I have a few feet of old 1/4 inch line which secures the boom at its end to 
the to the split backstays.  The line has two nylon snap hooks and connects 
to the end of the boom at a small shackle attached to the boom.  Basically, 
you snap one of the hooks to shackle on the end of the boom, then the other 
hook to one of the backstays, then wrap the line around the other backstay 
and go back to the shackle at the boom and wrap the line around both lines 
leading to the backstays and add a few strategic half hitches and the boom 
is fixed.  I use it right after dropping the main to keep the boom from 
flopping around which occurs in confused seas even with the sheet tight.  At 
the slip adjust the main sheet with the sail cover on so it does not rub on 
the dodger and make any minor adjustment if necessary to the contraption 
attached to the end of the boom.  You can keep it on the backstays when 
under sail by wrapping it around both of them and tying it off or just drop 
it in the port locker in the cockpit or in one of the sheet bags near the 
cabin entrance.

A two foot line with an eye on one end wraps around the furled genoa when at 
the slip.  I take it off before leaving the slip and attach it to a post 
near my spring line so upon return it is pretty hard to not see it when 
attaching the spring line.  When at the dock the furling line is also 
secured to a cleat with the loose tail also secured.

There a number of sailors in our harbor who must be Eagle Scouts and are in 
the "Be Prepared" mode since they also secure both the jenny and main boom 
with lines of some sort.

I saw the results of a poor sailor who merely secured the headsail furling 
line to a cleat and high winds eventually uncleated the line and the genny 
unfurled and was damaged even before some good samaritan helped out.

For boat on cans, I have seen booms gibe swinging because they were not 
secured beyond the mainsheet.  Our mid sheet booms offer this potential.


Robert E. Sloat
Savannah Hull 894
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Kuether" <bkuether at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:31 PM
Subject: [C320-list] Bent out of shape!


Went down to visit Independence, as I had not had a chance to go down before 
the "big storm".

My biggest fear was that the main sheet had come loose letting the boom 
swing back and forth back and forth crash into the shrouds.

Well, fortunately while the sheet was loose, it wasn't loose enough to allow 
more than a few feet of play.

I did go down below, only just to be sure I had remembered everything from 
my winterizing experience.

All of the doors were jammed!!!!  So was the chart table but I got it open.

Hoping it was just the normal stuff that happens and not the weight of the 
snow.  Oh and cleared that off too....

-Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
"Independence"
2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
Middle River, MD