Submitted on February 19, 2007 by Ian Denley

Question: The boom on my 1978 28' long keel sloop ends right at my temple while at the helm. It is a serious hazard in a jibe.

I would like to lift the boom or at least the boom end above head height. The mainsail is in good condition. It has a slight roach with one full length batten at the top and another two partial battens below.

There is room on the mast to lift the gooseneck. The boat is used for coastal cruising and has minor weather helm. What is the most economical solution to remove the hazard.

Regards,
Ian Denley

Answer: Hi Ian,

The short answer is a Flattening Reef. We used to use these back in the 80’s to flatten the lower third of the mainsail before jumping to a full reef. Since then, we now design sails so that the outhaul does most of that work. It’s comprised of a pressed ring installed roughly 12-15” above the clew. All you do is run your reef line through it, securing the end either around the boom to itself or to the reef pad eye. When pulled in, this will raise the boom end keeping it out of harms way. My cryptic artwork below should tell the story. When and if you decide to replace the mainsail you might then look at raising the gooseneck for a more permanent solution.

Email North Sails with your question today!

<-- Go BACK to Solutions for Sailors Main Page.