Rigging the Boom
Tue, 19/01/2010 - 20:05 — David Brewer
1. Remove the drop-nosed pin from its storage position in the gooseneck (the lower bracket rivetted to the mast). There is a washer positioned on the lower side of the gooseneck. Take care not to lose the washer when removing the drop-nosed pin. It helps if an assistant holds the Boom horizontally in position to ease the insertion of the drop-nose pin.
Tip: If no assistant is available use the main halyard cleated in or looped to the rear of the boom to hold the boom in horizontal position.
Partially insert the pin into the upper portion of the gooseneck; hold the washer in the lower part of the gooseneck and then fully insert the drop-nose pin. Slide the drop-nose link into a horizontal position to lock it in place. Make sure that the pin is fully inserted into the bracket so that the drop-nose link is well below the bracket. It is possible for the pin to be partially inserted in such a way that the drop-nose link can be fouled and bent as the boom swings. Tip: keep the pin lubricated with a smear of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to prevent it jamming, this also makes it much easier to remove the pin.
2. Now connect the Gnav strut to the upper mast fastening. As above take care not to lose the washer. Note that the washer in the Gnav fastening (upper rivetted bracket) should be positioned in the upper part of the pin. When complete take care not to allow the boom end to drop and damage the deck.Lower the boom to the port side of the Xenon.
This is the time to rig the mainsheet on to the boom. Rig from the port side. Feed an end through the cleat and block on the swivel deck mounting. If you sail with the ratchet switched on, test the ratchet action by applying tension either side of the ratchet. When the pulley resists the mainsheet as the end is pulled through and clicks when the standing part of the sheet is pulled back the mainsheet has been threaded in the correct direction. Continue feeding the end vertically upwards and into the front of the rearmost hoop mounted block. Continue upwards and around the rear of the rearmost boom mounted block. The mainsheet now travels down and around the rear of the remaining (top) hoop mounted block, then travels back upwards to the foremost boom mounted block. Take the end around the front of this block and down towards the front / uppermost hoop mounted block. Insert the mainsheet end through the centre hole in this block and tie off using a small stopper (overhand) knot in the end. There is one remaining task, important when sailing in windy weather. Tie a stopper knot in the helm end of the mainsheet to prevent the boom crashing into the shrouds in the event of an uncontrolled gybe. To do this swing the boom out to within 2 or 3 cms of the shrouds. Tension the mainsheet and tie the stopper knot at the point where the mainsheet enters the deck cleat. When the knot has been tied swing the boom out to check that the boom cannot touch the shrouds. If necessary reposition the knot.
Do not neglect to insert this stopper knot. It may prevent costly damage to the boom or gooseneck bracket