[Rhodes22-list] "boom getting hung up" was Jibing (well, jibbing, but I think the correct spelling is "jibing")

Tue Jul 6 08:45:32 EDT 2004

Hi Saroj!

I haven't heard from you in quite a while.  I'm glad you're still around.

If your boom is 12 inches longer than the foot of your mainsail; then, you
could probably cut about 6 inches off the aft end of the boom.  Just make
certain there is sufficient room remaining on the end of the boom for the
mainsail foot outhaul to do its thing.  Dynamic Equilibrium's mainsail foot
outhaul is a 3:1 Schaefer block & tackle.  6 inches from the clew grommet to
the end of the boom would be more than enough length for it to operate.  6
inches less boom length would make a huge difference in the likelyhood of
the boom getting hung up on the backstays.  But, your mainsail foot outhaul
may be different than mine.  So, please measure how much room it needs
before you shorten your boom.

To shorten Dynamic Equilibrium's boom, I would drill out the pop rivets that
secure the end casting to the aft end of the boom.  Mark the end casting
before you remove it so you will be certain to reinstall it right side up.
Then, the aluminum boom tubing would be cut with a hacksaw and the rough
edges smoothed down with 100 grit sandpaper or emery cloth.  New holes for
the end casting would be drilled in the freshly cut end of the boom using
the end casting as a template to locate the holes.  Finally, the end casting
would be reattached to the boom using aluminum pop rivets.  Note, don't use
steel pop rivets or you will have corrosion problems down the road.

Good luck!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Saroj" <saroj at pathfind.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 2:14 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] "boom getting hung up" was Jibing (well,
jibbing,but I think the correct spelling is "jibing")

> Roger, as usual, your reply was extremely helpful.... I have been meaning
to
> write to the list about this problem as I frequently encounter the very
same
> phenomenon where the boom gets hung up on the backstays even though the
> latter are adjusted to take out the slack.  I am very grateful that you
> included the precise measurements.  I have become convinced that my boom
is
> too long.  I bought the boat used so I don't really know its full history,
> however the main sail (standard) ends at least 12" from the end of the
boom.
> I've come to believe that the boom should be shortened 3" or so.  The
> situation is far worse during heavier winds, of course at the worse time
to
> have the boom get caught up.  It has put me in very touchy situations as
she
> is nearly impossible to control when that happens.  I have a CDI furler
> carrying a 135 genoa.  Not sure how I'll be able to measure the forestay
w/o
> lowering the mast.
>
> When the wind is mild, the boom clears the (adjusted) backstays by only an
> inch or two so it doesn't take much to get it hung up.
>
> I can hardly wait to get down to confirm your measurements.  Thanks again.
>
> Saroj
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402 at centurytel.net>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 7:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Fw: Jibbing
>
>
> > Keith,
> >
> > When the rig on a Rhodes 22 is properly setup and operated, it is not
> > physically possible to have interference between the boom and the double
> > backstays.
> >
> > You didn't say whether you have a standard mainsail or the IMF mainsail.
> > Measure the pin-to-pin length of your forestay.  Assuming you have the
> > standard mainsail, the forestay length should be about 333-5/8 inches.
If
> > the forestay is longer than this, it will cause the static tilt of the
> mast
> > to be leaning too far aft.  However, I would think it would require an
> error
> > in forestay length of several inches too long to cause an interference
> > between the boom & the backstays.  I'm not certain what the nominal
> forestay
> > length with an IMF mast should be.  But, again if the mast is leaning
too
> > far aft, it creates the possibility of an interference between the boom
&
> > the backstays.  If your forestay is too long by the amount required to
> cause
> > a boom-to-backstay interference; then, I'm pretty certain there won't be
> > sufficient adjustment available in the system to adjust away the
problem.
> > The forestay will have to be cut and a new fitting swaged onto the end
of
> > the wire.  If your mast is leaning this far aft; then, it will
definitely
> > look weird & the boat will have a moderate to severe weather helm.  This
> > seems like a highly unlikely scenario; but, I suppose mistakes of this
> > magnitude can happen.  Before you do any forestay cutting, I would
contact
> > Stan at GBI.
> >
> > A couple of other highly unlikely scenarios are that you have a
> nonstandard
> > boom which is too long or that someone installed or moved your mast aft
> from
> > the standard position.  Assuming a standard mainsail, your boom should
be
> > about 116 inches from the aft face of the mast slot to the end of the
> boom.
> > The so-called "J" measurement from the front face of your mast to the
bow
> > chainplate at deck level should be 106 inches.  If either of these
> > measurements are more than a couple of inches longer than these values;
> > then, you may have a problem.  I don't know the standard values for
these
> > parameters if you have an IMF mainsail.  But, if they have been altered
> from
> > stock; then, they could cause this same boom-to-backstay interference
> > problem.  In either case, you will need to contact Stan at GBI for help!
> >
> > Now I will discuss what I think are the two most likely causes of your
> > problem:
> >
> > The backstays are purposely made several inches too long in order to
> > facilitate connecting the forestay at the bow chainplate when stepping
the
> > mast.  Prior to sailing, the backstay adjuster must be used to take up
the
> > slack in the backstays.  If the backstays were grossly slack, there
might
> be
> > sufficient sag in the wires to permit a boom-to-backstay interference.
So
> > Keith, did you use the backstay adjuster to at least take the gross
slack
> > out of the double backstays?
> >
> > The aft end of the boom is supported by a line from the masthead called
> the
> > boom topping lift.  With the boom in the upper position, if the boom
> topping
> > lift were used to elevate the aft end of the boom by a couple of feet;
> then,
> > I suppose it might be possible create a boom-to-backstay interference.
> I'm
> > not certain why anyone would want to elevate the aft end of the boom
with
> > the topping lift in this manner.  Elevating the aft end of the boom in
> this
> > manner would cause the mainsail to assume a really ugly, bellied out,
> > wrinkled, twisted sailshape that wouldn't be appropriate for any point
of
> > sail except sort-of, perhaps a dead run.  After hoisting the mainsail,
you
> > should let out sufficient slack in the boom topping lift that the weight
> of
> > the boom is taken by the leech of the mainsail.
> >
> > Other than the above, I'm fresh out of ideas regarding how the boom
could
> > get hung on the backstays.
> >
> > Hopefully, one of these suggestions was helpful to your situation.  Good
> > luck!
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael Meltzer" <mjm at michaelmeltzer.com>
> > To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 2:25 PM
> > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Fw: Jibbing
> >
> >
> > > ended up at the wrong address, I am forwarding it to the list
> > >
> > > MJM
> > >
> > > PS. should not happen, was your rigging tigth?
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: keith burkhardt
> > > To: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> > > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 1:24 PM
> > > Subject: Jibbing
> > >
> > >
> > > Ok I was sailing Mary Margeret yest. in 20 knotts of wind >>>When i
put
> up
> > the main and barred off I had to make a quick Jib to miss a hidden log.
> > When I did the boom got hung up in the back stays/ adjuster __boon was
in
> > High position>> ow could i have prevented this situation ,, thanks Keith
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
> __________________________________________________
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>