Where do you stick your boom??

[Boblee]

We started off lashing the boom to the mid stanchions but now that we have raised the mast carrying points front and back it stays attached to the mast but lashed to it as well to take weight off fixing point (name?).
To drop the mast and keep the boom attached you need to raise the stern mast holder so that there is room between the mast and the cabin top for the boom, we also have a support between the mast and the mast baseplate.
We tried it all ways for the first year or so but this works much better both in security against and convenience especially when launching.
Note it has travelled like this for tens of thousands of k's now with no problems, the raising of the mast carrying points is adjustable at the rear for when camping with the mast down but even in the lower position it's still much better when moving around the cockpit with the bimini able to be used as an extension of the boom tent making all the rear of the boat covered or at least in shade.
It also means that the spreaders are above the lifelines so that you don't have to maneuver them out.
Not a good picture but it shows all the points including a button on the boom cover missing which was lashed closed after the picture was taken.


Bob

[grnwtrcruzn]

In my I like to place in between the pole for the keel and the table, on the floor. When it's place up to the v-birth it extends to about the step it gets in the way of the head and my girl friends pole dancing routine but other then that it works well for me

[ALX357]

In my I like to place in between the pole for the keel and the table, on the floor. When it's place up to the v-birth it extends to about the step it gets in the way of the head and my girl friends pole dancing routine but other then that it works well for me

huh ? Could you 'splain that again ? ' about the boom, that is.

[Boblee]

[DaveB]

I often wondered that Thur my 60 years of living and finally figured it out.
I keep it in the Cabin V-berth. Hangs over the sink so can take a leak anytime it wants to.
I still keep the boom with furled Sails over the Sink.
Dave

Now Highlander don't get the wrong idea from the title.............

For those of you that have trailered a few days down the road and used the as a camper;
where do you put the boom. Just about every spot we tried sticking it, it was in the way.

In the Vee it sticks out to far and messes with using the stove and sink.
Under cockpit on the bed we kept kicking it .

We tow with an older Durango and so don't have a truck bed to put it in.
Has anyone lashed it on deck or anything??


don

[Sloop John B]

The trouble with shifting weight back to the trailer is that the trailer is already overloaded when everything has been moved forward to the tow vehicle. I never thought about the tow vehicle getting overloaded. I wonder which is worse. I've had too many tires heat up and explode from overloading the trailer.

[DaveB]

I found putting the tongue weight of 450-500 lbs and that's about 10-12% 0f total Trailer/boat weight on the hitch.
This allows for good cruising down the highway and also good traction on those slippery ramps,go 15% if vehicle suspension can handle it if you launch your wheels in the slime zone.
Dave

The trouble with shifting weight back to the trailer is that the trailer is already overloaded when everything has been moved forward to the tow vehicle. I never thought about the tow vehicle getting overloaded. I wonder which is worse. I've had too many tires heat up and explode from overloading the trailer.

[Terry]

The trouble with shifting weight back to the trailer is that the trailer is already overloaded when everything has been moved forward to the tow vehicle. I never thought about the tow vehicle getting overloaded. I wonder which is worse. I've had too many tires heat up and explode from overloading the trailer.

Does your trailer have a plate with weight specs? My steel M trailer has a plate that rates it for 5000 lbs, no way the boat overloads that. My TrailBlazer is rated for 5300 lbs tow and 1400 lbs load and the boat & trailer combined come in at about 4000 lbs so I have a bit more margin on the trailer for towing.

[Boblee]

Terry
You may be surprised at the weight of your boat and trailer combo especially if loaded with food, water, clothes and bedding etc, I would be very surprised if it is not nudging or over 5000lbs also check that the carrying weight of your vehicle is the same when towing a full load especially with the weight on the towball.
Our rules may be different but the different states may vary there too.
Bob

[Highlander]

The new Alum trl only has a max gross combined weight of 4,200# I know I am easily over that when loaded to go on a cruise by at least 800# , my reason for thinking I may convert my trl to a tandem axle

J
most of the time my boom and bagged sails get thrown in the back of my p/u bed

[Terry]

Terry
You may be surprised at the weight of your boat and trailer combo especially if loaded with food, water, clothes and bedding etc, I would be very surprised if it is not nudging or over 5000lbs also check that the carrying weight of your vehicle is the same when towing a full load especially with the weight on the towball.
Our rules may be different but the different states may vary there too.
Bob

I am sure it is nudging 5000 lbs because I do carry all the stuff you mentioned inside the boat, not the TrailBlazer. I also think it is safe to assume that I must subtract the 400 lbs tongue weight off the 1400 lbs load capacity thereby leaving me with 1000 lbs load capacity, add passengers and a tank of gas and I am left with even less load capacity, that is why I carry my stuff in the boat.
Too bad about the new aluminum trailers, I think I will get my steel one refurbished.

[Highlander]

Nope Terry,
Adding a second axle for about 400-500$ with a self made sliding boggie should give me about a 7,000# gross comb. weight factor with 4 whl independant suspension & still lighter than your steel trl , a dont give a darn how I load the boat factor !! " because sliding boggie" and four whl's supporting the load as to two with the hammer down is defenately a safety factor !!
And this is away cheaper way to go than replacing your smaller tow vehicle ! as long as you do not have any very steep launching ramps , but then again a couple of 5 gallon buckets filled with water on the tail gate at the ramp is free & usualy does the job !!
Just remember your combined towing weight cannot exceed your towing vehicle no matter if you have a towing package unless you've got a 5th whl hook up

J

[DaveB]

Than you have to consider , the frame,tong frame and anything else with a stock trailer.
Adding just a Axel will give more loading but you have to look at the whole trailer for loads.
I know my Tandem Trailer with aluminum frame that is rated for 5500 lbs is much larger in size than the stock Mac. Aluminum Trailer.

Dave
Click on Picture for larger view.

Nope Terry,
Adding a second axle for about 400-500$ with a self made sliding boggie should give me about a 7,000# gross comb. weight factor with 4 whl independant suspension & still lighter than your steel trl , a dont give a darn how I load the boat factor !! " because sliding boggie" and four whl's supporting the load as to two with the hammer down is defenately a safety factor !!
And this is away cheaper way to go than replacing your smaller tow vehicle ! as long as you do not have any very steep launching ramps , but then again a couple of 5 gallon buckets filled with water on the tail gate at the ramp is free & usualy does the job !!
Just remember your combined towing weight cannot exceed your towing vehicle no matter if you have a towing package unless you've got a 5th whl hook up

J