Trailering with boom connected to mast?

[c130king]

Hi All,

New MAC owner (actually won't own it...2005 26M...for 6 more days). Been dreaming about MACs for about 2 months (lots of online research) and been lurking this discussion board for about a month or so.

The soon to be ex-owner of this MAC told me he has trailered the boat with the boom still attached to the mast and with the main flaked and covered on the boom.

I haven't seen or heard of this before. Anyone got any smarts on if this is doable and if so, is it recommended?

I can't wait until next weekend.

Thanks,
Jim

[NiceAft]

Jim.

You've got me scratching my head.

I have a 2005 M and have trailered it many times, but never with the boom still attached

First, I'd be surprised to learn that the M is double jointed enough to get into such an interesting position

Second, why would you wish to? It's just a simple procedure to remove the boom and store it below. I would imagine that the added weight on the mast at its weakest point during transport is not a good idea.

When trailering, the mast is attached at the bow, and aft. Midships, there isn't any support. I have seen at the mods page a support someone has devised using PVC pipe.

Someone else may point out that I am wrong, and that the M is double jointed, and traveling with the boom attached isn't bad at all I'll be watching this thread with interest. I'm always interested in a better


Ray

[Frank C]

It would be nearly impossible w/late model X. Both the boom and mast would compete for space on the mast crutch. Since the M's mast support is farther aft, it might be possible but it means managing both boom and mast as the mast is lowered.

Some owners might partilally lower the mast with boom attached, for example when trying to clear overhead bridge. Roger designed the gooseneck specifically to permit this, but it seems the increasingly bunched up mainsail would overwhelm the available pinch space. As Ray mentions, when readying the boat for towing it seems all disadvantages to me. Removing the boom is a matter of one bolt at the gooseneck - a quick pin in my case, removing slugs from main track and unclipping the mainsheet.

[nemo]

I have an M and think it would be a pain to keep boom attached, particularly if you have a roller furler. The whole deal would be quite heavy and awkward to roll back during mast set up. Now maybe if you don't have a furler... I'd have to think about it more.

One thing I do to save an extra step during setup is I leave the mast raising equipment attached and in place while trailering/storing the boat. I do stow it while sailing but when I come back in a lower the mast I leave it in place for the next time. I made a support out of wood to hold it up off the deck and in place while traveling.

[FreeStyle]

With the mainsail fully attached and flaked you can use a topping lift to pull the boom almost vertical then lower the mast for going under bridges, (M26). I did transport the boat on the trailer once with the boom attached and will not do it again. When the mast is lowered the boom contacts the top of the cabin and puts an up force on the mast attachment bolt which makes it a problem to remove. My current plan is to leave the boom topside, detached from the mast, for the short trips to my storage area and to put it in the cabin for longer trips

[James V]

Welcome. The problem is the extra force applied to the gooseneck. Some have broke the goosneck by lowering the mast with the boom attached. If you have a sail cover you can keep the sail on the boom.


It would be safer for you to remove the boom before lowering the mast.

[Rich Plumb]

I would not recommend it, for all the reasons stated above, and it would make the mast harder to raise and lower. Here's a picture of an X with the boom still attached. Notice that he does not have a furler.



~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~
Rich Plumb, "Plumb Crazy"
26X, Covington WA

[c130king]

All,

Thanks for the info. I will remove the boom when trailering. Heck, for me rigging and derigging the boat seems like part of the fun...

for now...

Jim

[pokerrick1]

All,

Thanks for the info. I will remove the boom when trailering. Heck, for me rigging and derigging the boat seems like part of the fun...

for now...

Jim

For me rigging and rerigging STOPS me from trailering anywhere

Rick

[Graham Carr]

For more info on the X photo (Knot Shore) above, go to the Knot Shore website.
Erik is the owner of this boat. He does have roller furling, it is just not shown in that photo.
Graham

[Highlander]

Ever stop to think what would happen if that main sail came undone at 65mph going down the hiway

John

[Catigale]

Ugh...that would be a bad day....

[c130king]

All,

Read all these replies and even though I thought I would remove the boom here is my situation.

Just got the boat yesterday. The owner has several mods to include lazy jacks, jiffy reef, and has the all the lines led back to the cockpit through fairleads and blocks.

When he showed us how to step down the mast he just cranks it down with the boom attached. The main is flaked down and covered on the boom (plastic snap/straps, metal button snaps, and zipper/velcro...so it is a pretty secure package). Of course the genoa is furled and packaged in its sunbrella cover.

As the mast comes down the boom very easily lays down and by pulling it over to one side the mast twists on its pivot point and lays right down in the mast holder at about a 45 degree angle.

With all the lines running back to the cockpit the mast cannot be taken forward and bolted to the front securing point. It is pulled forward about halfway to the bow. The whole kit-n-kaboodle (mast, boom, furled genoa, and various lines, are all lashed together with bungee cords.

The spreaders are laying just aft of the cabin entrance. Both side life lines, aft of the cabin, are removed to allow the spreaders to come down without any pressure from resting on the lifelines.

We use another bungee to secure the mast, furled genoa and various lines to the mast holder. However, the down side is that the mast sticks about 4 feet or so further aft than it would if it was secured to the bow.

It really worked very well. It travelled the five hours from Tarpon Springs FL to Jacksonville with abosolutely no problems. There is no way the mast will come shooting forward (from not being secured to the bow). If there is some accident that would cause the mast to fly off then that is the least of my worries. It is very well secured.

We set everything up easily for our first sail today...no problems at all (except for the furler being pinned down backwards...see other post on Rub Rails). And everything came down again at the end of the day just as easily.

I don't see any of the problems that were previously mentioned for trailering this way.

Thanks,
Jim

[pokerrick1]

I think I'll just continue to remove the boom and pull the mast ALL the way forward to the bow and secure it as intended. I have lazy jacks and lines leading aft also. Also, "secured with bungee cords"??? I pass on that too

BUT - - - to each his own. GOOD LUCK and SAFE trailering!

Rick

[NiceAft]

Jim,

It's startling some times how reality can blow a good theory out of the water. If the systems works, great, but I wouldn't place any faith in a bungee cord. None!

If you can find another means of fastening, I would. Let the bungee hold things together while you finish securing it all some other way, but don't rely on a bungee.

The old saying that a chain is a strong as its weakest link is very applicable here. The weak link on a bungee is how secure the wire hook is wrapped around the elastic cord, and how brittle the metal hook is. The hook can bend, break or just come off of the elastic. The elastic can loose its stretch and render the cord useless. A bouncing Mac can exert much stress in many areas.

Just a word of caution from one Mac guy to another.


Ray