MacGregorSailors.com

The aft (outhaul) end of the M26X boom can easily outdo any amount of Botox treatment to my forehead. Anybody know of a good cushion for the end of the boom?

When heeled, stay uphill from the boom end.
When motoring, clip it to a backstay pigtail, above head-height!
Problem solved, right?

OK, Jack. A cheap fix (and it doesn't use bungee cords). You'll find one of those foam cozies for soft drink cans (or beer) will fit snug over the end of the boom. May have to use a pair of scissors to shape it if you want a perfect fit.

If you have already experienced an accidental jibe and your forehead has been introduced to the end of your boom, I find peroxide and crazy glue works well. No scarring.

Thanks, guys, for good suggestions.

The boom has been well-behaved and has not initiated a chance encounter with my noggin - yet. Rather, when the boom is in the crutch in the lower position ( I have a second position 8" higher for the crutch ) I have leaned forward and lightly rapped my hatrack on it. Got a shoprag tied around the end to soften the impression but it doesn't look nice. I had wondered if there were leather or plastic thingies for boom ends. I think the coozie should do it. (The instructor at our sailing club wears a bike helmet.)

Somebody on this site recommended hooking the boomvang to a stanchion as a preventer (ie, prevent the boom from hitting your head) although I've never tried it yet. There is some B movie that is on late at night every once in a while where this woman offs a man with a boom from a Mac 26X. Although she does the swinging, not the wind.

Whereabouts can you find a backstay pigtail and how do they attach to the backstay?

Dimitri,
Hey I saw that movie mentioned somewhere else also, I am not sure if it was a made for T.V. movie, or a moviehouse release? If a standard Movie release, I think I'll rent it via netflix! (we are happy with this service BTW) If anyone recalls the name etc. of this flick, let us know, please?

Dimitri,
I have had a backstay pigtail on previous sailboats, and have found a topping lift to be just as useful! The backstay pigtails were merely a "Y" device attached to the stay with a brass spring clip attachment at the boom, easy, but IMHO it would possibly get in the way when sitting at the transom, and when exiting the boat via the transom! Also, if whipping around in a stiff breeze!

What I have is the simple 1/4 inch line, (topping lift) that I attach to the cleat on the boom, seems just as quick and easy. I stow it on my full length 1/4" bungee that resides on the boom via hooks and loops that securely holds my flaked sail. (I have no need for lazy jacks etc.) I like this system, even when singlehanding, I just loop the topping lift around the bungee loosely, when sailing, instead of having to go up on deck and fastening it to the mast! This sytem works for me, but feedback from those who use the backstay system is appreciated also!

Now the mention of that nifty in boom furling system has me intriqued for sure! (Odin Mast 28 option!)

The backstay pigtails work great. They are a far simpler solution than a standard full topping lift. It is just a 2' length of wire with a loop swaged in one end and brass clip attached to the loop.

They do not get in the way at all, it's all above your head. You clip it to the rear of the boom and then snug up the main sheet and the boom is locked in place. I love mine. You can move the main sheet outboard to the starboard rail as I do if you need to use a bimini/enclosure. I still use mine even though I have a boomkicker to keep the boom from falling. The pigtail stops all the swinging.

So how to you attach it to the back stay you ask? I asked the same thing when I bought mine from BlueWater. It is swaged to the backstay. Since I already had one of the hand swage units where you tighten the bolts to make the swage, it was easy to install. To get it over the back stay you cut one side of the swage lengthwise with a hack saw or a dremel. Then spread it open enough to slip it over the backstay. Once on the back stay, insert the end of the pigtail, slide to the right height, and clamp it on with the swage tool. While slitting the swage is not a good idea for real rigging, in the case of the pigtail it works great. It really isn't holding much weight and BlueWater has done hundreds of boats this way without any problems.

Hey All,
This is the pigtail arrangement that I have. I also use it for rigging the boat. I attach the end of the boom to the pigtail to provide support for the boom when I attach the gooseneck to the mast. Havng the boom supported makes setup a lot easier. Hope that helps. Happy sails, Tony

Tony, did you mean to post a URL? So, it is swaged on, sounds like a pain unless you have your own swager...but what about those normal cable clamps like you can buy at Home Depot?

I have a topping lift on mine but its always a nuisance because it is tied to the same cleat as the outhaul. I suppose I should put some sort of shackle on it (at exactly the right length)and clip it to the inside hole of the cleat...that way, i would have the rest of the cleat for the outhaul. I end up tightening the main sheet too much to prevent the swing....then, the boom ends up rubbing on the bimini..which is already ripped so its no big deal. Frankly, it would be nice to put a block on the outhaul so that you can get it real tight in high winds...so much to do...so little time.

I don't suppose any of you disengage the topping lift once the main is raised? Seems like the sail always pulls the boom up higher than where I had the topping lift, but just thought I would ask for any other opinions.

Dimitri,
I take my topping lift off as it's length restricts good sail shape! Adding Vang was futile in helping the situation with it on! As I said, I attach it to a bungee that I use along my boom to flake my sail. Before I made that mod, I had to attach it up on deck to the mast, which was a pain. If a rear backstay pigtail works as others have reported, I may do this in the future, like you stated, so many mods, so little time!

Of course a simple fix, would be to take some 1/4" bungee, and make a 6" or so loop that tethers on the Topping Lift loop, and remove the T/L and attach the bungee via a brass snap connector when sailing....possibly

Dimitri,
Check the mods index to see a picture of the pigtail that I have on my boat. Hope that helps. Happy sails, Tony

I use rope, not cable, for my pigtail. Out of use, it is clipped to the backstay. For use, it clips to the little shackle on the end of the boom. I can then lift the boom and wrap the pig tail around the end of the boom; each wrap elevates the boom higher.

For hoisting the main, the pigtail won't allow the main to swing out very far and could catch knockdown wind. I have my mate unclip the pigtail and hoist the boom up by hand to assist me in getting the main all the way up, with mainsheet and vang loose.

For single handling, something other than a pig tail should be adopted.

The rigid boom vang (or the boomkicker) serve those situations where the pigtail does not work or causes risk of a knockdown. If you don't have some type of formal boom support (at less than $200) you're fighting an unnecessary battle. If you're single-handing, it's even more important.