Removing boom from staysail Sails and Rigging- Standing and Running Forums

OK, I know this string is old but I struggled with this one as well and came to a different conclusion. I got a new staysail made by Mack Sails and Colin and Travis (brothers and co-owners) both had differing ideas about the boom. Colin thought we could chuck the boom and wouldn't know the difference, Travis said my brother is misguided. He made the perfectly valid point that we don't sail with a loose footed main for obvious reasons; we can't control the way the sail sets in anything but beating. Reaching maybe but running would suck. He suggested that we keep the boom and even scrounged me up a new one to replace the massive old thing that came with the boat. 

I think Scott made the point that the staysail is the boat's turbo charger and told a story once of tacking into a river by simply turning the wheel. That was a big part of the decision, frankly, because I expect to be in that position a lot as we're expecting to be sailing short handed when we finally drop the dock lines.

One of the many pages I read concerning this had an "experienced" sailor on there who offered the suggestion that all the people worried about getting knocked on the head weren't paying attention and once you got used to it you'll understand why all the old working boats had them, why our boat was designed with it and why we should suck it up and keep it.

I don't have enough experience with it yet but I'm expecting I can haul it up out of the way with the topping lift, at least far enough to sling an awning or a hammock but I will  be able to tack without tending the staysail when things breeze up and I'm on watch alone.

I'm keeping it and looking forward to making it work for me. I also installed some davits on the stern which I'll use for all the coastal stuff we're going to do and I'll figure out the foredeck when we make the crossing to the Bahamas.

Rick

Boats spend the majority of the time at anchor/mooring or in a slip therefore the considerations for "the boom is in the way" also translates to:   What to do with the staysail boom when not in use.  Previously I kept it lifted in the air, just high enough so the vberth hatch could open.  I didn't even think much about it.. even when constantly stepping over it or crawling under it etc to walk portstarboard on the foredeck.   Finally I got the bright idea to lower it to the deck where it now rests, with a 1" pad underneath so the block attachment doesn't mar the deck.    Still ideally there would be a way to remove the staysail boom when not in use, then re-attach for sailing.  Or at a minimum, some type of mount to secure it near the toe rail (close to life lines).

When I hung my hammock on the foredeck I also faced this dilemna - the boom being in the way or being underfoot somewhere.

I like the idea of the boom and using it is like driving a car.. it's self-tending ability is great.  Sailing up a channel it would be very nice, sailing up a river it would be boss.

Once anchored or in a slip, why not this -- some kind of quick release might work well on the staysail stay, to release the boom at deck, remove and lower the boom to a stowing area, then reattach the staysail stay with some temporary leash.   The staysail stay is not holding up any part of the rigging, after all.  Quick release does not mean less strength, just choose one that is rated to handle the needed load.

Another alternative is one DE38 I saw which had re-rigged the boom to raise it 1.5' at the tack, therefore allowing much more headroom underneath it at all times from someone in the vberth or laying on the foredeck (nice even underway, for downwind sailing or motoring conditions).    There should be discussion from someone knowledgeable, about the performance change this causes, to raise the boom and sail by 1' or 2'.   This doesn't seem like much, but, wow, it really cleared a lot of space underneath it, that is plenty of vertical space to stow a deflated dinghy etc, which is definitely less than 1' tall, right.