Boomed Staysail

[tdw]

The new Womboat is essentially cutter rigged. Double headsail sloop if you want to be picky about it.

The thing is that the staysail is on a boom. Self tacking, loose footed but boomed.

Why ?

Can anyone give me a good reason for the boom ? For the life of me I cannot see it's advantages while there are obviously a few negatives. Mainly it looks clumsy and it weighs a fair amount.

I guess the boom could be used as a hoist but other than that ?

Am I missing something here ?

[jrd22]

It makes the staysail self tacking, reduces the workload when coming about. I agree about them looking clunky and being in the way. On our new (to us) boat we will just be flying a standard staysail on a removeable inner forestay. What type of boat are you looking at?

John

[Faster]

The staysail boom is the easiest way (least amount of hardware) to make the sail self-tacking.

If you want that feature, but not the boom, you need an Elvstrom-style traveller track for the staysail - arguably just as much in the way depending on just where it would have to live to be effective.

If the rig geometry is such that the inner forestay can be removed, as jrd suggests, then perhaps that is something to investigate and you'll have the added advantage of not having to tack the genoa around the inner stay all the time. But it will also require rethinking the sheeting arrangements for the staysail.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by jrd22

It makes the staysail self tacking, reduces the workload when coming about. I agree about them looking clunky and being in the way. On our new (to us) boat we will just be flying a standard staysail on a removeable inner forestay. What type of boat are you looking at?

John

She's a Passport 42.

I can't quite see why the boom makes it self tacking. Given that there is no overlap wouldn't it still be self tacking without the boom ? That's what confuses me.

Interestingly enough I've looked at other P42s advertised for sales in the US and Europe and they all appear to have a boomless staysail.


Cheers

[Plumper]

Staysails can be rigged to be self tacking with or without booms. the boom is cheaper and easier but in the event of an accidental tack or jibe while you are on the foredeck, the boom can take your legs out from underneath you. The boomless self tacking staysail is a little safer.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by Faster

The staysail boom is the easiest way (least amount of hardware) to make the sail self-tacking.

If you want that feature, but not the boom, you need an Elvstrom-style traveller track for the staysail - arguably just as much in the way depending on just where it would have to live to be effective.

If the rig geometry is such that the inner forestay can be removed, as jrd suggests, then perhaps that is something to investigate and you'll have the added advantage of not having to tack the genoa around the inner stay all the time. But it will also require rethinking the sheeting arrangements for the staysail.

Are you stalking me ??

Hey, there is a track of sorts that the sheet attaches to. Tacking the big genoa aorund the inner is a right royal pain in the butt but I'd like to try her out using a high cut yankee and the inner. Failing that I will investigate making the inner removeable although I suspect this will necessitate a baby stay.

[SimonV]

TDW, you didn't say if it was on a furler. I have a removable inner and it takes about 5 min to set up and another 5 to hank on the staysail. Not being a true cutter and I think the P42 is the same boat you’re not supposed to be tacking back and forth but staying on one tack for long periods. I will only set the inner when on passage or when the Genoa is too big for the conditions.

[tdw]

I'm an idiot. No , don't deny it, you are just being charitable. Really, you are. Oh stop it. But you're sweet nonetheless.

Of course if I get rid of the boom I'll need a much longer track right across the foredeck or the thing will never sheet in correctly. The track that the boom attaches to is really too short for boomless. Probably still worth doing though, particularly if it's feasible to make the inner removeable. The track, or more importantly the frame it would need to sit on would not be inexpensive.

On the other hand as I said before I want to see how she sails under yankee and staysail. Ms W is definitely going to prefer tacking the yankee rather than the genoa. If I'm happy with her performance under yankee and staysail I'll probably bite the bullet, get rid of the boom and make the inner removeable for very light winds.

Simon, yes the genoa is on a furler but not the staysail. Which does suggest another problem in that removing and bagging a big furling genoa is a right bugger, not to mention putting it back on. In that regard hanks are way ahead of luff wire for a furler.

[Rockter]

Welcome to the cruise....

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It makes a rather tame mini wing-and-wing, and it tacks fairly well. Really, a wee staysail is not used much, apart from when hard to weather.

I would leave it, as you will have to work on a new track if you remove it. You can paint them and they are good for leaning against when on the fordeck and useful things like that. It's too narrow to balance a beer on, even when in port.

Rockter.

[hphoen]

Wombat,

I agree with your thought pattern on the genoa--you don't need a big one unless you sail in fairly light conditions most of the time, and then you wouldn't need the staysail. My gennie is a 110% with a fairly high-cut foot. With just a little practice, you'll be able to tack it over the staysail stay with no problems in all but the lightest air. Just let out the jibsheet a few feet as you come into the wind, so that a "pocket" of sailcloth forms between the forestay and the staysail stay. Then backwind it a bit as you come over.

With a 110% gennie, you might consider buying an asymmetrical spinnaker for reaching in lighter conditions. Easy to handle with a snuffer sock and ATM Tacker, even single-handed.