Thanks, Tod. I'm assuming the standard pop-riveted Ronstan bail (I was using the spelling "bale" because I thought the construct might be associated with the same action as "to bale hay") is plenty strong for its intended purpose, so I'll probably just duplicate it at the end of my boom. I believe that the main force will continue to be on my existing mid-boom bail anyway, because I'm going to lead the mainsheet from the transom horse to a block at the end of the boom, then to a block mid-boom, then down to a swivel cam-cleat, so I can continue to sheet the boom to the centerline. I appreciate your help. --Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: ">Mboats<" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 9:16 PM Subject: Boom Bale, Genoa Cover Craig, I just looked at my boom in the spare bedroom :o) and I see that everything on it is pop-riveted on. My boom looks to be about like this one: http://www.dwyermast.com/BOOMS/dm275bm.htm where a bale (Dwyer spells it bail) will run you a mere $3.45 (what a deal!) although it appears to be set up for pop-rivets, near as I can tell (looks like two holes per side). The two bails on my boom have two pop-rivets on each side of the boom and are stainless Ronstans and appear to be about 22 guage (.02963") I'm guessing. ---------- Thanks, Giles. I have considered a bolt for the bale, also. What type and thickness of metal did you use for the bale? Regarding the genoa, the luff tape would be 100% easier, but mine is an odd circumstance: When I bought my (used) CDI Furler, I planned to mount an Egyptian-cotton (colored Dacron) 155% genoa. The sail shop said that no UV-resistant Dacron (Sunbrella is obviously too heavy for a M17's genoa) was available in Egyptian-cotton color, so I would have to use white. I didn't want an Egyptian-cotton colored genoa with a white luff tape, so the sail shop suggested a Sunbrella "sock" pulled up over the furled sail. Because I ran out of money last summer, I ended up having my existing genoa mounted on the CDI. Since I wanted to replace the old genny as soon as possible, I didn't opt for UV-resistant white tape for my old white sail either, but decided to instead put the expense toward the Sunbrella "sock" so that, when I DID mount that Egyptian-cotton-colored headsail, I would have UV protection without a white luff tape. Now that all is said and done, I'm considering tanbark anyway! I would be curious to know whether Storm Petrel (Bill?) has her tanbark jib on a furler (would anyone bother with a furler on a 15' boat?) and, if so, whether UV-resistant Dacron is available in Dacron (my sailmaker said it was available in white, period). I have seen boats in the U.K. (Giles, you're from England, aren't you) with Egyptian-cotton colored jib and tanbark main, so that's another option I'm considering. --Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: "Morris, Giles" <giles.morris@unisys.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 11:10 AM Subject: Halyard Blocks, Boom Bale As for the boom bale, I've never installed one but all of them that I've seen were pop-riveted on: Probably fine. But it might even be less work to run a bolt right through from one side to the other, preferably with a sleeve between the bolt and the boom. That's the arrangement that I have on Dolphin. A sunbrella cover that I will hoist up to the head of the mast to cover my furled genoa I wonder if it would be easier to sew a cover along the luff of the sail so that it covers itself as it rolls up. Giles Morris Arlington VA Montgomery 15 "Umiaq" Vancouver 25 "Dolphin" Miscellaneous small craft