Look at the MSOG site at the flushdeck M17 Amy. It whows a masthead extension to place the top of the pabkstay further aft to clear his full batten main. I have had a similar masthead extension fabricated for Griselda which also has a full batten main but she is not yet refurbished an in the water to test it. Ron M17 #14 (Fin keel) Griselda> From: seagray@embarqmail.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 20:51:31 -0400> Subject: Re: M_Boats: M17 Boom> > Jim, (and Jerry and Bob Eeg..etc)> Today I was out and although my boom did not come in contact with the > backstay, I found that with the additional roach, that the leech would catch > on the highest batten. I can drop the main a tad to get it cleared, but > that's not the way that I want to tack everytime in slight breezes. When > the wind is up, the power of the wind pushes the main under the backstay, > but otherwise it gets hung up. I have the mast raked about 8" aft. If I > rake further to 12" as some have suggested, I think it will make my problem > worse. But perhaps my geometry is off.> But is sure was a nice day out today!!> Joe> Seafrog M-17 651> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "James Poulakis" <picfo@comcast.net>> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" > <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>> Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 6:35 PM> Subject: M_Boats: M17 Boom> > > Joe,> > You and Gary Hyde (and Bob Eeg) are correct. Properly rigged, the> main will not hit the backstay under normal sailing conditions. And> a properly adjusted boomvang will keep the boom from hitting the> backstay during a high jibe or knockdown. But with the current boom> length, if a boomvang isn’t rigged, or happens to be loose, then the> boom can hang up on the backstay under these circumstances.> > Yacht designer Ted Brewer said that ‘When it comes to their boats,> cruising sailors tend to be more conservative then an Anglican> Bishop’. Perhaps I am guilty of this, however:> > Spirit’s boom extrusion is 8’-1/2” long. With the gooseneck secured> at the proper height, the boom is about 2” too long to clear the> backstay when angled up.> > When I originally considered trimming 2” off the boom I checked to> see how long other M17 booms were. The boom on a newer M17 was the> same length as mine (and the owner was considering modifications> before I brought up the issue). But the boom extrusion on an ’80s> M17 was 7’10” - another 1/2” shorter then the 2" I calculated to be> necessary (an additional 1/2” safety factor perhaps?).> > No, I don’t expect that everyone will run out and take a hacksaw to> their booms after reading this posting. I just want my fellow M17> sailors to be aware of this possibility – especially if they sail in> areas with big winds and bumpy seas without a boomvang.> > Personally, I’m going to live with the boom as it is for now, because> cutting down the boom may make it slightly too short for the stock> mainsail. But, when the time comes for a new mainsail, I plan to> remove the gooseneck and trim 2-1/2” off the boom extrusion. This is> actually cheaper and easier then installing a boomvang.> > Sincerely,> “Bishop Jim” Poulakis> M17 “Spirit”> > > > >Jim,> Can you lower your boom a tad? I had the same issue with my boom> hitting> the backstay until I lowered the gooseneck a couple of inches. I can> get> the mainsail at the top and made a cunningham to pull down the boom> and that> solved my problem. I'm sure that all depends on the length of your luff.> > Joe> > >Chris, Julie:> Jiffy reefing worked fine on my M15. I tried single-line reefing but> went back to 2-line reefing, with the Clew reef line lead forward> along the boom so I could handle the halyard and reef line both at> once. The tack reef could be done with a reef hook on the boom, or a> line thru it down to a cleat.> Regarding boom length and hitting backstay, of course the M15 doesn't> have a backstay, but on the M17 a boom vang prevents such interference.> > --Gary Hyde> 2005 M17 sailboat #637 'Hydeaway 2'> We can't change the wind, but we can trim our sails.> Sailing is like "African Queening" thru life.> > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _________________________________________________________________ See how Windows Mobile brings your life together—at home, work, or on the go. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093182mrt/direct/01/