SmallCraftAdvisor.com

My sailboat (a AMF Sunbird 16) has the mainsheet control running from the middle of the boom down into the sole of the cockpit. This means its right in the middle of the boat and effectively cuts off using the cockpit for "sleeping quarters". I once had a Luger Leeward 16. Its mainsheet was controlled from the end of the boom and was threaded through sheeves attached to the stern rail. The disadvantage of this arrangement was that one tack I was controlling the mainsheet backwards.

Has anyone had any experience in relocating the mainsheet on the boom? What are the plus or minuses of doing so? I was told once that moving that control would upset the balance of the control but since all it is doing is controlling the position of the boom I can't understand why that would be the case.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I am having a similar dilemma. Where I sit in the boat, with perfect reach for the tiller and balance of the Paceship 12 is lined up with my main sheet control (as well). So when I try to move to the other side during the tack I have move to the stern, to get around the sheet, but jam right into the tiller AND I have to throw of the aft/bow balance... (the boom seems kind of low as well)

attaching the sheet control to the stern would help with some of this for me as well.....

Hello!
My mainsheet control is situated at the stern. I see no problem as having it in my back if I am looking forward but I am well used to it.

I would hate having it in the middle of the cockpit. It is already quite small.

Welcome back Michel...! if I understand right "Mari-Bell" is rigged to the rear, you didn't change anything --- but to remove the boom

Yeah but... The boom is back!...

I got fed up of the mess in the cockpit when it was time to furl the sail. So it is back, even if I lose a little on the sailing aspect.

I would need a sail without battens and that can be tucked against the mast like a Drascombe.

Thanks for the "welcome back" BTW!

Boom...

I forgot (or maybe I did), when you have the boom, can you reef your sails?

I would think if can that would be a reason to keep the boom, unless you can reef without it as well.

It is very easy to reef without the boom. Just change the sheet to the next reef eye and it is the usual procedure at the mast. But I don't want to highjack lustyslogger's thread!

seems like it would be easy to add cam to the stern (port or starboard) of the boat and attach the sheet to the other end..

To the boom attach another sheet, with a pulley where it connects to the cleated sheet..... so it could run back and forth...

Might be a little messy with the tiller

Or


We can do as we like with a small boat...Almost!

Michel,

If you used the lower one on your Sandpiper, would you be able to handle the torque from the Mail Sail