Laying on ones boom

[msh_sailers]

Hello everyone,

I am still a bot new at sailing we have only taking our 36" Islander out twice. This question may sound newbish but if you were to lay on your boom while sails were put away in its cover, would that damage your rigging or sails? Id assume my 145 pound body would do little in the grand scheme of the abuse it takes under wind. Thanks for your time!

Cheers.

[roverhi]

Even on a small boat it would be okay to hang on the boom. Your islander probably has a LeFiell mast like my old boat and I actually would lay out on the shelf of the mainsail in light air.

[Jim Cate]

I would agree that no harm will come... unless it has a rigid vang supporting the boom instead of a topping lift. In that case, laying on the outboard end of the boom could be a bit stressful to the boom.

Jim

[colemj]

Even that won't be a problem Jim. We have a rigid vang and I can stand on the boom end with no issue.

Mark

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by colemj

Even that won't be a problem Jim. We have a rigid vang and I can stand on the boom end with no issue.

Mark

Probably the case... But it's a simple calculation to understand support from the vang is considerably more stress inducing than a topping lift...

I'm with Jim on the caution for that one...

[Canibul]

I've seen several sailors use their booms as lifting cranes over thw years. lifting things like 200 lbs of dinghy. I've seen one catamaran that incorporated an extension boom in the end of the main boon specifically for loading cargo etc. of course mid boom is in compression then.

[ryon]

If that small amount of weight would stress your boom,..

[colemj]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Probably the case... But it's a simple calculation to understand support from the vang is considerably more stress inducing than a topping lift...



I'm with Jim on the caution for that one...

Stop and think about the forces on a boom under just normal use, let alone all the heavy use and operator mistakes they soldier through. Any boom of the op's size will be designed to handle the weight of a person on the end regardless. A vang will either be incorporated into the design, or post-design will have a sleeve that supports the loads at that point.

Where people experience broken booms, it is usually very high side loads and snap forces that do this - like having the middle of it tied to a rail during a crash jibe. Booms aren't designed for high loads in this direction.

Mark

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by colemj

Stop and think about the forces on a boom under just normal use, let alone all the heavy use and operator mistakes they soldier through. Any boom of the op's size will be designed to handle the weight of a person on the end regardless. A vang will either be incorporated into the design, or post-design will have a sleeve that supports the loads at that point.

Where people experience broken booms, it is usually very high side loads and snap forces that do this - like having the middle of it tied to a rail during a crash jibe. Booms aren't designed for high loads in this direction.

Mark

Oh I don't disagree with booms being sturdy, and more often than not... MUCH higher MOI vertically... Vang forces are of course both directions, but tension is the working direction....

Simply a caution that laying out on the boom end with only the vang supporting at something like 1/5th span wouldn't be my planned loading... If I can "plan it"!

[Scaramanga F25]

You can lift out a MD2B out of a Westsail 32 using the boom as a crane.


lay and lie ...quite a difference.

[daniellmason]

Make yourself at home in that boom! I run charters aboard my 37 Cherubini and routinely hang a two-person hammock from the main boom. It isn't rare to have four hundred pounds hanging out there.
I do agree that a topping lift is much safer than a rigid vang for this particular use of the boom.
Have fun and enjoy your boat!

[Roy M]

Not to be overly pedantic, but lying on your boom is one thing that you can do alone, laying on the boom implies your accompaniment by another agreeable companion. thereby doubling the weight. And, from some experience, the sails can have a very beneficial consequence for the experience. Especially if you have "bed rails".

[reed1v]

Just add a boom crotch or gallows and you have a very sturdy and immobile boom to do what you will. Always tie your sails to themselves, not with the tie downs going under the boom.

[phydeaux]

Use a topping lift. Your vang is designed more (to oversimplify) to pull than push. Overload and wear the gaskets and seals can cause a failure - which will happen when you least want it.

[Oceandeep]

I have a topping lift on my boom and we have all kinds of fun with it . Sometimes I stand on the boom and lay back against the sail when we are on a nice reach. (with a preventer of course) I've also rigged the bosun's chair at the end of the boom and swung the kids out over the water (with life jackets of course) and I often lift heavy objects unto deck with a block and tackle attached to a strong point on the boom.

As long as your boom is strong and well supported and you are careful I say use it and enjoy it.