Car explodes in Corpus Christi

[SSgtPitt]

Title of the thread may not be what you thought....but a car DID explode and and i watched the whole thing in mental slow motion as i gybed the main boom and the car hit the stop, knocked it loose and every thing launched itself into the Bay. Imagine my surprise as the boom is now fully free in 20+ kt winds.
I lasso'd the boom, tied it off and then started the process of trying to lower the mainsail on a boom furler.
Laurel and Hardy could not have done it better.

[bletso]

Ouch! Good no one was in its way.

[ohdrinkboy]

Were you in a viagra commercial?

[zeehag]

had that happen in decent 50 kt winds in a seidelmann 37 in gom. was hairy. didnt die, but coulda, as it tried to hit me in head.....grab it and cleat it down n keep on
good work.

[Cheechako]

What kind of car? You mean the gooseneck is on a car on a track? Ball bearing car?

[zeehag]

our traveller block n tackle disintigrated its fittings n flew damnear into my temple as i exited companionway. i was able to miraculously grab n secure it to a cleat before it killed me. totally subconscious not planned action to spontaneous mayhem with its own murderous intent.

life is an adventure meant to be LIVED!!!

[SSgtPitt]

The car on the traveler for my Leisure Furl boom. It's on the top of the cabin.....or was. The car hit the end of the traveler and kept going. The boom ended up against the standing rigging with me looking at it, "WTF just happened?"
We're newbies so all these things that happen are a new adventure for us. Granted, it was only in the bay and 20+kt winds, but we've only had the boat since August and my one and only trip on it was from Pensacola to Corpus across the Gulf....but we're learnin'. Each day out on the water we learn more and get better. And Corpus Christi Bay is ALWAYS 15-25kt winds. So every time we go out it's work.
So now I'm online looking for a new / better car, a preventer and those little pulleys for the traveler so i can pull the boom over with out smashing my fingers on the stops. Advice?

[ErikFinn]

Originally Posted by zeehag

had that happen in decent 50 kt winds in a seidelmann 37 in gom. was hairy. didnt die, but coulda, as it tried to hit me in head.....grab it and cleat it down n keep on
good work.

I believe people generally don't realize how dangerous the boom potentially can be. Friend's wife was killed after a hit. First coma and pronounced dead in hospital.