Quote:
Originally Posted by RichandHelen
We are buying a Tartan 4700 with a Park Ave boom and a conventionally raised mainsail with Lazy Jacks. The current main cover requires acrobatics to zip and unzip the integral cover. I have to unzip the Bimini connector (not yet installed in this photo. The boat now has a full Bimini with connector), move the massive boom to one side and stand on the cockpit coaming to attempt to unzip or resecure the cover. At the gooseneck end I have to climb several built in mast steps to secure fasteners over the leading edge of the mast. There has to be a less strenuous way to cover the main. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Attachment 181386
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If you want to keep the boom, you're going to have to accept the strenuous way to cover the main. It is possible to have an extension on the zipper pull: in our case, we use light line (3mm), and you could probably figure out a light weight , detachable "wand" to extend it, a little more.
For the forward edge of the cover, you could add velcro, and and extension so that it overlaps at the front, but you can hold onto a
halyard, or a new hand hold with one hand, and push the velcro together with the other. It would be good to also have the snap together buckles, for a mechanical back up to the velcro. I would want to hold on with my less dominant hand, and do the connecting with my dominant one, so you want to
work out which side overlaps the other for you.
It is one of the problems with big
boats that if you are not also big enough, it is very awkward to do things like getting the sail covers on and off, and the main
halyard on and off, as well.
Good luck with it.
Ann