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Old 06-02-2021, 11:58   #1
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She needs a boom job!

My little blue-water Darlin needs a boom lift. She’s a 24’ Aquarius Pilot Cutter. The boom is too low on the mast to allow lashing a nesting dinghy on the cabin top. No room on the bow. I’d like to raise it about 12’ - 18” but do not know the best way structurally to do it or how it will affect the engineering. Or if this is just an exercise in futility... don’t want to loose any sail area so, thinking about going with a square top mainsail. All of your knowledgeable comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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Old 06-02-2021, 18:33   #2
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Might just be easier to select a more appropriate dinghy. Since you appear to be inland perhaps towing it is the answer. Only nest it when not under sail.
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Old 06-02-2021, 18:49   #3
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Pictures. Drawing. Sail plan. Mast material. Gooseneck.
Bit more info please.
M and m crew.
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Old 06-02-2021, 20:27   #4
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Re: She needs a boom job!


Specifications

LOA, Marconi Rig: 30' 0"
LOA, Gaff Rig: 32' 0"
LOD: 24' 0"
LWL: 20' 0"
Beam: 9' 0"
Draft: 4' 0"
Displacement: 8,900 lbs.
Ballast: 3,200 lbs.
Sail Area, Marconi Rig: 410 sq.ft.
Sail Area, Gaff Rig: 460 sq.ft.
Bridge Clearance: 37' 0"
Headroom: 6' 3"
Fuel: owner’s choice
Water: 40 US Gal.
Engine: Inboard Volvo 18hp diesel, also outboard from 8hp
Year Introduced: 1979
Year Ended: 1984
Total Built: 33
Designer: Frank Parish
Builder: Top Sail Yachts, Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Also Known As: Aquarius 24 Cutter, Topsail Pilot Cutter


I'm assuming the OP wants to raise the boom 12-18" not 12'18" but that's my take on it...
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Old 06-02-2021, 20:42   #5
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Re: She needs a boom job!

You can raise the boom's location on the mast and probably will need a new mainsail. Would check with a sailmaker to see if your main could be recut to fit the boom location. Doesn't look it would be a problem but boom could be too high reach for reefing etc. Be sure the new height will be workable. Your modifications are going to decrease mainsail area so will affect sailing performance to some degree though shortening main hoist by 12" isn't a whole lot of area.

Take a close look at how the boom is attached to the mast now and picture how you'll be able to move the hardware up the mast. Most masts would just involve relocating hardware but if mast gooseneck attachment ears are welded in place would involve having a SS fabrication made you'd screw to the mast or having new ears welded on.

Nothing beats a hard dinghy if you like to row and/or sail.
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Old 06-02-2021, 20:55   #6
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Correct 12 inches, my bad. I am inland at the moment fixing to begin repairs on hurricane damage, and refit. The goal is for us, her and I, to sail across the Pacific after a season in the Sea of Cortez. Yes, I will have a small inflatable as the "other option" but want to have a sailing/rowing dinghy on board as well. Cabin top is the only place to lash one down. Thanks for posting her data and her shapley figure. I have yet to work out how to post pics.
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Old 06-02-2021, 20:59   #7
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Also, the mainsheet is on the cabintop just forward of the companionway hatch. Not as in the line drawing. Standard heavy gooseneck for off-shore work.
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Old 06-02-2021, 21:10   #8
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Mast is painted aluminum, sand blasting paint off. Leaving clean aluminum. There may be 1 or 2 listed for sale with pics. She has tiller steering. The standing rigging rig has 4 stays port & starboard not 3 as earlier models. She's an '82.
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Old 06-02-2021, 21:17   #9
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Thank you Peter. Being as she displaces a lot for her length I'm thinking on keeping her sail area by going to a square top sail. I have only seen them, no clue as to performance but seems like it might add some canvas back into the equation. This modification might change the center of effort and balance as well. Hence my post here fir the Pros to comment on. Thank you.
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Old 07-02-2021, 04:07   #10
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Re: She needs a boom job!

If you add a square-top, you might have to add a masthead crane so the backstay doesn't interfere with the leech. If you did that, and lengthened the boomkin, you could get the same sail area back.
Make sure before you commit that a square top won't involve additional mast hardware: full battens/cars, perhaps an upgrade in track which might cost more than the sail.
The specs say there was a gaff-rigged option. I'll bet that was sweet.
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Old 07-02-2021, 04:26   #11
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Re: She needs a boom job!

I raised my boom which has a floating gooseneck in a couple minutes one afternoon about 8 years ago with some extra line I had.

My sail was already short enough so I just used some line and wrapped it around the mast to hold the boom at the level I wanted to clear my dodger.
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Old 07-02-2021, 07:14   #12
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Re: She needs a boom job!

Thank you Benz, all great observations that I will look into. The backstay is an issue with the square top, you’re right. All you mentioned made good sense. I have never seen the gaff rigged version. Only 33 total boats were ever made and only a few were gaffers. Hard to get history on them as the factory shut down in ‘82. She swims like a swan. Thomm, thank you for the pics and great info. I’m encouraged! Did raising the center of effort make her roll any more going downwind? Or change her sailing characteristics at all?
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:00   #13
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Re: She needs a boom job!

How about a "half" reef put in and second goose pin point. Raise up/reef when dink lashes across cabintop and drop down for full sail while towing..IMHO, losing 10-12 sf sail area won't hurt that much if yer in waters that need the dink aboard.
YMMV, best of luck to ya
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:05   #14
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Re: She needs a boom job!

I think you will loose too much sail, get a rollup dingy. But if you must then yeah, a square top mainsail doesnt loose you much useable sail.
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Old 07-02-2021, 08:42   #15
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Re: She needs a boom job!

I agree with those that think the problem is the dink. I would stick to an inflatable only which could go forward of the mast I think. Would mean you would want a small outboard as well. In far off cruising destinations you really don't see that many hard dinks, inflatables are just too practical. Also a hard dink aft of the mast would really make forward visibility a problem.
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