Boom height

[T_schlueter]

My boom extends about halfway into the cockpit, is 5ft above the cockpit floor and rubs on my dodger. I'm considering raising my boom about 15" or so. It has 8 screws holding it to the mast. I'd also have to reconfigure the top of the main. Anything else to consider?

[Dolce_Vita]

You would have to take 15” off of the foot of the main, not the top. Truncating the top would result in a large roach area that would get hung up on the backstay every time you tacked.  The reef points would also have to be moved up, and a new clew created. That is a lot of sailwork.

A better alternative might be taking enough off of the leech edge to result in a 15” reduction at the head. This avoids moving the reef points, but requires creating both a new head AND clew. Still a fair bit of sailwork.

 In any event, the mainsheet would have to be lengthened by 60” (15” x 4).  And the vang (if you have one) lengthened as well.

This mod would raise the center of effort of the sail, resulting in more heeling, and thus more weather helm, at a given wind speed.

Might be simpler to just lower the height of the Dodger!

[T_schlueter]

Good thoughts. I'm mostly concerned with safety. It's a real head knocker! I've recently been wearing a thin racer helmet.

[Dolce_Vita]

Hmmm...  5 ft above the cockpit seems a bit low.  I wonder if you have a mainsail that's incorrectly sized.  I'm 5'7". and the boom just barely touches me when I have it sheeted in tight on the centerline.

[T_schlueter]

And I'm 6ft 3in. I have two mains exactly the same and are originals as far as i can tell.

[Dolce_Vita]

Wow, a tall guy!  I can see your concern!

Depending on your sail's ages, they may be stretched out, or mine may just be smaller.  It was built new for the boat in 2007 by the previous owner.

[Alma]

I'm 6'3" and I've had a haircut a few times. We rarely jibe. I'll chicken-jibe (tack) unless it is dangerous to do so.

Three brain surgeons couldn't save the fourth who was clocked good racing offshore. He hemorrhaged and dies onboard.

The danger is real but trying to make a 323 something is isn't is going to disappoint you.

Study preventers and use one if you worry.

[T_schlueter]

I just read in scuttlebutt about the guy racing on a 22 footer in colorado. His boat gybed accidentally. The boom knocked him out of the boat unconscious. His body was recovered the next day in 180 ft of water. It's the accidental gybes I worry about. And not just for my sake. At five ft off the cockpit floor it'll take out most anyone. I'll look into rigging a preventer. Though I remember many years ago accidentally gybing on a hunter 30. We couldn't release the preventer fast enough. We heeled wildly and spun wickedly upwind. Had to be pretty close to a knockdown.