Re: jawed sprit boom

Hi Nels

> Do you very often slacken the outhaul very far on the mizzen?

For us, the mizzen snotter has two positions. When the wind is light,
and we have the full sail hoisted then it is worth slacking the
snotter to allow the sail to belly and the drive is noticeably improved.
Once the wind picks up to the point where reefing is required then the
snotter gets hauled tight and the sail flattened. The sprit boom has
already been docked as short as the geometry allows. I'll probably try
a jaw version - it's a small cheap stick to experiment on.

Re: outboards. We've had a 9.9 longshaft on the transom and I'm not
going there again. IMO Micro's hull design doesn't need [cannot use]
the extra power and the weight is no help hung out there. A 20 inch
shaft 5HP is probably about ideal. Our short shaft 5 never gets above
about half throttle even heading into a full reef squall. The extra
shaft length would be nice to avoid the [very occasional] pitching out
but the weight and power, not. YMMV

cheers
Derek

> Does anyone know whether the jaw requires some sort of collar or

line to

> prevent it riding up or down the mast? None appear to be shown, and

it seems

> to me that slacking the outhaul to allow the sail to belly would

result in

> the boom slipping down out of place....
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Cheers
> Derek

Hi Derek,

I have often puzzled over this set-up as I have considered the rig
could be used on a Long Micro. With the mast stepped further back the
sprit boom would not interfer with using a jib. Therefore a shorter
mast and lower sailplan.

The boom seems to have a hole drilled into the end opposite the jaw
and a cleat next to it. Perhaps those are used to secure the boom?
Also I notice in the photo that Bill seems to be using some sort of
collar not shown on the cartoon, but that might be to prevent chaff?

Do you very often slacken the outhaul very far on the mizzen? Maybe
trying a shorter sprit and a higher angle on the snotter will allow
less chance of it hanging up the sheetlet?

Also I notice how the lazy jacks are attached to the foot of the sail
for reefing. I wonder how well that works? I may try to contact Bill
and get his reaction.

Barn Owl on page 397 has somewhat the same type of arrangemnt but no
details are shown. And a different reefing system on the main while
none shown on the foresail! I like the idea that it is self vanging.

Nels

> What does the mizzen sail look like on the new upgrade to Micro,
> perhaps that would solve the problem too?

It's a fully battened gaff no sprit to hang on.
Jason

> This setup looks increasingly attractive to me as I repeatedly overhaul two
> lines simultaneously going about on our Chinese Gaffer. Failure to
> adequately handle the lower sheetlet will almost invariably end up with a
> bight hooked under the mizzen spritboom's forward end. A wave of the
> boathook sorts things out [although I imagine that to be less convenient on
> the Navigator] but the performance all looks a little less than salty.
> Cheers
> Derek

What does the mizzen sail look like on the new upgrade to Micro,
perhaps that would solve the problem too?

On a couple of designs [Breakdown Schooner, Chapter 60, BWAOM being one]
Bolger shows sprit booms with offset jaws which bear on the mast and an
outhaul for the clew, rather than his usual stick and snotter arrangement.

This setup looks increasingly attractive to me as I repeatedly overhaul two
lines simultaneously going about on our Chinese Gaffer. Failure to
adequately handle the lower sheetlet will almost invariably end up with a
bight hooked under the mizzen spritboom's forward end. A wave of the
boathook sorts things out [although I imagine that to be less convenient on
the Navigator] but the performance all looks a little less than salty.

Does anyone know whether the jaw requires some sort of collar or line to
prevent it riding up or down the mast? None appear to be shown, and it seems
to me that slacking the outhaul to allow the sail to belly would result in
the boom slipping down out of place....

Thoughts?

Cheers
Derek