Sorry, Bob,  I was at the boat today for a few minutes and recall staring at the boom thinking there was something I should check.

I hope to be back there on Tuesday or Wednesday and will see if I have the fittings on the boom.

The Previous owner and I raised the mast three times during the summer with only the mainsheet and had no problem with mast alignment.  The mainsheet is extra long, allowing it to be used with the boom vertical.  Biggest challenge is keeping the shrouds clear of obstacles while raising the mast.

I do recall seeing something in these pages that showed the alignment of the boom lines.  Perhaps is the Parker Dawson advertising.  The lines can be anything you want, requiring only moderate strength.  I may also have seen indications of a bridle for both the boom and mast.

I won't be doing anything much with the boat until my knee gets stronger.  Surgery went well and Physical Therapy is intense, but paying off in getting mobility back quickly.

The word is that if you don't get flexibility back in the first 6 weeks, scar tissue will make it impossible to get more later.

Steve in San Jose  Hull 270

Steve in San Jose
Dawson 26, "Banana Split"
Hull 270

Just thought I would put it out there again.  

They are building a new bridge over the Sturgeon Bay Canal so I will unable to go through for over a month unless I can lower the mast easily.

I am mainly curious as to where the attachment points (on deck and on the mast or boom) are for the bridle that I have read about.

Thanks,

Bob

Heres The refered to "pad eyes" which are thru bolted, I really don't see the purpose of the teak blocks.
I too have a problem with the mast wanting to go to one side or the other and I almost lost it once.
I do need to figure a way to single hand it.

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Herb Owner of Hull # 237
In Astor Florida
Sail fast live slow

Got to the boat and see that I have the mast raining fittings like Herby's.  Keep in mind that the geometry makes sense with that location.  If the deck end is close to the same level and position as the mast base, then the lines  should describe a nice arc then lifting the mast, and stay tight side to side.

I think I'll build a set myself.

Steve in San Jose
Dawson 26, "Banana Split"
Hull 270

It WORKS !  I simply used two adjustable straps from Home Depot to run from the two blocks mentioned, to the eye strap on the boom.

Lifted and returned the boom three times with no problem with the boom trying to move to the side.

REALLY SIMPLE, don't hesitate to try it !



Steve in San Jose
Dawson 26, "Banana Split"
Hull 270

No Photos, we were busy raising the mast.  Really folks, now that I have done it, I wonder why I made such a big deal of it.

With the mast down, Base plate hinge set up, the boom can be put in its track and tied in place.  

Then, in order to get the boom centered on the mast, all you need to do is run two lines from the eye straps on the cabin top to the eye strap half way up the bottom of the boom.



I had two straps on hand, but they were too short, but I found two straps at ACE Hardware for 5 bucks.  Hook one end into the cabin top eye strap and adjust the other end to that it hooks into the boom eye strap when the boom is on the same plane with the mast, but at 90 degrees. .  Do it again for the other side.  

Once done, it is hands off !

I've seen much more complex systems that don't do more than this.  PD did a good thing.





Steve in San Jose
Dawson 26, "Banana Split"
Hull 270

In theory, the deck attach point should be on the same plane as the mast base, so that they all swing in the same arc.  Some folks have gone to great lengths to create such a point between the shrouds, with lots of work.

Bob, you have proven that it is not really very critical.

Steve in San Jose
Dawson 26, "Banana Split"
Hull 270