Mounting track to boom....

[Shawn]

I saw someone here had put a track on their 19 and as part of that they included a reef hook on the car. I decided to follow that lead this year to get rid of the reefing lines that are always a pain when raising/lowering the main. It will also give an true outhaul when reefed and the track/car setup should also make adjusting the outhaul smoother on my loose footed main.

I ended up using Ronstan Series 25 low profile T-Track.

To mount the track I ended up using fender washers bent into U shapes with my vice and a hammer.





Then crunched the washer around the nut so I could tighten it from above.









After sliding the track in place I just tightened down the screws and it locked the track in place.



Final setup with 6:1 outhaul...



Reef hook is on the same shackle as the outhault block. That keeps the hook from flopping down the side and potentially snagging on the existing reefing hardware on the boom.

Shawn

[Bob23]

Shawn:
  That is pretty cool. Thanks for the great photos. I'll make a stupid comment and assume you fly a loose footed main?
bob23

[Shawn]

Bob,

Thanks. Yes, the new main I got last year is loose footed and fully battened. As I was rigging the main today I test fit the reef hook and decided to spin it so it is pointing out. It was easier to hook the reef point that way. Hopefully will be able to go for a sail tomorrow. Finally got Serenity in the water today.

Shawn

[Shawn]

I was able to get out for a sail today. Really loved not having all the extra lines aloft for reefing.

Loose foot, keeps it's shape the full length of the sail.





New GPS mount and the NASA Clipper wind meter...


Shawn

[MacGyver]

Shawn,

Good job on adding the hardware to the boom.
I'm wondering what kind of wood did you use as a backer to that compass?

We just bought that compass off of a guy and I was trying to figure out because of the odd angle the rear section comes out of that compass and enters the interior as compared to the original compass.

Thanks

Mac

[Shawn]

Mac,

The compass is a Ritchie Navigator. The wood is a teak mount for the compass. Not sure if the is the exact mount (it came with the boat) but it is similar to this one.

http://www.vikingcompass.com/nlb.html

Shawn