I just bought some used gear and am a bit confused (which doesn't take a lot )

Say the 5.0m sail spec 170cm boom and the 6.5m sail spec 193cm boom. I got 2 'X3' booms 160-210 and 180-230. Numbers wise, both booms can be adjusted to do the job but from the shape of them, what's the theory behind boom selection?



Also, with my old tie on boom, I didn't think much about how high I tied it on the mast in relation to the clew. With the newer clamp on boom, once clamped it has a range of movement for the clew. Have you ever clamped on and the clew wasn't within this boom range? (what I'm trying to say is clamp the boom too far down the mast so the boom cannot swing up to be in line with the clew). I'm just thinking ahead here since I have not actually rigged the sail yet.

cheers

FormulaNova said...
It is refreshing to see someone buy used gear and see modern stuff and not tie-on booms

Usually you go with the boom that requires the smallest amount of extension, in order to reduce the amount of flex that the boom has.On the other hand, some people like to leave one boom adjusted for a certain sail, and just use a different boom for each sail.

Yeah, if you clamp it too low or too high, you just release the clamp and reposition it. If it is not tied to the clew, then there will be minimal pressure on the clamp, and you can easily slide it to the new position.

Once you are comfortable with doing this, it is usually possible for people to release the clamp and move it, even when the clew is tied off. I do this often when I sail if I find that I clamped the boom on too high for me, or I want to effectively lengthen my harness lines by raising the boom height.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking along the lines of the wider boom used for the larger sail area, all other things being equal. Also, with the wider boom, your body weight being further away from the sail gives you more control in gusts (along with sheeting out).

FormulaNova said...
Just out of interest, what is the other equipment? What sail, mast, and board are you using?

Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)

LongTimeAgo said...


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)

What type of Ezzy sail are they? Any pictures?

I suspect the board might be your limiting factor, but it depends on what your other gear is like, and how much sailing you have done.

Have you sailed a lot?

One thing that I have noticed, is that older boards and newer sails, or even newer boards and older sails don't work that well together.

FormulaNova said...

LongTimeAgo said...


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)

What type of Ezzy sail are they? Any pictures?

I suspect the board might be your limiting factor, but it depends on what your other gear is like, and how much sailing you have done.

Have you sailed a lot?

One thing that I have noticed, is that older boards and newer sails, or even newer boards and older sails don't work that well together.

Shouldn't be an issue. Anything from 1985 will complement an ezzy nicely!

evlPanda said...

Numbers wise, both booms can be adjusted to do the job but from the shape of them, what's the theory behind boom selection?

Actually no. If your 5.0 rigs with 170cm then the 180-230 is too big. Follow?

My bad, I stuffed up the numbers. I intended to have the required boom length satisfied by both boom ranges.

Referencing the boom height on the mast and not reaching the clew, on these new booms the clamp can articulate up and down so you can clamp it anywhere and pivot the boom to meet the clew, not like those old tie on booms.
For proper boom height when the rig is not attached to the board you should just be able to put your arm over it and it will be tucked up to your armpit or about chin height when attached to the board.

LongTimeAgo said...

I'm still trying to figure HOW to set it up It is a bit hard to see but the batten above the boom is on the windward side of the mast. If I stand it up and pump the sail, the batten still does not flick over to the other side of the mast. Does this mean I need more outhaul? I can still tension the outhaul further but I'd rather get some advice first

Also, the sail is a 472cm luff and wants a 460cm mast, this means the mast extension should be at 12cm?

Yes, you need 12cm of extension, and downhaul it until the pulley blocks touch.

Once you do this, then play with the outhaul. I think you are meant to use the bits of string on the clew to set the outhaul, but you should set it to spec initially to figure out how the sail should look.

Definatly on the ball FormulaNova. More Downhaul.
LongTimeAgo, Keep pulling downhaul on the Ezzy sail until the Top of the sail becomes floppy. There is a red spot on the "mini batten" between the top and second batten. Correct setting is to keep downhauling until that red spot becomes loose. I have an ezzy Infinity which rigs very similar

The Ezzy rigging videos should help

www.ezzy.com/allyearsezzys/2010/videos/panther_rigging.htm

www.ezzy.com/rig-support/all-years-ezzy-sails/

Watchin these videos, especially the first one - Inserting your mast (www.ezzy.com/allyearsezzys/2010/videos/panther_rigging.htm and even ) David just slides the mast in in one go. It takes me maybe 4 minutes to get mine in (I'm talking mast here - no dirty thoughts). The battens will not allow the mast tip a smooth journey in the luff. Is this normal

Here's the knot;

moondo said...
Hey LongTime Ago. Started downhaul first with a screwdriver, Then a cold chisel? The best downhaul tool is often overlooked in a windsurf kit. I always use the spreader bar of my harness. just wrap the downhaul 4 or 5 times around hook, hang on with both hands and heave ho!

alright!!!

I used the cold chisel when the downhaul rope wasn't long enough to go through the sail pulley 3 times. I've gotten used to it now and take it with me all the time.

It's starting to get a bit heaving when I'm sailing with it in my backpack, but I can get used to it I find it useful for fine tuning the sail when I'm on the water.



I'm joking ok [}:)] (the bit about taking it on the water with me, but I do use it to downhaul)

Thumbs up for the best beginner rigging photos perhaps ever.

Relax: You won't break anything. It's all made for a lot more force than you're going to be able to exert.

As a general rule of thumb:

- The second panel from the top should be floppy to the middle (down-haul)
- The batten above the boom should be just touching or slightly over the mast (out-haul).

There are finer points but that's the gist of rigging a sail.

In classic beginner form you've not down-hauled or out-hauled enough. We all did that (except for Barn). You have the settings exactly right, as per the specs. Now you just need to down-haul all the way to the bottom, and out-haul all the way to the end. Yes really. Try using your harness line hook. Push with your leg instead of pulling with your back.

Once you've done that your sail will be in a good initial rigging stage. Now you'll probably notice the specs are wrong by 2cm or so because of a lot of reasons. Curse everything and then adjust accordingly until you get the sail as per the general rule of thumb above.

That's it.


Here's one quite similar to yours that is rigged correctly:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Ezzy-Cheetah-2012/

evlPanda said...
Here's one quite similar to yours that is rigged correctly:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Ezzy-Cheetah-2012/

thanks for the link

^ That's true. They always have a lot of out-haul. +5cm even. Gives them shape.

BTW beginners; neutral out-haul means none. You down-haul and then just tie the out-haul rope as is. No tension.

LongTimeAgo said...
I started off with a screwdriver and moved onto using a cold chisel Though I don't think it is very chic

or maybe I'll get myself one of those 'Rig Winch' thingies See 8:20 in at