NC33 Mizzen boom height adjustment

[Nicholas Muir]

I note that a previous owner has inserted a rivet which prevents the mizzen boom gooseneck from being moved up the slider on the mast. This means that the boom is always low down and in the way when not being used. Should it be possible to slide the mizzen boom up the mast, and then only bring it down and secure with the downhaul when sailing? I would like to know before I remove the rivet!

[Roger Sturge]

NC33 Mark 2. I use a runner in the slot with a knurled nut. I had to instal it because the locking mechanism on the goose neck had lost its grip over the years. I am considering installing a second runner below the boom so as to hold it up when stowed. I can’t send a photo as I don’t have access to Wild Cat owing to Welsh lock down regulations

[Nicholas Muir]

Hi Roger, my NC33 is a 1989 model, I am not familiar with any locking mechanism on the gooseneck, but that would seem sensible. I can’t get to my boat at the moment because the yard in Glasgow is very closed. I just wanted to check that the boom was supposed to slide up and down before I drill out the rivet holding it in one position. I am sure that the rivet was put in for reason despite there being a small downhaul purchase on the gooseneck to tighten the luff (although in effective with the rivet in place). Its not really a big problem but I am 6ft tall and when not sailing it is very much in the way when relaxing on the aft deck or using the aft deck steering position. I will take a picture of it when I get back on board, and post up on the forum. Thanks again for your post.

[Nicholas Muir]

I am still unsure whether to remove the rivet that seems to prevent the mizzen boom from sliding up. At the moment it seems like the rivet indicated in the attached photo has been added, Can anyone tell me whether it should be there or not? I would like to take out the rivet and thus allow the boom to slide up giving me more head space on the aft deck, however I am loathed to do this if there is a problem that has been overcome by locking it in the position with a rivet. Thanks in advance for any advice

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Christopher Ham.

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[Anonymous]

I have two sail sled stoppers (davis) in the missenmast.
One so the sailsleds don’t go out of the mizzen mast and another to hold the mizzen boom.
now it is easy to do the mizzemboom up or down when not sailing.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Christopher Ham.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Christopher Ham.

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[Piers Covill]

Hi Nicolas. Looking at the photo, a couple fo things come to mind. The jammer fitted at the bottom to hold the boom down looks like it was once a Laser boom vang as I have the same set up on my Laser! I would suggest that the previous owner found this kept slipping when the halyard is under tension and he got bored of this happening and riveted the slider in place. I think you can drill out the rivet – I don’t see any down side to this, but you will need to come up with a better system to secure the gooseneck either against the halyard tension or gravity when not in use.

[Nicholas Muir]

Thank you for this encouragement, sorry for late reply

[39Schuss]

Nicholas –
I too have a 1989 NC 33. Where you have a rivet I have a pinhole. There is another pinhole higher up on my mizzen mast, below the gate for the sail slugs. An appropriately sized locking pin is tethered at the gooseneck. The locking pin is in the lower position when sailing with the mizzen but remains in the upper position when at dock or anchor or when motoring or sailing without the mizzen.
– Bruce

[Nicholas Muir]

Hi Bruce, That seems to make lots of sense. If you are able to put up a photo of this arrangement sometime, I think that it would be very helpful – Nick

[39Schuss]

Nick –
Sorry for the delay. Hopefully pictures are attached.
– Bruce

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[Bob Gosling]

Nick.
My 331 has a similar arrangement to that which is illustrated in BG’s pic in that the mizzen boom is held up in the track by a pin inserted into a hole drilled in the track. When raising the mizzen pull up and secure the halyard, then remove the pin and pull down the boom with the cunningham, which is secured by a jamming cleat. The only tricky part is, when lowering the sail and lifting the boom, relocating the pin in the track, particularly if it’s blowing a bit. I’ve marked the position of the hole with tape on the mast, which helps along with swearing at it. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to steer the boat safely without lifting the boom, so the effort for me is worthwhile.

[John Skidmore]

As soon as I bought my 331 I had the mizzen sail reduced to prevent having to pull the boom down, as the mizzen adds very little to propulsion this had no effect on sailing speed. I also fitted a small winch on the mizzen mast that enabled me to get the mizzen fully up, it didn’t seem to matter how hard you pulled on the halyard the sail never went fully up. I even went up the mast with a spare slider to make sure there was no obstruction, this all transformed life at the external helm and the cockpit when not sailing.. John Skidmore

[Nicholas Muir]

Hi Bruce Goldman, and all others who have commented on this topic. apologies for not responding in the past – but, thank you for your wonderful advice. The pin to hold the boom up and out of the way is a sound, simple and practical way of dealing with this. I plan to do exactly as you suggest. Thanks again. Nick

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