I have an older TheMightyHobie18 (1980) and was wondering about converting to a boomless system as I want to get out with my kids more, but the thought of that boom swinging around really scares me. Has anyone converted to boomless with out having to spend big $ on sails. Is there a conversion you can buy?

Thanks Dave

How about a used Nacra sail? I am pretty sure that the Nacra 5.0 main would fit and you could still rig your standard sail to get class legal. You would only have to get a hook on your mainsheet pulley

you would have to add a new upper mainsheet pulley (triple) too since the TheMightyHobie18 has three pulleys mounted to individual tangs on the boom. I agree with Charles - the used sail sounds like a good idea.

Howdy,
On the TheMightyHobie18 the boom is essential to the mast rotation control, so you'll need to rig up something for that.
David Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067

pardon my ignorance but i asume when you talk about rotation control you mean to prevent the leading edge of the mast from turning to far and facing back?
wouldn't the side stays prevent this?

Dave

Howdy,

Now that I think about it, you may be able to get away without rigging anything for mast control. It is the compression load on the boom that puts a torque on the mast. As long as you don't run the rig too loose, the tension in the shrouds may be sufficient to keep the mast from overrotating. Give it a go, but if you dismast from the mast being at an odd angle, I'm not responsible.

David Ho
TheMightyHobie18 1067

A few things to consider when going boomless :

the length of the foot of the sail has to be shorter than the distance between the front & rear beams. This is because when you sheet in the main, the foot must be pulled out toward the rear beam as well as downward, if the foot is longer than this the foot will remain full & the leech will hook.
You will still need some form of mast rotation control / limit. Have a look at the Dart 18 for inspiration - they have a line which runs through the eyelet in the clew, a predetermined length, a little longer than the foot of the sail. Attached to this is a snapshackle which hooks onto your mast rotation limit arm, and hangs below the foot of the sail when not pulled tight. When you sheet in the mainsail your mast will rotate until this line becomes tensioned, this prevents your mast from over-rotating.
Personally I believe it`s better to keep the boom, what else can you hit the crew over the head with when they don`t listen ?

Hope this helps
Cheers
Steve