Help with rigging old Mosquito

Hi, I recently purchased an old wooden mosquito. I am new to Cats. I think it is from the early 80's. The hulls are in good shape but the rigging seems to be missing bits. There are quite a few holes in the aluminum and only two cleats on the front of the tramp frame mounted to take rope from the bow. I hope it is ok to ask a few questions!

How do I attach the boom correctly? The gooseneck rod slides in to boom but then there is nothing to attack the boom? Should I just rope it off? The mask end of the boom is cut diagonal, is this correct or is there something missing? I would expect it to simply lock in to a universal joint on the mast.

I have two booms but neither shows any mechanism for locking to gooseneck!

Does mast pivot have to be restricted?
Should the mask move synchronized with the boom?
IS there special equipment required to allow standing rigging to pivot and if so should I prevent all mast pivot for now?
What is the correct use of the mast arm?

Any help would be very much appreciated

cheers
Joe

Joey,

Welcome to the Mosquito class. I hope you have many great adventures on your Mozzie. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Ask away. That's exactly what this forum is for. Everyone who visits and contibutes on this forum are only too willing to provide assistance no matter how small the issue. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The gooseneck rod does just slide onto the boom which should have an end fitting with a matching hole. If you have a boom vang then it will stay in position and won't come out.

If you don't have any fittings on the boom then it's off to the chandler to get some new fittings. Check out the Ronstan catalogue on line to see what you need.
http://www.ronstan.com/marine/range.asp?RnID=114

Mast rotation will only be restricted by the diamond wires and everyone is always trying to get maximum free mast rotation. Yes there has to be some limitation of mast rotation otherwise the sail won't align with the back of the mast section and there may even be too much stress on the mast. The amount of mast rotation relative to the boom and sail is limited by the rotation bar located on the mast just below the boom. I think that's what you call the mast arm. A piece of 6 mm dia. rope is mounted on a saddle rivetted off the boom just rearward of and close to the end of the mast rotation bar. The rope is then passed through a small pulley on the rear end of the bar then back onto a cleat mounted on the boom. This will limit the mast rotation and provide some means for adjusting when sailing.

If you need more pics just visit the Mozzie website.
http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/v...gAnch=imgAnch17

Good luck with sorting out the setup and getting out on the water.

Regards,

Peter

Hi Joey

I think were on the same page! But when the boom is fitted to the gooseneck, it should hold itself on when the mainsail is attached. There probably isn't anything else to lock the boom on.

The rotation arm is usually attached to the boom via a small sheet which is adjustable (with cleat) This way the mast will follow the boom as the main is released, or the rotator arm can be released or adjusted for different modes of sailing. So the mast is limited in rotation with this anyway.

The standing rigging should still allow the mast to be rotated, the normal hound fitting has the attach points on the front surface of the mast. So theres nothing special that I'm aware of. Flick through recent threads on this forum, you'll find some info on the mast hounds and diamond attachment points.

Regards

Hi, seems like a good time to ask a question in regard to rigging.

My newly painted Mosi 1658 [to be named "On the Fritz"] has a jib luff downhaul. Pic attached.

I haven't noticed them on other Mosi's, are they in common use or can I remove them and just set the jib luff tension of the beach ?

Paul

Gday Paul

I could probably be corrected on this but, I've sailed a few sloop boats, we never had a downhaul for the jib, unless you really want it, I would set up from the beach.

Nice job on the boat by the way! Did you do it yourself? Really good finish.

Regards

Matt

Hi Matt,

thanks for that I think I will remove them.

Yes, I finished the boat myself, stripped back both hulls to bare timber, then all the pain of filling, sanding, painting, hate to add up all the hours...

I should do a bit more of a final sand and polish,but I am going sailing as soon as it gets a bit warmer. [Canberra !]

Paul

Paul,

Before you get rid of the luff control try it out in a few races. It probably won't be needed in heavy weather but it may make all the difference to jib shape and the jib slot in medium to light winds. Our club champion has luff control and uses it to his advantage. When you're looking for those extra metres it might just be the thing that gets you over the line first. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter

Hi Peter

Thanks for the help and advice. Much appreciated.

Another quick question if you don't mind! I want to get her sailing on the weekend. I have all necessary blocks but no rivet gun yet. Do you see any issue with lashing a block to the boom using D ring and spectra as a temporary measure (for vang and boom rotation arm connection) until I get a bracket pop riveted on?

Cheers
Joe

G'day Joey,

Where do you come from?

If you're going to be anywhere near Lake Bonney, Barmara, S.A., on the weekend of 30/09 & 01/10 a group of Mozzie sailors will be there and would be only too happy to look at your boat and help you with what is required to get it going. You could also look at some other boats and get ideas you might like to try. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi Paul,

I had a similar system on my sloop rigged Mossie and the crew adjusted it a fair bit, downwind to upwind as the forestay went slacker downwind, tighter upwind and for different wind strengths. Some newer Mossies use a single line system from the Halyard down the mast, which is not so obvious but does the same thing.

Hey if you are in Canberra keep in touch with any regattas worth coming to, as you are only 5hrs. away for Tim and 4hrs for Neil, I wouldn't mind doing some either, although I don't have a Mossie these days. I can help with rig set up though <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />.
Maybe you could visit down here, (Gippsland Lakes) some time it's warmer <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Regards Gary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hi Col,

Sounds like a very practical suggestion. Unfortunately I live too far away. I live in Ballina, Northern NSW. I will check if there are any Mosquito's in the local Ballina YC.

Thanks for the suggestion

Cheers
Joe

Joe,

It appears that Mozzies are really coming out of the sheds/backyards/cobwebs. We are seeing some phenomenal growth. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

As for lashing a block to the boom and using a D ring and spectra for mast rotation control, try tying the spectra around the boom and put the D ring and block on the end of the mast rotation spanner then run the spectra back onto the boom and tie it off. At least it will give you some measure of mast rotation control all be it temporary. Set the mast rotation to match the leeward curve of the sail before you leave the beach; it's just a starting point.

Did you get your gooseneck problem sorted out ? You don't want that to get free and out of control.

Regards,

Peter

You should consider the Cat Challenge at Lake Cootharaba (near Noosa on QLD Sunshine Coast). I will be there on my mosquito and, as the name suggests, there will be plenty of other cats to look at for ideas. It's on 4-5th November.

Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club

Hi Joe,

are you near Forster NSW? Come along to the Great Lakes S.C. this weekend and look for the Botany Blue F16 and say hello, I can probably help you with some of the questions.

Regards Gary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Paul,

regarding your sail Number.....interesting as I have owned 1658 since i took delivery of it some 20 odd years back from Bruce Carter......hoping you have just made a typo or maybe you need to check the history of your boat.

Other than that, welcome to Mossies and hope we can help.

DD

DD, indeed a typo, 1651 is the correct number.

Hi Peter

Lashing worked fine thanks and the issue with the gooseneck was resolved (until my three year old sent the rod section to the bottom of the lake).

I am having problems finding a replacement rod section or the whole gooseneck unit to match the track. I am no where near a chandlery so I have to do my shopping on the internet. Are all mossie goosenecks standard (I have two masts + two booms and they are)? Any idea where I would source this part (without having to replace the track on both masts)? Ronstan gear does not see to do this!

Thanks for your assistance

Cheers
Joe

p.s Very impressive sailing boat. I was very nicely suprised

Hi Joey

You would possibly be looking a Riley Fitting, RM 85, Pin type gooseneck with slide to fit RM 103 track, spring loaded plunger pin locates slide in position on track. Pin diameter 9.5mm. Find someone who stocks Riley, possibly whitworths.com.au or binksonline.com.au, and you can buy over internet.

Regards

Thanks Matt, Much appreciated

Cheers
Joe

I may have given you a bit of a bum steer with whitworths or binks, I've just had a look and couldn't find them. Are you in Vic? Not that it probably matters anyway but, get onto www.victoriansailingsupplies.com.au, fellas name is Matt Kelly, he'll help you out, no worries. Good Bloke, and good friend of mine, should have suggested him first off, but I was thinking more of online shopping. SORRY just looked back and saw your in NSW, but still that won't matter, you can still order through VSS.

Regards

Joe,

Sounds like your 3 year old had the most fun <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.
Also sounds like the gooseneck travels on a sliding track. Is that correct ? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> Haven't seen that setup since my days of sailing scow Moths. Most of the Mozzies have a fixed gooseneck position and adjust the downhaul constantly with a pulley system for sail flatness/fullness. See link to image below.
http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/v...gAnch=imgAnch17
The gooseneck fitting is rivetted to the mast and your 3 year old will never be able to remove it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

If you really want to just replace the missing part and don't think that it's a Rostan Fitting then try making an enquiry with Riley via the link below:

http://www.rileyfittings.com/index.html

If you think that the gooseneck system replacement is justified then Australian High Performance Catamarans (AHPC) can mail orders anywhere. The gooseneck system in the image is from AHPC. http://www.ahpc.com.au/home.htm Just mention that it is for a Mozzie and it should be easy to fit assuming that you have a rivetting gun. I phoned AHPC for a hound fitting on Wednesday and had the part delivered on Friday.

Regards,

Peter <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've given the product number from Riley in my earlier post, I don't think you'll be able to order the fitting direct, and website is not much good for gaining specific information. The catalogue I am refering to is the latest.
Peter is right though, if you want a more modern, fixed fitting the AHPC gooseneck would be the way to go, you would looking at $75.00 for a AHPC gooseneck, I don't know what your replacement Riley fitting would be.

Regards