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The Boom Kicker did not work out too well on the 2013 boat because of the rotating mast. I'm not even all that sure that a boom vang will work well with that mast.

But it does not matter because the rotating mast more than makes up for the speed that would ever be gained by the vang.

As for the boom kicker - I really really WANTED one because I HATE TOPPING LIFT! But I had to succumb to the fact that my Boom Kicker was going to interfere with the rotation of the mast.

I MUCH prefer a Boom Kicker over a topping lift.

Maybe I may have missed something, Boom kicker should be mounted to base of mast so it turns with the rotating mast.
Object is to support boom and has to turn with mast. There are other ways to mount on deck with track and rollers but thats not for these boats.
Dave

BOAT wrote:The Boom Kicker did not work out too well on the 2013 boat because of the rotating mast. I'm not even all that sure that a boom vang will work well with that mast.

But it does not matter because the rotating mast more than makes up for the speed that would ever be gained by the vang.

As for the boom kicker - I really really WANTED one because I HATE TOPPING LIFT! But I had to succumb to the fact that my Boom Kicker was going to interfere with the rotation of the mast.

I MUCH prefer a Boom Kicker over a topping lift.

I complained at the factory that I did not like topping lifts. I told them I wanted a Kicker. They said I could install one on my own if I wanted but if it effected mast rotation I was going to need the topping lift. I HATE topping lift! but I gave in to their logic and went ahead and ordered topping lift. I may test the kicker anyways (because i already have one leftover from my old boat) IF IT fits okay (my last boat did not have a rotating mast).

The extra performance of the rotating mast is more important to me than the unsightliness of a topping lift or the convenience of the Kicker. (I really love the Boom Kicker – they are so modern (and I like the modern stuff). But I’m not willing to give up any performance even for a Kicker so I went ahead and told them to install that ugly topping lift.

We will see what happens when I get into some rough stuff. We don’t start sea trials until December. March is the month that will really test the equipment so I’m just not sure yet what will work and what will not work. It always takes a long time to properly outfit a new boat – It’s not something I do in a hurry. You never know what you really need until you need it.

To each his own. Frankly I find the boomkicker less versatile and looks silly. Topping lift is a $15 hunk of line that runs down from the top of the mast with a clip on the end. Much cheaper than a kicker. Never found it to get in the way or unsightly. Bazillion dollar boats have 'em.

BTW, the folks at boomkicker seem to have mounted one on a Mac M with rotating mast.



--Russ

Yes Russ, I agree that the Kicker will indeed work on the 2013 boat and there is a boomkicker model for the M. I am a BIG fan of the boom kicker because it provided an extra adjustment to my vang for light winds. My previous boat was a fat ugly pig and getting some curve into the main on a broad reach really helped. I would set the kicker to lift the boom to foil my sail.. (The damn boat was so heavy I could not get it to tilt 2 degrees to spill a light wind. The sail just sat thier like a big straight sheet of cardboard even with the vang released!

Anyways, that boat is long gone.

The factory said they had not fully tested and would only garantee performance specs with the ugly topping lift. I think they said they have plans to fully test it at a later date. I just figured like you did, hey, it's cheap, and I'll hang that ugly thing off the mast until I can test it for myself. It was the the articulation between the BOOM and the mast in light winds they were concerned about, not the articulation of the mast rotating to the deck. In my mind I figured well then why even use a vang? (Then I noticed that Rogers boat does not even HAVE a vang!) So I guess that answered that.

BOAT wrote:The factory said they had not fully tested and would only garantee performance specs with the ugly topping lift.

"The Factory" is Mike Inmon's "sales at the factory" dealership. MacGregegor yachts doesn't even sell a headsail with the boat and they don't sell to the public. It's pretty stripped when it reaches a dealer.

Looking the thing, it's gotta be super easy to install. They are an advertiser here, so just click the add above and buy one yourself. Get a drill and an hour and you'll have it installed. The photo above is from boomkicker's site. Looks like anyone can install one of these.

--Russ

Yeah, I saw that - it looks really good. I'm gonna get one.

The PO had a boo kicker installed. Yanked it off in favor of the topping lift.

Bob

A dealer near us has two models of pre-configured Boomkicker's in their on-line catalog (Dowsar Marine, Hamilton, Ontario). One for the M, and the other for the X. Make sure you end up with the correct type.
There are also equivalents to the Boomkicker that employ a piston-type setup, that you might want to check out.
A good option to have if you use a bimini on the boat.

I was always curious about the boom-kicker but the vang with the topping lift works fine for me. I also like the topping lift's simplicity - a line ties to both ends. Mine is fancied up with a brass hood to the boom. I went all out

I've occasionally considered the boomkicker, also, but I have too many things that I need to spend money on, so I'll just keep working with the topping lift. To unclutter the mast, though, I'm thinking about just terminating it at the top of the mast instead of bringing it down to a cleat on the mast. Maybe a lighter piece of line than what's on there now. I don't ever adjust the length of it except at the boom itself, so I don't need the extra line and cleat on the mast.

In fact, the only thing I ever use the jib halyard for is to raise the mast, and I could use the spin halyard for that, or just a single piece of line deadended at the same hound termination. Something like Amsteel - strong but unobtrusive. I just have too many lines cluttering up the bottom of the mast, and I could really use some lazy jacks, which would only make it worse.

Crikey wrote:A dealer near us has two models of pre-configured Boomkicker's in their on-line catalog (Dowsar Marine, Hamilton, Ontario). One for the M, and the other for the X. Make sure you end up with the correct type.
There are also equivalents to the Boomkicker that employ a piston-type setup, that you might want to check out.
A good option to have if you use a bimini on the boat.

Beene & I have the Garhaurer rigid vang very nice set up this is Beene's boat


J

Nice looking boat that....

G

Nice boat, Beene.

A simple suggestion if you will allow…

If you notch your shroud covers (just a small 1” or so “V” cut at the bottom where they meet) it will allow them to slide and converge a bit farther down to cover the ring dings and keep them from catching on anything. A simple snip snip on the bottom of each one and yer done.

I did this on mine, it looks neat and tidy; I like to keep my ring dings covered.

But then, I don’t wear a kilt either. Ooo.

- Brian.

It would seem to me that, for those who have a boom kicker and are having difficulty with the mast pivoting properly to align with the mainsail (and thus the boom) you could modify the articulating attachment point where the mast and boom kicker meet to solve the problem.

Just something to increase the friction (or limit its range of movement) at this point to enhance the aligning effect of the mast and boom along that axis.

I have a vang, no kicker, and very much like the topping lift. The hook on the line keeps the boom at the exact height for handling and use while preparing to sail. I can instantly adjust the height up when motoring or resting by wrapping as many times as I need to around the boom cleat (usually once). It makes putting more than one hook on the line unnecessary, and it's faster.

I also like the graceful curve it makes while sailing- I like its look on other boats and always have, so I want that on mine too.

The Beneteau I regularly sail on has both a topping lift, and a combined boom kicker/boom vang, I presume like yours, John and Beene. Redundancies.

- Brian.