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'Ordered a boomkicker from the forum catalog .... before it gets here, making some rigging changes to accomodate the new addition. Five questions, ....
How strong is the upward support of the boom ?
I see the 'kicker is flexible, and bends when the vang is tightened, but is there a hard stopping point, or is it just flexy all the way.
In other words, could the boom resist if pulled down by hand from the back end ?
Would it support a boom tent with some tension on the tent to keep it tight ?
If not , I would probably still keep the topping lift, for that and other reasons.

Answers in red, ALX.

ALX357 wrote:'Ordered a boomkicker from the forum catalog .... before it gets here, making some rigging changes to accomodate the new addition. One question, .... (Looks like 4 to me! )

How strong is the upward support of the boom ? Pretty dang strong!

I see the 'kicker is flexible, and bends when the vang is tightened, but is there a hard stopping point, or is it just flexy all the way. Well, it's flexy all the way, but obviously it gets a *lot* harder to pull it down the further you go.

In other words, could the boom resist if pulled down by hand from the back end ? Absolutely.

Would it support a boom tent with some tension on the tent to keep it tight ? I think so, yeah. It's a pretty stiff piece of stuff.

If not , I would probably still keep the topping lift, for that and other reasons.

The boomkicker/vang mod is a wonderful thing.
But where I user to place a hand on the boom as I stepped forward, I've almost slipped twice with the boomkicker because it lets the boom move, where the topping lift was solid.
I tihink I'm puttin my topping lift back on.

agreed.

My boomkicker is not enough to stop my lard when slipping downward...... it drops allows the boom almost to the decktop...

My mast and boomkicker will not support my weight, but I can use the ***boom**** as a handhold when coming down from cabin top to cockpit..I weigh 220#, 200# in soccer season .....

Edited 'mast' to 'boom' ...thanks Scott

yeah,.....


and probably fit.......

and under 40........

and intelligent.........



So since I am not getting healthier quickly,

nor younger,

and have no hope to be more coordinated and smarter...let alone play soccer....

I better put on a topping lift.......

Ditto argonaut's comments. I really like my boomkicker because when sailing, you have better control over the shape of things. I ran the vang line back to the cockpit so it is easy to adjust for the best performance.

BUT, it takes some getting used to if you use the boom to steady yourself when moving around or climbing up on the deck. I still have my boom lift tied up to the mast support in case I need to go back to using it, but this winter I will probably drop the mast and get rid of the lift.

My Garhauer rigid vang can't fully support my weight either. Neither is designed to.

But the 26X won't need a topping lift for that application, just a pigtail on the backstay.

yeah,.....


and probably fit.......

(Strike 1) - sucked bad wind after 5 staircases at MIT today....

and under 40........

(Strike 2)

and intelligent.........

(Strike 3 - with the 'backwards mounting halyard clutch incident as the latest evidence)

You are OUT wnw.........

Frank C.

When sailing in heavy sea's with the Garhauer rigid vang compressed tight I can swing on my boom no problem

Cheers John

Me too JH ... that mainsail filled w/ wind is helping tho!

I can swing on my boom no problem

..... ya, but you have to run around in the shower to get wet

How strong is the upward support of the boom ?

Enough to hold it up with the thinner Fex rods. If you use the thicker nes you will be able to swing from it but you wont be able to trim your vang

Question I see the 'kicker is flexible, and bends when the vang is tightened, but is there a hard stopping point, or is it just flexy all the way.

No there is noo stopping point I can attest to this as I have fallen on my boom and it went all the way to the coaming.

Question In other words, could the boom resist if pulled down by hand from the back end ?

It will resist but you can pull it down

Question Would it support a boom tent with some tension on the tent to keep it tight ?

Yes we do this all the time for sun shade and overnight camping

Arrow If not , I would probably still keep the topping lift, for that and other reasons.

Gotta love the Kicker, I do.

Catigale says"

My mast and boomkicker will not support my weight, but I can use the mast as a handhold when coming down from cabin top to cockpit..I weigh 220#, 200# in soccer season .....

You must have really long arms!

just call me Magilla......

'Received my BoomKicker today. I'm impressed, looks like excellent quality, well designed.
The kit says it recommends a cordless drill for the tapping bit, but that's crazy. Fortunately I already have a tap wrench that is small enough to hold the 10/24 tap supplied. I guess they didn't want to tell you to buy another tool.
Cordless drill the pilot hole, yes, BUT you can't ( I wouldn't ) run a tap slow enough and careful enough with a cordless drill, even set to turtle speed.
The instructions say to mount it such and such a distance from the front of the boom extrusion, and gives a short range of inches. I will mark the suggested distance, try the boom angle there, etc.
Does anyone that is satisfied with their mounting have any suggestions, ?? especially if they differ from the provided instruction sheet, (which says 20 5/8" ~ 23 1/2" from the front of the boom excluding the gooseneck, to the leading edge of the 'Kicker's boom fitting. )
It needs to be mounted high enough to clear the Bimini when it is adjusted to standing height underneath, but also be able to function as a sail trim, Si ? Or is it best to let the topping lift continue to do the over-the-bimini support job ? Seems the mast fitting could have been an adjustable thumb-nut like that of the sail slug stop's....
Second Guess dept. Would I have been better served with the Garhauer Rigid Vang thang ?