Anyone use boom grips/springs ??

Anyone ever used boom grips/springs to adjust their out outhauls? Are they any good? I’m looking for some alternatives, because grommets (what I use now) work great, but are a pain to adjust.

http://www.gbmy.com/189.jpg
http://www.sailsetc.com/fitboom/42.gif

Sure. Use them on Yankee III (illustrated) and my 36 in Restricted free sail boat. Work like a charm. What do you need to know?

Cheers,

Earl

Hi earl,[ul]
[li]Do the grips hold their position well, or do they constantly need to be adjusted? [/li][li]Can they be adjusted with your fingers, or do you need to use a pair of pliers?[/li][*]Do you use these standalone, or in conjunction with a string loop around the boom?[/ul]If they work as well as i think they can, I might have to make a trip down to the hobby store to pick up some spring steel. They don?t look very hard to make.

For those that are wondering, this is the outhaul control method I currently use.

This is the method im considering.

I have troubles with Rubber Grommets, after some time they get “dry” and brake easily :sad: I guess UV isnt helping much

Dan Sherman asked:

**Do the grips hold their position well, or do they constantly need to be adjusted?

They stay put. I use .035 spring stainless from Small Parts, wound on a mandrel 3/32 in diam less than the boom diameter. For 1122 arrow shaft this works out to a convenient 1/4 in. I use them just about anywhere one would use a bowsie on a spar. Much neater and more positive, and you can mark positions easily.

**Can they be adjusted with your fingers, or do you need to use a pair of pliers?

Fingers. See illustration. Pinch to loosen. For a little more grip I put a piece of heat shrink tubing.

**Do you use these standalone, or in conjunction with a string loop around the boom?

Standalone.

Cheers,

Earl

Earl,

Thanks for the info I greatly appreciate it.

Hi,
I’ve used the Sailsetc grips on about six IOM rigs and find them very good. To make the adjustment more comfortable and a bit more precise I cyano’d a small fishing bead in the ‘non hook’ end, and it works a treat.

Cheers

Ralph

I made this boom spring today, cost me about 8 cents and 5 minutes by my calculation.

I just finished a tutorial showing how I make boom springs.

http://www.shermanyachts.com/informational/bspring/