Kicking strap to boom – sliding eye?

[Paul Coveney]

Quick question; is a boom sliding eye (with securing screw) suitable for running a kicking strap up to?

Like this – https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Slider-for-Boom-Width-16mm-with-Adjustment-Brand-Allen-A4258/254184707577?epid=4031216396&hash=item3b2e96d5f9:g:NZcAAOSwel5bidao

Or, should I use a more substantial bracket riveted to the boom?  Like this – https://www.pinbax.com/index.asp?Details=590&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl7z1meHS4wIVzbHtCh3PxQ9dEAQYBSABEgJwivD_BwE

I’ve both options in my spare bits boxes – but don’t want to drill and rivet the boom if I don’t have to.

 

Cheers.

 

 

[Kez]

The sliding eye with screw is what I have on my Hartley built Mk 4 so, yes!

The second one you link to with the sort of keyhole slot is suitable for pear-shaped or rounded shape booms and it allows you to disconnect the kicker really easily but it cannot be fitted to the more modern flat-sided boom.

It came with a conventional shackle linking the kicker to the boom.  I bought a small snap shackle with a bead on a very short piece of Dyneema core to allow me to disconnect the kicker with a quick tug on the bead.

If you find you cannot grind up the screw to prevent it sliding, drill a hole through the bottom of the boom (in the track) so the screw fits in and locks it.  I tapped mine with an M6 thread so the screw is very solidly connected.

[Paul Coveney]

Thanks Kez, that’s reassuring! I’ll stick with the sliding eye. Got the mast ended sort – came with the kicker shackle fitted.

 

Many thanks!

• This reply was modified 7 months ago by Paul Coveney.

[Bob Harland]

The Allen fitting in the link is not the correct one, for a Selden Wayfarer boom, the kicking strap attachment can take heavy loads.

There are two options from Selden, available from sailboats – for instance;

https://www.sailboats.co.uk/selden-heavy-duty-boom-slider-vang-511-714-03

https://www.sailboats.co.uk/selden-heavy-duty-hi-load-boom-slider

 

 

[Kez]

Paul, Bob is quite right and I will check next time I am down at the club. I certainly have the holt sliders on the main sheet but it may well be that the kicker has the stronger slider.

The heavier constructed Selden does not rely on the welds holding the D-ring to the baseplate and we crank a lot of load with the various multipliers attaching the kicker to the boom.

[Paul Coveney]

Thanks guys. Yes, I came across that Selden one too, and thought it looked a bit more like it. Just ordered one. Cheers.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 4 weeks ago by Paul Coveney.

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