Rrd boom head diameter

[gerritt]

Since you said please... and with the caveat that I am not an engineer and have not conducted any scientific studies. My observations are anecdotal and come from 32 years of windsurfing experience.

It's fairly simple: Point Loading, which can occur on shore as well when one is not cognizant of aligning the boom head with the mast prior to closing the level and applying enough pressure (friction?) between the boom head and mast to keep it in place. Depending the the design of the boom head and the strength of the mast, this can occur more or less easily.

Combing the above with the myriad of variables in play while attempting the maneuver while out at sea (or river as the case may be), one can easily wind up closing the boom while not in line, thereby applying point loading in the process of jamming on the f***ing lever to get the damn thing closed while getting pushed about by the copy water. Keeping the outhaul tensioned before closing the boom lever increases the odds of misalignment and point loading. Even if you are riding negative outhaul sails, a sail down in the water will be loaded, and unloaded, and loaded again via the water's action.

Why are you even debating this? You said you took a swim yourself. I'm not sure a skinny mast is the cure all you seem to believe it is. I've seen a skinny go for what a sailor initially claimed was a JSA situation. Upon further inquiry, he admitted having just readjusted his boom in the water about 5 minutes prior to the mast failing. Said failure occurred at the mast boom connection point.

I can't say how likely it is. I learned the lesson the hard way many moons ago. Sounds like you did too. It's no fun. If you think the risk is worth the reward, then that is your choice. Others are free to decide for themselves. Denying the risk exists is silly.

[kevinkan]

[isobars]