I've just purchased a 1973 e25 and I would like to lower the mast. I have read the book entiled "raising and lowering the ericson/25 mast." My problem deals with the boom guys, (referred to in step # 7, in "Preparing the mast for rasing") and step # 5, in ("lowering the mast"). I don't believe I have boom guys, unless they are part of the standing rigging and I don't realize it. If I make them, I don't know how long they should be, If they must be made of steal cable, and how strong they should be. Also, when lowering the mast the book does not say what to attach the boom guys to. The book says to attach them to the link plates on the upper shrouds in " preparing the mast for raising," is this the same attatchment point for lowering the mast? It is hard to tell in the picture what and where the "link plates" are. I am assuming that they are located at the juncture of the boat and the cables which connect the top of the mast to the sides of the boat.
Last concern; someone was responded to about a stop which prevents the boom from sliding down the mast during "mast lowering," in the book it does not mention a stop. It says to "secure the gooseneck to a fixed position by tying the line to a halyard cleat."(in the picture, the other end of the line is tied to the gooseneck). Is this not enough to stop the boom from sliding down, if not, if I reposition my downhaul cleat to just below the mast, do you think it would prevent movement? Any wisdom you can provide me with would be tremendously appreciated.
Last concern; someone was responded to about a stop which prevents the boom from sliding down the mast during "mast lowering," in the book it does not mention a stop. It says to "secure the gooseneck to a fixed position by tying the line to a halyard cleat."(in the picture, the other end of the line is tied to the gooseneck). Is this not enough to stop the boom from sliding down, if not, if I reposition my downhaul cleat to just below the mast, do you think it would prevent movement? Any wisdom you can provide me with would be tremendously appreciated.
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