I have been looking over the rigging on my recently purchased 2004 M17 in anticipation of the first mast raising, and I notice that the boom is attached to the mast with a sliding gooseneck rather than a fixed mast bracket. The gooseneck has a ring on the bottom with two or three feet of tagline attached. I seems most logical to position it just below the entry slot with the line to a mast cleat pulling down, and the tension of the main halyard on the boltrope keeping it up. However, I envision the boom sliding to the deck when the main is lowered. I would be most grateful if someone out there could tell me how this should really be done.
Some months back I ran across a simple rigging guide for the 17 on the web, but now that I have such a boat, it has disappeared into cyberspace.
I suppose in the best of all possible worlds, detailed guides for rigging and sailing the Montgomery boats would be available on CD for $5 + S/H. Sure, trial and error eventually prevails, but being ignorant adds pain by the minute.
Thanks a bunch,
Tom Jenkins
Scintilla, M17 #626
