I got a question about how the mainsheet was set up on the Balboa.

As I recall, there is a block with a becket and a cam
cleat near the stern on the stbd side, a block
similarly located to port, and a double block attached
to a tang at the end of the boom. Tie end of line to
becket, go through boom block to port block, back
through boom block through stbd block thence through
cam cleat.

I wasn't too happy with the sheet leading from stbd on
either tack, but if you are going to retain the
roller reefing capability, that is what you end up
with.

A couple goosewing jibes convinced me that I needed a
boom vang. There are some ways to have roller reefing
and a boom vang, but none of them are good.

To eliminate roller reefing, I set up the sail for
jiffy reefing and added sail slugs. To rig the mainsheet, I have 2 single
blocks at the end of the boom and a block with a cam
cleat attached to the bottom of the boom about 4 feet
forward. My main sheet starts at the boom thru port
block, back through one block on the boom, thru stbd
block to other block on boom to block and cam cleat
foreward. I'd be happy to give you more info if you
decide to go this route.

I will take a picture when my camera gets fixed.


I got a Sailrite kit to put reef points in my
mainsail. FWIW, I found sail shape with the roller
reefing to be completely satisfactory. I also stored
the sail rolled around the boom. A 2 inch diameter
disk of sheet metal with a half inch slot cut to the
center of it made this operation easy. It held the
boom so I could just roll it.


Hope this helps.
storm

Post a comment please. I'd like to know if anybody reads this.

Hi Storm, my name is Jay, I just bought a Balboa 20...it’s a bit of a project boat, and I was just seeing if we could start up a little bit of a relationship here?

Just to ask a couple questions, or any tips (quirks) that you have found helpful with this type of boat. Maybe share some pictures of how things should look...that sort of thing.

Be happy to. Not much here yet, but I do have lots of pictures I could post. I pretty much used all my energies last summer rebuilding an 86 Suzuki Samurai into a battery powered vehicle. That job is pretty well done.

I have sailed a bunch of boats, but on balance I wouldn't trade any of them even for the Balboa. Bigger boats require more cost and maintenance. Smaller ones don't accommodate cruising as well.
My boat has the molded interior with the useless sink along the stbd side. The other version has a plywood interior with the sink in the middle. Which do you have?

The major change I made was to put "windows" in the forward part of the cabin. It made it less claustrophobic below and allowed vision forward. I also tried the starboard bunk and decided it was not useful for an adult sleeping space. It is now storage.

Let me know what I can help you with.
storm

July 4, 2006 My neighbor , Bob Kirchberger took this photo from the Island. Lots of wind!

July 12, 2006 we held "100 Sails" event on Pleasant Lake. The idea was to get the many unused sailboats onto the lake. We got about 30 boats.

We put together an event called 100 Sails on Pleasant Lake. The idea was to get all the unused sailboats out on the lake. We got over 30 boats out.