Old style boom to mast tie-on instructions:

[kzdupre]

Just found this after days of searching. I'd love some photos but I'll try to make a video when I know it works but it sounds pretty good so far!


Boom to mast if a tie on type:
Stand the mast up and hold it close to you. At the point where it is level with your sternum grab the mast with one hand and line up your thumb with your sternum. Lay the mast down holding onto the marked spot. You will be tying the rope on just above the point where your thumb is.

Now take your rope and make a loop with it, lining up the ends of the rope. Now loop the rope around the mast and thread the ends through the loop. Do this again so that you have two loops around the mast and the ends are through the loop. Snug the rope against the loop ensuring that the loops around the mast are laying flat to the mast and not crossing except at the rope loop.

(EDIT: This is also known as a 'prussic knot' and videos can be found as climbers use this knot a lot. The only difference is that instead of tying off the line first, wait to tie off last through your boom head, see the upcoming bit about the 'square knot'...)

Now take your boom and determine which side should be on top. For all booms, where the adjustment pins and holes are on the tail, these should always be down to allow water to drain. Slide the tail of the boom over the mast and work the boom head down to the rope on the mast. The mast should be under the boom head and over the tail of the boom and the boom should be laying parallel to the mast. There should be two holes in the boom head. Thread one of the two rope ends through each of the holes. Now tie a square knot in the ropes. Square knot is - With a rope in each hand, put right hand rope over left and loop (just like tying your shoes), then take left hand rope over the right and loop (just like tying your shoes only backwards) (unless your are a lefty and you do it opposite
Tighten the knot.

Now grab the mast above the boom with your right hand and lift. Grab the boom about 18" from the mast with your left and swing the boom away from the mast. The rope should be tightening and wedging the boom to the mast. If it feels too tight, back up and loosen the square knot a bit. If you get the boom to where you are able to connect the outhaul and it is loose, back up and tighten the square knot.

Happy rigging!