Hi there, hoping you guys could help me.
I have an old W1 design which I am trying to get ship shape for summer.
I am having problems attaching the boom of the wally to the mast, as it just uses a bit of rope to attach the boom to the mast.I cant seem to prevent the boom from sliding down the mast once I have tied it on.
Is there a knack to this? I have attached a picture of the boom and rope attachment. (The fatter rope in the pic is the uphaul rope which I am sure you knew).
Appreciate any assistance in advance! Sorry if the photo is too big.
put the boom in its sailing position, so the other end is pointing away from the mast - now swing that other end up so that the boom is now alongside the mast. Thread the rope around the mast and up through one of the holes, and then down another hole, around the mast and out of another hole. Have a bit of tension on it, not too much, and tie it off any way you can. Now go back to the other end of the boom and swing it back to its sailing position - you'll feel the join tensioning up as you swing it down. Experiment a bit and you'll get it right and be on the water - enjoy!
Not quite sure about rope round the mast then back thru the holes, then tying it off Easty.
Notice there are 4 holes, 2 close togther and 2 further apart with a bit of a groove between them.
I think the rope goes round the mast about 3 times first, then in one of the holes without the grooves, out the one opposite leaving a loop, then in one with the groove, under the loop and out the last hole, work excess rope out of the loop so that it's clamping the rope. Then pull the clew out and it should clamp solid, it will depend how tight you get the initial wind.
I would have the boom downwards on the mast so the clew is at the base end of the mast, then when you pull the clew up the rope around the mast is under the boom.
Ah yes Decrepit, I bow to greater memory recall - many brain cells have been destroyed since I last rigged one of them. 
- what you say sounds right. Ah, the good old days, I remember dreaming of owning a clamp on boom.
Dont bother with the tie on boom. I'm sure you could retro fit a a modern clamp on head to the arms. Should be able to pick one up for under $50.The older bolt on ones would do. Clamp on booms are soom much better.
Brilliant thanks Easty and Decrepit. I will need to re-read and digest your posts a few hundred times so the advice sinks in.
What is a "clamp on head to the arms" bender? Is that something I can use whilst still using the boom I have (ie no need to buy another boom)?
What the hell is a clew? Pardon my ignorance, am new to all this (should probably google this to appear less dumb).
Thanks again everyone.
Clew is the end of the boom furthest from the mast.
Bender's talking about buying a new/secondhand clamp on head, taking the old tie on clamp off and replacing it. It's a great idea, but you have to make sure they are the same angle. Over the years boom heads have had a lot of different angles, from about 60deg to 90deg. If you get the wrong angle head, you'll have to rebend the arms, and that can lead to failure if you kink them.
Edit, had another look at your pic, and that looks closer to 45deg, think you'd have trouble getting that angle these days.
This is what a modern boom head clamp looks like. This pic is stolen for from a broken boom arm picture(off this site) but it shows what i mean.
You could get a second hand boom for under $100 BUCKS. Visit a windsurfing shop near you. They will probably have an old boom going cheap.
Having a solid join between boom and mast can make sailing so much eaier and far more enjoyable
Interesting stuff, thanks again. I might try the set up I have for a while and then see if I can pick up a second hand clamp on boom later. If I did get a new (second hand) boom with clamp I would need to ensure it was the same length as the one I was replacing right, in order for it to fit the sail? Ie the current boom is 265cm so a replacement would need to be around the same length wouldnt it?
Really appreciate your assistance everyone.
Modern booms are adjustable, so yes, you'd need to make sure that 265 was in it's adjustable range.
Hey Haydos, yes a clamp-on is better, but it's fun to screw around these old bits in lesser winds. I still use those planks a lot in 14- knots, say. Good for general shape.
Anyhow, here's my 2 bits on the clamp thing.
- yes for aligning the boom against the mast, but definitely towards the top end of the mast. Reason is that your weight on the boom whilst you sail will compress said boom more, and not less, against the mast. It stays stronger this way.
- at least 2 rope turns around the mast. If you use an old 1-piece fiber masts, more prone to breaking if only 1 turn.
- WARNING: too much pressure as you lower the boom, and you snap the mast. Pressure is humongous there for that old equipment. I put the rig up, then lower the boom slowly as I watch the pressure point. Typically the boom stop by itself about a foot too high from the clew. From there, force it with clew rope, should be about right. Too high and you need to loosen by about 1/4" and retry.
- WARNING 2: you'd could use one of those old metal tube at the boom-mast point. You can still find those at the back of old shops - they'll give it to you. Or else, do plaster the mast there. Then no chance of break the mast.
- use the right rope. Me sailing courses tells me there are 3 kinda ropes, one of which don't stretch (can't remember the name). Use a waxed rope too.
- yes, clamps are better, but do you want to spend $100, which is the value of an entire old boards on Craigslist ?? Do sail old gear, or buy new one - that's my take.
Have fun !
^^Sounds like a good idea, just bung a bit of plastic pipe onto the mast and let the boom rest on it.
Tops stuff here people thanks for ya help!
