🔍 Key Concepts

• Boom fittings on masts and how they attach to the mast or spar • Difference between fittings that allow movement in one plane vs. multiple planes • Typical rigging terms used for lateral (side-to-side) and vertical (up-and-down) boom motion

💭 Think About

• Which of these fittings is normally found at the mast, at the inboard end of the boom on many sailing vessels? • Which choice describes a fitting specifically designed to let the boom swing side to side (athwartships) and also rise and fall (up and down), instead of just turning in place? • Think about where you’ve seen or heard each term used: which ones are usually lines or bands, and which is a mechanical joint?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option is a rigid mechanical joint rather than a line or strap • Confirm which fitting is commonly shown in sailboat rigging diagrams where the boom meets the mast • Eliminate any terms that usually describe ropes/pendants or bands around the mast, not an articulated joint