# Boomkin

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
right|300px|thumb|A boomkin projecting from the bow of {{HMS|Surprise}} (in center of image)
A '''boomkin''', '''bumkin''', or '''bumpkin''' is a short [spar](/source/spar_(sailing)) that may project either fore or aft on a sailing vessel, depending on its function.<ref name="Mayne 2018">{{cite book
| last        = Mayne
| first       = R.
| title       = The Language of Sailing
| publisher   = Taylor & Francis
| year        = 2018
| isbn        = 978-1-135-96565-5
| url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=3nh0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA34
| access-date = 13 November 2024
| page        = 34
}}</ref> Traditionally, it was a strong, usually wooden spar extending forward over the bow of a Western [sailing ship](/source/sailing_ship) holding a [block](/source/Block_(sailing)) through which the tack of the foresail was passed; on some modern sailing yachts with long main booms it is a short spar extending aft from the stern anchoring a central [backstay](/source/backstay).<ref name=Goodwin>{{Cite book
| title      = The construction and fitting of the English man of war, 1650–1850
| last       = Goodwin
| first      = Peter G.
| authorlink = Peter Goodwin (maritime author)
| year       = 1987
| pages      = 223–225
| publisher  = Conway
| place      = London
| url        = https://books.google.com/books?id=ca1j_JcZdRUC&q=boomkin&pg=PA224
| isbn       = 0-87021-016-5
}}</ref>

Historically, boomkins were employed in pairs, one on either side of the vessel, often canted downwards over the main head-rail.  Originally butted at their inboard ends against a [knighthead](/source/Glossary_of_nautical_terms_(A-L)), bolting prevailed since the end of the 18th century.

They are not to be confused with [cathead](/source/cathead)s, heavy wooden beams on either side of a traditional vessel's bow angled forward at roughly 45 degrees which support the ship's anchors when being raised or lowered.

== History ==
thumb|Photo of the mizzen sail boomkin on 1980 Drascombe Lugger Onkahye sliding gunter rig yawl
Traditional boomkins found on English sailing vessels gradually evolved from 1710 until around 1850.<ref name=Goodwin />
* 1710–1730 CE: The first boomkins were generally {{convert|6|ft}} to {{convert|8|ft}} long, usually square in cross section, untapered, at one inch in width per foot of length.
* 1730–1780 CE: The boomkin grew longer, with an octagonal inboard end and a circular outboard end tapering to 3/4 its initial diameter by its tip.
* 1780–1805 CE: The boomkin often became circular in cross section from base to tip.
* 1805 CE: The boomkin's inboard end was made half-round and generally bolted to rather than butted against the knighthead.  An iron band with eyelets for (typically three) boomkin [shrouds](/source/shrouds) was also introduced.
* 1825 CE: The boomkin reverted to being square-edged, usually one inch wider than it was high. It also gained an additional eyelet for securing a slip.
* 1850 CE and beyond: The boomkin began to appear at a vessel's [stern](/source/stern) to provide either an attachment point for a [backstay](/source/backstay) or the [sheet](/source/Sheet_(sailing)) of sail flown from a [mizzen](/source/Mast_(sailing)) mast.
* 1967: Drascombe Lugger yawls designed with boomkins as an attachment point for sail flown from the mizzen.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://smallboatrestoration.blogspot.com/p/drascombe-lugger.html Drascombe Lugger yawl]

{{Sail Types}}
Category:Nautical terminology
Category:Sailboat components
Category:Sailing rigs and rigging

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Boomkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomkin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomkin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.