DaySailer.org Forum

I have a hard time keeping my boom attached to the mast. The boom has a square hole in the end which slides over a square peg connected to the mast with a universal joint. That's all that holds the boom to the mast. After I make this connection and support the rear of the boom with the scissors sticks(?) it easily falls off the mast if I'm not very careful. I like to get the boom up and out of the way while I paddle or motor from the dock or launch site. However if the sail is not put upat the dock the boom will be bumped slightly be me or my wife and fall right down.
I'm thinking of putting an eye (screw?) on each side of the boom near the front edge so I can run a very short line or bungee cord around the mast and connect to both eyes. This would keep the boom up while getting the sails straightened out and ready to raise.
Any thoughts? a better way?

If the peg on which the boom is fitted is long enough and of sufficient girth, can a hole be drilled into its end that would be large enough to receive a clevis pin? You could then secure the pin with a wing ding (round pin) or a cotter pin. It 's neater than adding more lines/ bungee cords.

I just thought of something...maybe a clevis pin is unnecessary, especially if adding it would compromise the strength of the "peg" by drilling too big a hole in it. If, however, you drilled a smaller hole, just large enough to accomodate a stouter round pin or cotter pin, that might do it, depending, of course, on the stress put on the pin.

Triatjohn,

From your description of how the attaches to the mast it sounds like the goose neck might be broken. You state that the boom end has a square opening that you put over a square peg with a universal joint on the mast. the whole assembly should be attached to the boom to slide the assembly into the mast slot. Attached is a picture of what the end of the boom should look like. The ring is on the bottom when the boom is on the mast.

Here is a the complete gooseneck part from D&R Marine http://www.drmarine.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DR116

As far as keeping the boom up on the end, you need to make a topping lift. I made mine by attaching a small cable to the mast head and running it down to the end of the boom where I attached a small block and some line to adjust the boom height.


John

John,

Our DS1 has the same gooseneck fitting that's in your photo, and the "ring" [b]should be "on the bottom when the boom is on the mast" because, of course, it's the downhaul!

I bet you have 'roller furling' (as we do) and just happen to have turned the gooseneck 'upside-down' in the photo...right?

The ring is upside down in the photo because the boom is tied to the mast for trailering. That's why I mentioned that when the boom is on the mast the ring is down. Sorry for any confusion, it was my only picture of the gooseneck.

I do have roller reefing which I do not use. I use jiffy reefing instead.

In Triathjohn's post he mentioned a square opening in the end of the boom and putting it on a square fitting attached to a toogle on the mast. Even if the boom does not have roller reefing, the whole assembly should be attached to the boom, not attached to the mast. With the assembly not attached to the boom, the boom will slide out of place if the sails are not up to hold it somewhat in place.

John

Yes, I see that the ring is upside down -- but the boom isn't! My point is that the goosneck and ring must have been turned as one would to do a roll reef because it's on the same side of the boom as the pin on the end-cap that secures the tack when bending on the mainsail. Normally, that pin is on top of the boom (as in the picture) and the ring is on the bottom. Again, in the picture the boom is NOT upside down.

Sorry for going off topic.

It's easy to give the gooseneck an accidental twist when it's one that allows rotating the boom for roll reefing. I'm sure that's what happened on the day John took the picture.

Had to look at my picture again, noticed what your looking at. Just got it twisted like GreenLake said when I tied it to the mast for trailering. When the boom attaches to the mast the downhaul ring and line are in the right place. Now I'm going to have to take a new picture to replace that one.

John

Sorry about that!

No problem, I'm suprised I didn't see it.

John

There should be a bungee cord running inside the boom to hold the gooseneck in place

Mine has the srping backing it like the one shown at the D&R Marine site.

John

If all that's broken in the gooseneck (of the original poster) is that the spring isn't working any more, then a bungee would seem to be an excellent substitute.

navahoIII wrote:I just thought of something...maybe a clevis pin is unnecessary, especially if adding it would compromise the strength of the "peg" by drilling too big a hole in it. If, however, you drilled a smaller hole, just large enough to accomodate a stouter round pin or cotter pin, that might do it, depending, of course, on the stress put on the pin.

That would be a good idea but the square peg goes straight into the end of the boom. There is no access to put in a pin as the peg is buried in the boom. I will take take some pics and post tomorrow.