Boom end fitting

[Warren Kaplan]

The aft end of the boom has a fitting or "end cap". Mine has some heavy corrosion on it and I want to take it off to refinish it. I see a single screw on the bottom of the boom in that area. I also have the mainsheet bale, where the mainsheet block attaches to the boom going clean through the boom at that area. I don't know if this "end cap" extends far enough inside the boom to be involved with either the screw on the bottom of the boom or the bolt that holds the mainsheet bale in place. Has anyone ever taken the end cap off? How did you do it? Am I gonna' have to smack it with a mallet to get it out because of corrosion, or, will it slip right out if something like a screw is loosened? With the rain predicted for the northeast this weekend I want to take as many fittings home and work on them inside where its warm and dry or I'll never finish these repairs.
Thanks.

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY



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[Bill Goldsmith]

Warren,

I don't have a measurement for you, but there's a pretty dark picture of the "outhaul casting" at the end of the following page:

http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/Spartan_Sp ... _boom.html

It might give you a rough idea of how far it extends. I would probably play it safe and remove all bolts and screws nearby so you're not working against yourself. The corrosion won't be too bad aluminum to aluminum--the problem will be where the steel screwa and bolts went through. Knowing you are a Tef-Gel aficionado, don't forget some on reassembly!!

Bill

The aft end of the boom has a fitting or "end cap". Mine has some heavy corrosion on it and I want to take it off to refinish it. I see a single screw on the bottom of the boom in that area. I also have the mainsheet bale, where the mainsheet block attaches to the boom going clean through the boom at that area. I don't know if this "end cap" extends far enough inside the boom to be involved with either the screw on the bottom of the boom or the bolt that holds the mainsheet bale in place. Has anyone ever taken the end cap off? How did you do it? Am I gonna' have to smack it with a mallet to get it out because of corrosion, or, will it slip right out if something like a screw is loosened? With the rain predicted for the northeast this weekend I want to take as many fittings home and work on them inside where its warm and dry or I'll never finish these repairs.
Thanks.

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY

goldy@bestweb.net

[Chris Schnell]

Warren...I removed the end-cap last year on our CD30, #235, when I lopped 8" off the end of the boom. I'm 6'4" and that end-cap kept taking the skin off my nose, so...off it came. If I remember correctly, it extends a good 2-3" into the boom. I believe mine had a screw on the bottom as well as one on each side just above the seam that's about 1/2 way up. Having a jiffy reefing system, I had to remove that as well to relocate. The whole process only took me a few hours (removing, sawing, filing, reinstalling all hardware), and I don't remember any resistance removing the end-cap, though I had a rubber mallet available. Wish I'd had my digital camera last year to capture the process. Really & truly....no big deal. Good Luck

Full Sails & Calm Seas,

Chris Schnell & Dale Hampton
s/v MADNESS III, CD30, #235
Southport, NC



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