Boom boom boom.

[lw395]

I have a dinghy boom that has nearly failed in much the same way, a split from a mainsheet fitting in the middle of the bottom of the boom.
We stopped sailing when the split was visibly growing every time we hit a big wave.
I think it must have failed at about 15 years.
A new boom for a dinghy is 'only' about £250, but I considered just buying a length of ali tube and transferring the fittings, dremeling a few slots etc, but in the event it was quicker to work the extra hours and buy a new one. At least the new one has the failure point designed out!
These days we are moving away from complex extrusions with sail slots and fitting tracks, to plain tubes, with sheets and kickers attached by canvas slings.
How much is a carbon one?

 

[knuterikt]

This boom broke during a SH race and was welded during a pit stop while my boat was with the PO.

The boom was in use for several years before we replaced it with a new one.

This is corrosion where the bails are attached, you can see the new crack starting at the weld, likely that the original crack started at the same spot.

Same boom lazy jack eye, this is newer than the boom itself.

Behind the same fitting.

 

[capnsensible]

Before I unpacked the new boom, I knew it wouldn't fit.........

End stripped out and gone off for machining. Gloom.

Still, that's par. Picked up a new headsail for another yacht on Friday. Yup, doesn't fit.

Not my measurements!!!!!

 

[haydude]

No real sign until boom folded except a bit powdery on the rivets.

£630 for new boom, delivery £ 200 and £31 import duty........... :ambivalence:

White powder is a tell tale, most do not realize that it is aluminium oxide, in practical terms it is aluminium "rust". Just because it is prettier than the orange stuff we are use to it does not mean it is less damaging. Stainless steel fittings fixed to aluminium poles also cause galvanic corrosion. When fitting we must take precaution to electrically isolate the stainless steel using aluminium rivets and a bed of sikaflex.

 

[capnsensible]

Yeah, I always use Duralac. Wonder why the spar guys didn't...........