Found a crack in my boom

I would re configure the kicker attachment differently to that proposed by others
First think laterally & apply the stress in a different place
Make a "U shaped piece & rivet it to the SIDES of the boom, not the underside
I am sure you should be able to find something in dinghy chandlers if you cannot find anything for a "U"
You could in fact have 2 seperate strips bent so that they met in the middle

If you are really in trouble & want a repair to last for a while until you can get a replacement boom then buy a length of builders strap ( BAT strap approx 32 * 3mm thick -do not need 5mm th) from Travis Perkins for under a fiver. It is galvanised & already drilled. Put a 250 mm or so piece on each side & crank them inwards so they meet & join them where they pick up the vang with a shackle. try to get the fixing a bit further along the boom than the crack so you do not emphasise the stress point
The important part is to get the angle correct. To do this put the boom level & then mark the angle using a piece of string from the kicker attachment point to the point where you want it to meet the boom
Try to get the rivets in the upper " compression" sides of the boom rather than the lower " tension" position

There are so many old dumped wrecks about these days, a second hand boom should be obtainable given a few weeks to find one
 
you can repair the boom by reinforcing it as others have suggested. However, you also need to stop the crack from getting bigger by drilling two very small holes at each end of the crack. I suggest that the reinforcement is by means of a large sleeve over the boom. Better to take the boom to be repaired by spar makers. Many years ago, i had my broken mast repaired; very professional job.
 
Find a local rigger who will have the contacts to do the repair. Alternatively there is a Selden agent in Eire who will know how to repair it.
 
To reiterate, I really don't consider a repair to be a good idea. One thing that I find strange is the very large size of the rivets, the boom section is possibly small? My suggstion is to buy an identical replacement section and put your fittings on it, better still would be to up the size of section if it can be done using the existing mast gooseneck fitting, tip, if you change boom, wtch that the boom can articulate through the full range of movement without fouling anything. A larger section will generally improve your sailing performance.

Allspars in Plymouth hae rack of old spars.
 
I would suggest that overloading and fatigue has come as much from weight of the boom and perhaps down loads on it as it has from working as a vang. As such I would second the idea of an ali plate of fairly heavy ali sized to the width of the bottom of the boom and about twice the length of the existing bottom plate. Cut a slot in the plate and fit new rivets in place of the existing rivets and add another 2 on each end. If you converted the strut to just a strut (if not already) then a vang can be set up using webbing around the boom to a tackle all perhaps further aft than the strut. Or just don't load the vang a lot. (and go gentle on the laods as a strut.) On my 21fter fractional rig I use the vang very little relying on a wide traveller for boom down control.
good luck olewill
 
Many thanks for all the excellent advice, as usual range of experience on here is amazing.
Unfortunately my d.i.y. skills are not up to much and I think I would struggle with some of the repairs suggested. The idea of new box section and retrofit the existing gooseneck etc would be a good idea, except that there is a double reefing arrangement within the boom, which I think would be extremely difficult to move.
I have tried to contact the Selden agents here, but so far to no avail. I feel a sleeve might work, if only temporarily, if I can find the right person to do it. Otherwise as advised try to find an old spar and convert it.
I have also contacted an ex Etap agent in the UK who is seeing if they can source a new boom.
There is no doubt looking at the positioning of these rivets it's a very poor design feature, though it has lasted for ten years. If I can source a new boom I'd have to see about rejigging that feature.
Anyway, moderate wind forecast for today, I think I'll chance it. Then remove boom and having just retired 2 weeks ago, this at least will keep me occupied for the forseeable future.
 
simonfraser said:
I'd sail in light winds without using the vang and replace the boom.
Boat jumble ? eBay ?

I managed to break a boom on my open decked strider cat some years ago, having that flap about was not fun.

Lee shore of course :(
Click to expand...

Aagh! Simon, now you have me worried. It's a lovely day to day and I've decided to risk it, I won't use the Vang (it does b*gger all anyway), hopefully moderate winds will turn out to be light
Wish me luck
 
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