Selden Rodkicker 20 - Gas Strut

[Jokani]

I have a new Selden Rodkicker 20 to install but I am concerned that the gas spring will not compress, I would have thought that body weight would have compressed it at least slightly, but it seems solid.

Is that normal, am I worrying unnecessarily?

 

[Martin_J]

I would have thought unlikely to be able to compress by leaning on it (especially my light weight).

There's usually the weight of the boom, the weight of a sail and cover, the angle it gets compressed at and you'll still need purchase on the kicker and or mainsheet in order to compress it..

 

[Baddox]

I replaced a broken gas strut in my vang. Although the replacement was too stiff to compress by body weight, when fitted to the boat it worked.

The broken one was supplied with a given force rating whereas the replacement bought from a separate company had a grub screw to release pressure until it suited the application. Selden's struts should be rated for size of the boom it supports.

 

[johnphilip]

I replaced a broken gas strut in my vang. Although the replacement was too stiff to compress by body weight, when fitted to the boat it worked.

The broken one was supplied with a given force rating whereas the replacement bought from a separate company had a grub screw to release pressure until it suited the application. Selden's struts should be rated for size of the boom it supports.

I bought a stainless gas strut from Metrol Springs. Like you their offering was for an adjustable force rating but talking to them on the phone they agreed to make the adjustment for me to the required force, no additional charge.

 

[johnphilip]

Replacing a dud gas strut on our kicker it turned out to be a 1200N force, which apparently converts to 122kg. I am relieved to hear that this is too much for your own bodyweight to compress the spring.

 

[Jokani]

Thanks for all the comments, I'll stop worrying, and crack on with the install as soon as the mast is stepped.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Replacing the gas strut on a Selden kicker is easy.
The gas spring comes with a length of tube, which makes up the total length required.
You slide the 2 parts appart.
Carefully slide out the old gas strut and tube.
Slide in the 2 new components and reassemble.
Allspars or a local rigger will be able to advise on the appropriate strength of the new gas strut.
When I changed from an aluminium boom, which was really heavy, to a carbon boom which is incredibly light, I had to change the strength of the gas strut.
The combination of the old gas strut and the new carbon boom was like a medieval catapult, capable of lifting me off the deck, if it wasn't constrained by the main sheet.