Single line reefing snagged

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I have searched 'Selden single line reefing boom problems' all over the internet and not quite come up with the answer I am looking for. I have, I am fairly sure, a snagged shuttle inside the boom. The pulleys all seem OK - maybe a little tight - but OK. I've put loads of kettles of warm water all over but there's no movement in one of the lines at the forward end at all.
There is a wealth of information on cleaning pulleys and such but what I'd like to know, before I go to a professional, is how easy is it to take these booms apart - and then get them back together again? I am guessing it is a case of drill out the rivets and pry the boom apart, but I am not convinced it is even possible to get in. Any advice gratefully accepted.
 
We broke one of the fittings for the outhaul last year, and found the Selden site really useful. We took the boom home to work on, and once we had removed the end of the boom, shook and hooked the cars for the reefing lines and outhaul out of the boom from the end. Then we ordered a replacement outhaul car and reassembled the whole lot. It was not difficult. Good luck.
 
Boom now all sorted and will be back on the boat once the snow has gone!
A couple of tips:-
The boom was a Selden boom with large 1/4 monel rivets on the inboard end and machine screws on the aft end. If drilling out the rivets punch out the middle part of the rivet first and drill out with a 6.5mm drill.
Use Monel rivets to fit the boom end back.
The shuttle car was jammed in the boom, one of the wheels had come off and jammed the car, this bent the plate where it had been pulled along the boom. When pulling out the shuttle car be careful as the wheels drop off (Best not to do it on the boat!).
Mouse all lines before pulling any ropes out, this will stop any twists in the ropes which will make reefing difficult when the ropes go back in.
The Selden reefing arrangement works very well and in my opinion better than the floating block system you can also purchase.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...hUTM8AKHRJHDh4Q9QEILTAB#imgrc=7vLxZyQ20QDroM:
 
That is good to know. I had a jam on our Selden boom a year or two after it was new. This occurred when shaking out a double reef and was awkward at the time. After some constructive swearing I got it free by pulling the different lines. I came to the conclusion that it was caused by a coil of reefing line developing inside the boom and have taken care to avoid slacks developing since then.
 
Thanks Craig. Much appreciated. I'd put one of those thumbs up emojis if I knew how to do it. I'd have made a right mess of it as I would have tried to put 3/16 stainless rivets back in.......
The advice about not letting the lines internally go slack is probably a good one. I'll take good care of it now.
Thanks all.
:encouragement:
 
Really shows the risks with having tackle inside the boom. The single line set up can be done quite easily without the cars which just create friction & if your problem had happened at sea you could have been in trouble.
I am fully supportive of single line from the cockpit but dead against the blocks ( of any type)in the boom
 
Daydream believer said:
Really shows the risks with having tackle inside the boom. The single line set up can be done quite easily without the cars which just create friction & if your problem had happened at sea you could have been in trouble.
I am fully supportive of single line from the cockpit but dead against the blocks ( of any type)in the boom
Click to expand...
I appreciated your concern, but many oodles of sea miles are sailed by boats with in-boom systems, so the problem can't be that common. In any case, there are always means of coping with snags. If the sail is jammed reefed, the reefing line can be untied or unfixed from the sail to release it. If a reef is needed, additional ties can be used.
 
johnalison said:
I appreciated your concern, but many oodles of sea miles are sailed by boats with in-boom systems, so the problem can't be that common. In any case, there are always means of coping with snags. If the sail is jammed reefed, the reefing line can be untied or unfixed from the sail to release it. If a reef is needed, additional ties can be used.
Click to expand...

Well 3 so far on this thread & one needing the boom removed. When in boom gear is not actually needed at all & just creates friction. But to each his own. It is only my opinion against the rest & if one likes it then so be it:encouragement:
 
Daydream believer said:
Well 3 so far on this thread & one needing the boom removed. When in boom gear is not actually needed at all & just creates friction. But to each his own. It is only my opinion against the rest & if one likes it then so be it:encouragement:
Click to expand...

My count makes it two, plus one outhaul problem, which is external. Two out of how many million ECFers looks like reasonable odds to me. More importantly, mine cam with the boat and I'm blowed if I'm changing anything after 18years.
 
johnalison said:
My count makes it two, plus one outhaul problem, which is external. Two out of how many million ECFers looks like reasonable odds to me. More importantly, mine cam with the boat and I'm blowed if I'm changing anything after 18years.
Click to expand...

Apologies, your original post referred to "inside the boom" so I did not know that meant external.
Bit like being with my wife :ambivalence: -I am supposed to know that sort of thing.

But as I said - to each his own & i only expressed an opinion
 
I am also having the same problem. My boom is Selden and I have 3 reefs, does that mean I have 3 of those "cars" inside the boom as shown in the drawing on Merlin's link? My problem is I can't pull the mast end of the reefing lines out long enough to attach them to the reefing points on the sail. I don't know why this has suddenly happened. Any ideas? Andy.
 
Hi Andy
Not sure if you have 3 cars or not but with the one we tried to fix the car had lost a wheel causing it to jam up, we fixed that car but now it turns out another problem with the other car!
I am in Brightlingsea if you wanted me to take a quick look, maybe be something very simple or a bigger problem but by removing the aft end we should be able to see inside and see what's going on.
 
The system seems to me to be a solution looking for a problem.

As far as I can work out, it doesn't increase the purchase on the tack or clew or reduce the miles of pennant that is required for single line reefing.

On the other hand, it does increase the number of blocks, each generating friction.

So what are the advantages?
 
Hi Merlin,

That is a kind offer, thanks. My boat is in Walton, I am nearly 300 miles away in Wirral but my sails are in Brightlingsea (Mark Self). I have made a note of your phone number and will ring you when I am next coming down. Thanks, Andy
 
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