Tapered straps on roller reefing boom.

[Kintail]

Hi Folks. On my roller reefing boom I have to renew two wooden straps which are tapered in ordered to retain sail shape. I'm finding it's no easy matter. The main reason is that the back of the straps have to be concave in shape to fit on the round of the boom and I cant find someone with a tool to shape the concave. Apparently 40 years ago every good joiner would have the tool but so not nowadays.

Can anyone help by telling me of someone who does this kind of work or if you have had the problem, is there another way of retaining sail shape on a roller boom with something else.

Thanks.

 

[VicS]

Hi Folks. On my roller reefing boom I have to renew two wooden straps which are tapered in ordered to retain sail shape. I'm finding it's no easy matter. The main reason is that the back of the straps have to be concave in shape to fit on the round of the boom and I cant find someone with a tool to shape the concave. Apparently 40 years ago every good joiner would have the tool but so not nowadays.

Can anyone help by telling me of someone who does this kind of work or if you have had the problem, is there another way of retaining sail shape on a roller boom with something else.

Thanks.

A moulding plane is, I guess, the traditional hand held tool. These days i suppose it would be done with a spindle moulder. Or a router ???

I have an old Surform plane with a convex ( half round) blade that would do the job. They are still available.

 

[Woodlouse]

It could be done with some careful chisling and sanding. Depending on the radius required then either a moulding or bollow plane would do the trick. Neither are too hard to make if you start with an old cheap wooden smoothing plane. Simply shape the base to your required curve and grind the blade to match.

Of course, as mentioned it could be done with a spindle moulder, but I suspect you'd still have to grind your own blades to get the right shape.

 

[knuterikt]

Hi Folks. On my roller reefing boom I have to renew two wooden straps which are tapered in ordered to retain sail shape. I'm finding it's no easy matter. The main reason is that the back of the straps have to be concave in shape to fit on the round of the boom and I cant find someone with a tool to shape the concave. Apparently 40 years ago every good joiner would have the tool but so not nowadays.

Can anyone help by telling me of someone who does this kind of work or if you have had the problem, is there another way of retaining sail shape on a roller boom with something else.

Thanks.

How long are these wooden straps?

It's possible to make plane with curved surface out of wood and a plane iron. Did so some years ago - no picture available now. Send me a PM if you want me to take some pictures tomorow.

Another option is to route a grove and use epoxy to adjust the shape with thickened epoxy.

You could build it out of more than one piece of wood, using glue and thickened epoxy.

 

[Daydream believer]

Get a circular saw with a blade of 200 mm ( could ise a skill saw in a bench)
Place a jig diagonally across the top of the blade
Drag the timber over the top of the blade
Cit the taper on the other side after this so you have more wood to hold
Practice on some scrap first & gradually increase depth of cut
The angle yo go at governs the radius of the curve
Once done sand it with a 100 mm angle grinder with a sanding disc in it

Another way is to purchase a wood cutting carvers disc of 100 mm diam & put it in a small angle grinder
You can do the same job single handed & possibly safer
These discs are a bit like a 4 toothed saw blade 8mm thick
They are great for removing bulk stock
We had several in my joiners shop for rough cutting handrail wreath blanks

 

[PeterWright]

Can anyone help by telling me of someone who does this kind of work Thanks.

Hi Kintail,

From your OP, I assume you're looking for someone to do this, rather than advice on how to do it yourself. Any boatbuilder or shipwright who still works in wood rather than grp will do this for you. Being an East Anglian squarehead, I'm not too familiar with your neck of the woods, but I believe Silvers yard at Rosneath still have these skills:
http://www.silversmarine.co.uk/picture.htm
Hope this helps.

Peter Wright

 

[Kintail]

Thanks everyone....so much food for thought. Knuterkt asked how long the straps were. There are two straps, one each side of the boom. 4 6" long x 1 1/2" wide x 1" deep. The taper on the outside goes from 1" to zero over the length. Concave inside. Will digest all that has been posted. Thanks.

 

[psp]

Try Terry Hitchin Lochcarron.