Swallow Yachts Forum > Technical

BC23 gooseneck

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MarkDarley:
David Downs responded to me that he uses a simple nut and bolt instead of the pin. Perhaps compressing the flanges will strengthen the whole thing.

Llafurio:
Yes, that would strengthen it against bending by at least 100 %. Because then the downward pull would be born by both the upper and the lower flange together, and the bending lever on the pin/bolt would be reduced also. Good solution.
C.

Sea Simon:
I think the same Allen boom fitting is on BRe?
The fitting is/was quite cheap (appx £35?) But removing old (bonded/bedded) and fitting new to the mast is a bit of work, and you need correct "carbon friendly" pop rivets. At least it's pressed S steel, not welded!

I did not have Mark's problem, but rather found it difficult to insert the boom vertical hinge pin when putting the mast up single-handedly, especially afloat (perhaps a peculiarity of my local circumstances?) The sail having remained attached and rigged to the wood boom. I then noticed that the boom to gooseneck connection is a substantial pressed steel pin (the bit stamped Allen, to the right) and socket arrangement,  with a nice big taper, making it much easier to align - to "plug in". This is in turn secured thru the boom, by a large horizontal drop nose pin, like Mark's bent one.
The BC 23 may perhaps be similar?

Bear with me... ;)

This allowed me to change the goose neck Swivel pin (the vertical drop nose pin in OP) for a properly fitted BOLT.
Not a machine screw (the fully threaded item). Perhaps rather nerdy, but the difference  sometimes matters, as in this case, imho. I've  posted on here before about this.

The ability  to derig easily retained by unplugging the gooseneck pin from the boom, and the gooseneck hinge pin can remain in place. Fiddly to remove/fit a bolt (especially  with washers) in this location .

I also inserted nylon washers inside the mast fitting jaws, so as to make it all a bit "kinder" on itself, afap.
Once nipped up, and suitably locked off, the misaligned forces are eliminated and load paths should be closer to design intent.

Try and source such critical bolts/pins from a reputable source (eg Allen, Seasure or similar) not anonymous  suppliers on EBay.

Q. Is the BC 23 kicker attached to the mast heel via a pressed S steel riveted on tang? Probably Allen too?
If of any concern to you (for example venturing offshore)...several racing dinghy classes habitually back up such attachments with Dyneema lashings. That will at least get you home.
I did similar on my vang and sheet attachments to the BRex booms, not being very comfortable with the original wood screws, dominantly in tension/pull-out orientation.

PS. The proposed mod would also get rid of that rather angry looking (and damaged) nose on your pin. God forbid that contacts your mast! Good luck with extracting that bent pin.

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