Repairs to the Boom

Page updated: 25 August 2021

Go to TopA Rigid Gooseneck

If you have the SSS spars that were supplied with most Reedcraft boats, it is possible, when you buy your SeaHawk, that the stainless steel gooseneck assembly will appear "welded" to the aluminium casting at the end of the mast. It shouldn't be like that! You should be able to pull it out from its square seating and then rotate it. Without this facility it is considerably more difficult to roll the sail round the boom for both reefing or stowage purposes.

A "welded" gooseneck

The original advice suggested here was to try a good soaking in graphited oil, WD40, or other releasing fluid, and then lever the gooseneck out of the casting. Each side of the fitting seen in the photograph has a small lip to assist with this. However, better advice has since been posted on the forum.

The best way to loosen alloy corrosion is to use a 10% caustic soda solution - sparingly! Just dribble it into the joint where the square section goes into the boom fitting and leave for an hour max. You should see a bit of fizzing as the caustic starts to dissolve the aluminium oxide. When you have freed it off, drench it in vinegar to neutralise the caustic or it will start to dissolve the alloy. Obviously take all precautions - gloves goggles and plastic apron.

A Free Gooseneck

Note also the cord set into the "spare" hole which secures the split pin. When the sails are set and it is under tension, a slight bend in the middle of the pin is all that is needed to hold it in position. The cord is there so you don't lose it when hoisting the sails and the tension goes. Don't splay the ends of the pin to hold it in position or you won't be able to detach the sail from the boom.

Go to TopWorn Casting

Over time the casting on the forward end of an SSS manufactured boom can soften. This can happen quite suddenly. The effect is most likely to be noticed if the boom is regularly rolled for reefing or stowing the sails. The square end of the gooseneck fitting can gouge out a conical opening and if not repaired reefing would no longer be possible as the square section on the gooseneck fitting would be able to turn inside the rounded hole in the casting on the end of the boom.

The boom after five more years wear

Find a local engineering firm to drill out the rivets and make up a new end plate for the boom. The company that repaired this one were full of apologies that the top rivet was not as neatly fitted as the original. They had had difficulties in drilling out the old rivet. However, there were no complaints from the owner, as the £25 charge was certainly a lot less than it would have cost to source an acceptable alternative boom - and it looks as if it should last at least another 40 years!

The boom after the new end plate was fitted

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