Thanks Phil. This is good advice. I take it that you think it unwise to try and make it with two out of four bolts at the connection. I was hoping someone would say: "Two should be adequate..." Oh, well. Wishful thinking.
Jeff Sheler s/v Windsome C27TR #6594 Hampton, VA -----Original Message----- >From: Phil Agur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: May 13, 2006 8:09 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: boom connection > >Jeff, > >"Not Handy?" The guy with the boat in the slip next to mine retired this >year after being a hands on general contractor for 30+ years. Last year I >watched snap a tap trying to add a fitting to his boom. So you can >definitely be handy and never come across the subtitles of the right way to >tap a hole. > >Step one is to have the right size tap drill. Too small and the tap will >break and too large and the threads may strip. There are many sources for >the information, here is one: http://www.newmantools.com/tapdrill.htm > >Step two is select lubricant. There are lots of choices, including tapping >fluids sold for specific materials; however kerosene was the standard for >tapping aluminum for many years. I wouldn't feel bad using WD40 as a >substitute in aluminum. > >Step three is to drill the hole using lubricant. Drilling aluminum dry can >lead to an oversize hole as chunks tear out rather than cut away. The metal >should be cut not torn by the drill. > >Step four is to tap using lubricant and be careful to break the chip not the >tap. Manual tapping is done by turning the tap in a 1/2 to 3/4 rotation and >then back it out a 1/4 turn. When you back it up it will turn easy then >resist and then when the chip breaks get easy again. Once the chip breaks >you can turn the tap in unit it starts cutting and go another 1/2 to 3/4 >rotation cutting threads. Then it's break the chip and repeat. > >If you don't break the chips as you go the chips may jam the tap in the hole >and lead to a broken tap. > >The first place I would check for a replacement part is the Catalina >Factory. > >Phil Agur s/v Wing Tip >Commodore, Call Sign WCW3485 >IC27/270A MMSI 366901790 >www.catalina27.org Vessel Doc# 1039809 > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jeffery L. Sheler >Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 2:12 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: catalina27-talk: boom connection > >OK, so I decided to raise the boom about 7 inches on the mast to allow more >headroom in the cockpit and possibly make room for a bimini some day. (I >have 10 to 12 inches leeway at the top of the mast when the mainsail is >fully raised.) I disconnected the boom by pulling the pin at the gooseneck, >and with some difficulty removed four bolts that fasten the bracket to the >mast. In the process, I stripped one bolt and had to drill it out, which >also ruined the threads on the receiving end of the bracket. (The bolts >screw into the bracket and pass on through holes drilled into the mast, >which also have a slight thread.) I drilled new holes into the mast at the >new location 7 inches up and tried to cut new threads in the ruined hole in >the bracket, but failed. (My threading tool broke off in the hole. Did I >mention I'm not real handy?) Next, I ruined another hole when a second bolt >got jammed and the head stripped, and I had to drill IT out. (I remained >remarkably cool through all of this.) > >So let's summarize: I now have two working bolts out of four holding the >connecting bracket to the mast at the new location. The good news is the >two working bolts are the topmost and bottommost bolts. And the connection >set-up consists of an outer bracket through which the bolts pass and an >inner bracket with threads that sits in the sail track. When the bolts are >tightened the two brackets are pressed together pinching against the lip of >the sail track. The fact that the bolts pass on through both brackets into >the mast itself also gives added adhesion, at least as far as vertical >movement is concerned. > >SO MY QUESTION IS.... am I screwed having only two bolts holding the >gooseneck connection brackets to the mast? Isn't most of the pressure at >that point vertical pressure? If so, it seems that two bolts might be >sufficient. If not, and if I need to have four bolts securing it, it seems >that my options are: 1) re-drilling and re-threading the two bad holes >(remember my track record on that is not good), or getting a new inner >connecting bracket (the one that goes inside the track, with threads). If >that's what I must do, does anyone know where I can get one? (Mine is an 89 >C27 Tall Rig). > >Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any helpful suggestions anyone >might care to offer. > > >Jeff Sheler >s/v Windsome >C27TR #6594 >Hampton, VA > > >
