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I just noticed that the plate, to which the entire boom assembly is attached to the mast, is loose. The plate is not anywhere near coming off, but there is play, and I am looking to get responses from the World Wide Mac Connection. Has anyone else seen this? If so, how was it rectified, or does it even need to corrected?

My boat mechanic says he has no problem finding aluminum rivets (which neither he nor I will accept), it's the SS ones that he can't find. I don't think sheet metal screws are the way to go either.

Ray

Ray u been doing hard jibes LOL
No worries drill out the old s/s rivits & replace with new s/s rivits they r a pita to do with a hand held rivit gun make sure u use one with long steel handles , also make sure the mast has no corrsion around the mast holes where the old rivits were & put plastic tape between the mast & brkt

J

NiceAft wrote: My boat mechanic says he has no problem finding aluminum rivets (which neither he nor I will accept), it's the SS ones that he can't find. I don't think sheet metal screws are the way to go either.

Ray

A boat "mechanic" can't find SS rivets??????????????????? You may want to look for a new mechanic!!!!!!!!

Yes do not use aluminum in your goos neck!

I went to race on a J24 one weekend. Unknown to me the owner found the goos neck loose when he put the boat in the water so he replaced the rivets with pull aluminum. The wind was 25 gust to 35 that first race. We made it on the first 2 mile leg before the goose neck ripped off the mast. Luckily the sail did not rip and we got every thing down with out damage or injury. The wind was blowing so hard that at a 90deg wind angle we sailed back to the marina at 2.5 kts bare poles. He found stainless and reinstalled and we made the 3rd race.

Poor maintenance improper hardware will let you down at the wrong time!

Grady,

Your preaching to the choir.

Ray

I seem to remember this happening to me also. Aluminium rivets will not hold. If SS rivets not available, use SS sheet metal screws.

BTW, rivets are available, check Mcmaster Carr (most affordable I have found and good prices). About to buy a bunch for my horse trailer restoration (the reason I have not been on the water yet this year). Make sure you drill out the rivet hole to the next larger size if the hole is worn.

Highlander wrote:Ray u been doing hard jibes LOL
No worries drill out the old s/s rivits & replace with new s/s rivits they r a pita to do with a hand held rivit gun make sure u use one with long steel handles , also make sure the mast has no corrsion around the mast holes where the old rivits were & put plastic tape between the mast & brkt

J

Thanks to everyone for their posts.

Ray

NiceAft wrote:My boat mechanic says he has no problem finding aluminum rivets (which neither he nor I will accept), it's the SS ones that he can't find. I don't think sheet metal screws are the way to go either.

You can get SS rivets at any West Marine Store.

Thanks.

I have started looking into the tool, and I have sent info. on two of them to John for his opinion.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Surebonder-1-4 ... /204157495

http://m.autozone.com/test-scan-and-spe ... ?location=

I welcome comments from anyone with experience

ray

So a quick question regarding the stainless rivets...really the only place this seems to be needed is at the gooseneck, right?
If so, do you think it is possible to use my standard rivet tool by putting cheaters on the handles? Seems like overkill to have to buy a special tool just to set four rivets.

I have just a old basic rivet tool, I am careful just to pull a little bit at a time and squeeze real hard. If pulling more than a few, I would upgrade.

Great! I'll try it first and see if i can get one to work...

Since I do not have a rivet device. I am quite secure in getting one that is extremely heavy duty. It can do both light and heavy duty jobs. I also have much respect for Johns opinions, and he says “long steel handles”, so, long steel handles it is.

Ray

+1 for buying a heavier duty riveter.

I broke the cast handle on mine doing stainless rivets using cheater bars.

The only problem with the heavy duty ones is they are big and a pain to work in small spaces. Some have swivel heads which may help.

Thanks tewharaunz,( is that pronounced “tow arounds”? )
I am now looking to include a “swivel head”.

Ray

I also have this issue with the loose but not falling off boom attachment. It has been like that for a while and I have been thinking of re riveting. I wasn't sure if there was actually supposed to be some play in it. Sounds like not so I'll put it on the priority list.