Gooseneck design question

[memelet]

As part of my rig rebuild, I had my gooseneck bracket (which was originally welded on the mast) removed and a bracket built. While I did not exactly specify the bracket (my bad) I was expecting something like:

[IMG]http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink[/IMG]

What I got was:

[IMG]Picasa Web Albums - memelet[/IMG]
[IMG]http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink[/IMG]
[IMG]Picasa Web Albums - memelet[/IMG]


Here's how it was attached originally:

[IMG]Picasa Web Albums - memelet[/IMG]

The two main differences I'm concerned about are: 1) That the mounting plate does not fully wrap around to the sides of the mast, allowing the plate take the side loads instead of the bolts, and 2) That the mounting plate is so small that only three bolts can be used on each side.

The yard that did the work insists that:
- their design "was built to never fail"
- that "its strong enough"
- that there "is a negative to making the fitting bigger and adding holes"

At my request they have agreed to rebuild the bracket and split the cost, but also stipulated that they would not be "responsible for cracks that could develop in the mast by drilling more holes"

So my question here is two fold:
1) Is the bracket as currently built adequate?
2) Could adding more holes -- similar to the first picture but maybe not as many -- cause the mast to develop cracks. (That picture comes from a Dashew Sundeer)?
*) ... add the questions I should be asking here ...

The boat is a 1985 Passport 42 cutter. The spar was made by Hall, is keel stepped, and very very strong. The boom is only 12 feet.

thanks!!
-barry

[Sabreman]

Looks mighty fine to me. By comparison, we have a 1984 Sabre 38 with a 13.25' boom. The gooseneck is stamped stainless with a 1/2" bolt, similar to yours. The gooseneck wraps partly around the mast as in your design. In 26 years of sailing, there is absolutely no deformity.

I think that adding more holes in line with the others will weaken the mast as the yard indicates. To be honest, unless you perform an accidental gibe, you have nothing to worry about (and then you probably still have nothing to worry about). In that case, rig a preventer and you'll be just fine. My only worry would be the integrity of the welds. Is it aluminum?

If you don't like the gooseneck, I'd be proud to have it on Victoria!

[memelet]

Thanks for the feedback Sabreman. Yes, the whole unit is aluminum.

I don't think I would use any many bolts as the first/expected picture (that's from a Dashew Sundeer), but I would really like for the plate to fully wrap around. However, I am posting so that I might be talked out of rebuilding it ;-)

[tager]

Was there any indication that the original design was flawed? The one that was welded on?

[Faster]

I think you'll be fine as well... our last boat (40') had a similar setup to your original - and I'm wondering why you chose to cut it off...

Perhaps a bigger issue is - are planning to thread it into the mast or find a way to put nuts/washers behind it? The latter would be difficult, I'd think.

[memelet]

Originally Posted by Faster

I think you'll be fine as well... our last boat (40') had a similar setup to your original - and I'm wondering why you chose to cut it off...

Two reasons. One, I'm installing a tides strong track and didn't have a slot to install it above the welded bracket. Now I'm able to run the strong track right from the bottom of the mast. Two, I am lowering the boom a bit so it rests more horizontal in the boom gallows (allowing me to install solar panels on top the dodger).

[memelet]

Originally Posted by tager

Was there any indication that the original design was flawed? The one that was welded on?

No, but see my other reply as to why I removed it.