Cheap boom gallows

[Survivor]

Yes, my name should be Rube Goldberg. I'm on the Columbia river and have a Lancer 25. However, since I am as cheap as can be and would like to have a boom gallows to drop my boom onto, I was thinking about using 1.5" PVC and painting it. It would be attached to the side of the cabin and would have a piece of 1/2" metal lighting rod inside to give it strength. I'd attach a board with cutouts along the top for the boom to sit in. Since I think that the pressure from the boom is vertical, it should work. I'm looking for utility, not beauty or nautical. I'm waiting for holes to be shot in this idea. (Or you can also tell me how brilliant I am.)

Harris

[WanderingStar]

I would just use wood, or galvanized pipe. Mine is pipe with wood. I'd worry about that pvc breaking at the worst time. Wood or steel can't cost very much.

[knothead]

I used thick walled aluminum pipe and a piece of oak. I don't remember what I paid for the pipe at the scrap yard, but it's wasn't much.
It's been on the boat for almost twenty years now and is still fine.
Still looks pretty good too.

[sailingdog]

If you're going to use PVC, go with Schedule 80 pipe. Wood or aluminum would be better.

[paulk]

Home Depot is bound to have aluminum or galvanized electrical conduit tubing that would be stonger and possibly even cheaper than plastic, which WILL break. The PVC we used to support a winter cover lasted (with many repairs) about two seasons. A boom gallows takes a lot more abuse than that. If you go to a specialty Electric supply house you may find fittings for mounting the tubing on your deck as well.