Boom Gallows Ideas?

[kc8pql]

I want to add a boom gallows to Alaya this year to make dropping and reefing the sail easier and safer in rough weather. The original idea was to use ABI's bronze hardware but it seems that it's been discontinued. Toplicht and PTF both have nice hardware, but with the exchange rate and the current price of bronze, the cost of both of those options push $1000. So, I'm looking for some other ideas. The boat is 45' LOA including the sprit, the boom is almost 17' long and fairly heavy. The top of the gallows needs to be about 5 1/2' off the deck and the bases about 6 1/2' apart. Any ideas? Pics would be nice too.

[John Boone]

Morning,

Here's Whampoa's boom gallows. Her boom is 19' and quite heavy also.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/jsbpbacct/SV%20Whampoa/IMG_4112.jpg

and here is another one that is laminated out of teak on a friends boat. The small bimini is sure nice is the southern sunshine.....

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/jsbpbacct/Sailing/Dry%20Tortugas/IMG_4229.jpg

John

[JimConlin]

I remember another boat where vertical 1-1/2" pipes ran into holes bored in a top beam that was maybe 2-1/2" x 5". At the bottom, the pipes were welded to small plates that bolted to the side of the house. No fancy hardware needed, just pipe, plate and a little welding.

The pattern for this isn't hard to make. Have 'em cast locally.
http://porttownsendfoundry.com/1e8c9a30.jpg

[Bill Perkins]

Here's another domestic source . http://www.porttownsendfoundry.com/id25.htm

[kc8pql]

The pattern for this isn't hard to make. Have 'em cast locally.
http://porttownsendfoundry.com/1e8c9a30.jpg
That's what I'm trying to get around. No need to make patterns. Port Townsend Foundry (the PTF I mentioned above) has patterns. They cast my mast bands , goose neck and rudder fittings for me and did a fine job. I'm just looking for lower cost alternatives. The two corner brackets, two base castings and bracing hardware would be over 1k with shipping. There's a lot of bronze in those things.

[Bill Perkins]

Ruell Parker describes a no bronze solution in "The New Cold Molded Boatbuilding " . He uses stock galv. pipe and flanges with the pipe set into holes in a wooden cross piece on top . The flanges can be merely screwed on , or welded on at a slight angle . He paints the pipe with epoxy primer and LPU top coat . The book has allot of strong low cost details for a boat of that size , including a fixture for a 45 footer incorporating stern davits , traveler , and gallows .

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Sanderling's gallows are supported on two galvanised steel legs, with support plates welded at the top as shown, and flat drilled plates for deck fixing at the bottom. (They also carry hook-on points for lifelines etc.)

http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/gallows2s.jpg

But they could just as easily be made from plain bronze rod (solid or hollow,) the top of each leg could just as easily be inserted into a hole drilled in the underside of the wood, and the feet could just as easily be fitted into bronze stanchion bases like this --

http://www.briggsmarine.com.au/images/products/Staunchion-Base.gif

which can be had at either a 90° or 84° angle for around $A100 each.

Mike

[John Boone]

Morning, any update on your boom gallows contemplations?

John

[kc8pql]

It's been back burnered 'til after spring launch. I just ordered a jib furler. I'll need to install that and do a few other jobs first. I'll probably end up with some combination of yours, Mike's and one I saw the other day that was similar.

[Tom Hunter]

This is off of my boat, 29' boom overhangs the water, so it is a critical piece of equipment.

The gallows has short pipes running down from the brackets, so it can be popped out and taken home for varnishing. Mine is bronze but this could be done in just about any metal, and most of it is just pipe.



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2365607987_97418e42ba_b.jpg

The point being, I don't think you need to cast anything to duplicate this set up, I think it could all be done with pipe, stock, a saw and some welding.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Here is our even simpler version, which has stood since 1937, although in my opinion it is a little on the light side, and the teak bar did break once.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/Superflid/P9050052-1.jpg

[John B]

Here is our even simpler version, which has stood since 1937, although in my opinion it is a little on the light side, and the teak bar did break once.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/Superflid/P9050052-1.jpg


ah, a little bit of New Zulland in JOE eh Andrew.

You guys haven't lived until you've done the scissor-crutch dance....:D

[Jase]

you looking at them Murrays John :D

[John B]

Yup.

I still reckon he needs some stops for the handles though:D

ah . I see the lanyards. That'll do. You only do the murraybottomhandle sheet/handle override once before you swear you'll fix it somehow.

[Jase]

oh hell no.... Then you can't easily use them to bash the mast wedges back in when they start littering the cabin sole in a blow :D :D

[John B]

Yet also, the crews kidneys remain intact.

[Jase]

I have been putting off getting some new sissor crutches made since the last shorter set tried to make off with my fingers one day..... seems far safer just hanging from the topping lifts :D possibly not so good for the boat.... :D

[Jase]

I have found that the short stubb left after said handle is removed is just as gentle on the ribs/kidneys as the handle in place :D at least i usually spot the handle before the involutary insertion takes place..... :D

[John B]

Jase , you only have to jam yer fingers once, whack your crew in the head once and lose a set over the side in a storm once ( at the mooring) so that your boom smashes around getting the varnish carved off on the backstays for a week ,before you learn the zen of the scissor crutch ,and all becomes smooth sailing.or mooring.

[Jase]

Hmmm how bout I just anchor near you this weekend so the squarking noise my boom makes moving round the mast without the crutch is appreciated by more than just my own crew :D

[sv Lorelei]

Jase, John....I wanna party with you guys :-)

[Jase]

Issy Bay this Saturday night. Cakes and Keg beer provided :D BYO Boat. :D I dare yah... :D

[sv Lorelei]

Lessee,

If I do a quicky bottom job tomorrow morning and then launch, I can be down at the Panama Canal say in a couple months time... and down near you guys in a few more...well lets call it a year....Darn....I think the beer would be warm by then!

I'll get there eventually.

[banjoman]

Here is Starduster's. Best picture I could find.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z98/brewmastermsu/IMG_0669-1.jpg

[John Boone]

kc8pql, rbgarr posted this over in Misc. Boat Related. I added it here in case you didnt see his post.

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77861

John

[kc8pql]

I just saw that. Thanks.