Need a new gooseneck

MarkWilme · Post by **MarkWilme** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:56 pm

Need a new gooseneck for the old boat (Elite32), this one is showing excess wear and needs to be replaced. It fits in the track on the mast and the rest is self explanatory (I think). I took measurements earlier.

So what am I missing ? Why can't I find such an item anywhere ?
Any tips or is this one of those mental challenges where you have to figure it out for yourself ?

Mark

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:34 pm

I have a hunch that when you do find it, it's going to COST. Odd rigging bits always seem to break the bank. I still can't believe what I paid for a new outhaul slide. I genuinely think I could have had it custom-fabbed locally for about the same price.

This piece seems to fall in the same category, particularly since it's just aluminum. A local machine shop could likely do dandy replicas of those pieces for a non-yachty price.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:14 am

The last time I replaced mine, they wanted to charge me $800. I talked them down to $600... but man, it might as well have been gold plated.

Have you checked the usual suspects? Rig-rite, some of the spar manufacturers? Figment is right, a good machine shop can probably make most of it-- the problem comes in if you are welding stainless... most of the marine places weld stainless very well ... and they know it.

Post by **Tim** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:28 am

I doubt you'll find an off-the-shelf piece. If you do, it may be overpriced for what it is.

If you don't have a known and trusted local machine shop, I'd recommend Metalmast Marine in Putnam, CT. They do nice work, and a lot of custom jobs. They provided me with my new custom gooseneck a few years ago. (And also with a new boom and later a whole mast and boom assembly for another boat.) Nice folks, and a low key operation with a good reputation.

Metalmast Marine: 860-928-2776

It'll cost what it costs. What the boat wants, the boat gets. Nothing beats a quality piece of gear or hardware, though. A sailboat isn't much good without a gooseneck.

MarkWilme · Post by **MarkWilme** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:13 pm

I actually diassembled the unit and reversed the piece that goes on the mast after filing the worn surface smooth so that the old top surface is now at the bottom, I figure this needs to be full thickness to carry the load. I also filed the bit odd shape swivel but smooth and then "cut" (machined ?) a spacer out of aluminium and made up a couple of plastic washers to act as friction preventers. Going to reinstall it on the mast this weekend using machine screws into tapped holes rather than rivets so we can remove at will (yea I know, SS screws into an aluminium mast...).

We also found the spar distributor for EB Spars in Montreal, Canada

514-E-B-SPARS
(514-327-7277)

E.B. SPARS Inc.
C.P. 931
Hudson, Qu?bec
Canada
J0P 1H0

514-E-B-SPARS
(514-327-7277)

Thanks for all your help guys

Mark

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:38 pm

MarkWilme wrote: (yea I know, SS screws into an aluminium mast...).

Tef-gel, baby!

hebert01 · Post by **hebert01** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:44 pm

Not sure if your specific parts would be available, but you might want to try taking a peek at rigrite.com. Looks like they have something very similar to the parts you photographed.

Gooseneck parts

Reefing hooks