C&C 35 main outhaul info

[Westerly33]

Hi, old salts!
I am wandering if anybody can tell what metal the below broken part made of?

[Jim Cate]

Looks like cast aluminium, but really, you are in a much better position to make the analysis than anyone on the net using only a picture can be. Things like density and hardness will help make the determination.

Cheers,

Jim

[Celestialsailor]

I'm with Jim. Hard to tell without holding it. Looks like a acme thread outhaul screw going threw a cast Aluminum tang. You will probably have to have a machine shop make one or convert to a standard outhaul set-up, which would be cheaper.

[Westerly33]

This arrangement is about 40 years old and I do not have access to it. That is why I am asking.

I hope there are someone who has seen this rig or has it now.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Westerly33

This arrangement is about 40 years old and I do not have access to it. That is why I am asking.

I hope there are someone who has seen this rig or has it now.

Is it your boat?

[Westerly33]

It is a boat of a friend of mine and she is in Panama.

[Celestialsailor]

Then perhaps she should call a rigger down there.

[bobconnie]

Ya might have her try a magnet to see if it's aluminum or steel, looks like alum to me but Ive been wrong lots looking at pics LOL just a thought

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

Ya might have her try a magnet to see if it's aluminum or steel, looks like alum to me but Ive been wrong lots looking at pics LOL just a thought

Hey Bob,

Unlikely to be mild steel, so the magnet test would not tell us much.

I think that the bottom line is that (if the problem is that the outhaul slider itself is broken) that she will either have to get it welded, a new one machined (and that won't be easy with the acme internal thread), or set up an alternative outhaul system with some blocks and bits of string.

If she takes it to a welder he will be able to tell what metal it is made from. If she has a new one made, she (and the machinist) can decide from scratch what to make it from, and if a new system is built it doesn't matter what the original was made from!

Doesn't seem like a difficult set of questions to answer, really, if one is on scene.

Cheers,

Jim

[Celestialsailor]

Well now that we know she is in Panama, the likelihood of having one made there is less likely I think. I am still assuming it is some form of out-haul, although the OP is vague on information. If I'm right, it would be much simpler to add off-shelf items to the booms end and rig a more conventional out-haul.

[Westerly33]

Thank you all for inputs. As you can see, your advises are pretty obvious and they did not slip my mind even before I posted the question.

The question was: has anybody seen this mechanism and know for sure what it is made of. IT was used about 40 years ago on many boats with on-boom furling main sail.

I guess there is not enough old salts here or they are not old enough to remember that old days.

Best regards.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Westerly33

I guess there is not enough old salts here or they are not old enough to remember that old days.

Yes...That must me it. Excuse us while we go bandage our hands which were just bit.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Westerly33

Thank you all for inputs. As you can see, your advises are pretty obvious and they did not slip my mind even before I posted the question.

The question was: has anybody seen this mechanism and know for sure what it is made of. IT was used about 40 years ago on many boats with on-boom furling main sail.

I guess there is not enough old salts here or they are not old enough to remember that old days.

Best regards.

Please accept my apology for wasting your time with my obvious advice and suggestions. I will not do so again.

Jim

[Scott Berg]

OK... Yes, it's Cast Aluminum. I had an identical unit on my Hughes 38 years ago... If memory serves it rides on a threaded rod inside the boom that was operated by a crank under the boom by the vang.

When it froze up I chose to replace it with a Harken "Magic Box" system using lines rather than pull the mast apart but it may be easier in Panama to have someone make a piece in Stainless Steel of the all thread is still good.

PM me for more info,

Scott Berg

[Westerly33]

Thank you Scott.
The part was welded and now I am wondering how long would it last on the rout from Panama to Australia? Some cast aluminum alloys are not suitable for trustworthy welding.

What is your impression, could it be welded reliably?