Douglas Fir Boom Question

[Starboardyacht]

I am rebuilding an old Douglas fir boom from a Stonehorse 23... There is a bout a 1 inch bow in the middle of the boom its 13'3" long 2 x 2 diameter... My question is can I flip the boom over and reattach all the hardware or will this calls a cracking problem? This would reverse the bow and hopefully straighten it out, hopefully ...I fitted a3 foot lap joint at the end where some rot occurred...

[Starboardyacht]

If I flip it will it crack?

[SV Windrush II]

As long as there is no damage or further rot on the wood you should not have a problem. You could even take the bow out of it by just bending it the other way and leaving it under tension for awhile, but looks like it's not bowed that much to be much of an issue

[Starboardyacht]

My thinking is I will have new wood to mount foot- track & other fittings to as well as maybe pull the bow out....
Just don't want to hear a big crack at the worst possible moment!

[SV Windrush II]

unless the wood is visibly checked and cracked already or has grain that runs out on the edges you will not have a issue. straight grain wood (grain that runs lengthwise along the length of the beam), it should take a 2 foot bend at 13' length without an issue. I don't thing your application would bend it any more than a few inches. So I am sure you are safe.

[Cheechako]

I say go fo r it. Wow haven't heard of a Stonehorse in a long time, I used to drool over that boat many years ago! Send us some pics....

[SkiprJohn]

Yes, definitely go for it. Even if it was totally destroyed (which won't happen) it would be an easy rebuild.

[SkiprJohn]

What kind of joint did you put in at the end? Where is your mainsheet attachment point? If you trust the joint then it should be good.

[Starboardyacht]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I say go fo r it. Wow haven't heard of a Stonehorse in a long time, I used to drool over that boat many years ago! Send us some pics....

Cheechako, the Stone Horse is a truly elegant little clipper, steers herself & loves a nice blow... Amazing how comfortable her motion is...

[SV Windrush II]

Originally Posted by Starboardyacht

Cheechako, the Stone Horse is a truly elegant little clipper, steers herself & loves a nice blow... Amazing how comfortable her motion is...Attachment 79740

Awesome!

[Starboardyacht]

Originally Posted by Starboardyacht

Cheechako, the Stone Horse is a truly elegant little clipper, steers herself & loves a nice blow... Amazing how comfortable her motion is...Attachment 79740

[Starboardyacht]

SkipJ,
About 12 inches from the boom end was rot, So I attached a 4 foot piece of Douglas fir by means of a lap joint.. So the joint is a 3' lap joint....

[Starboardyacht]

I thought about putting in a couple dowels, do you think I need em?

[chris in SG]

If re-bending isn't effective, I suggest you consider a deeper profile, tapering at each end to accommodate the fittings (which perhaps require a square section). If you make a 'sandwich', adding a 1/2" thick strip on top and bottom (tapered on the bottom only) the additional weight in fir or spruce would be negligible and the boom would be significantly stiffer.

My suggestion will only work if your boom does not use roller furling. It appears from that photo that it does not..

My old boat was a Cheoy Lee offshore 40 with spruce spars and I made a new boom on the balcony at home, after practising with a spinnaker pole using the leftover lumber. Both spars were box sections but yours would need to be solid unless you start from scratch.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by Starboardyacht

SkipJ,
About 12 inches from the boom end was rot, So I attached a 4 foot piece of Douglas fir by means of a lap joint.. So the joint is a 3' lap joint....
Attachment 79748

Because your mainsheet attachment and your topping lift is at the end of your boom I'd add a couple of dowels just to be on the safer side.

They are pretty boats.