Suncat boom cap

[pwright@rhgroup.org]

PLEASE DISREGARD THIS. I HOPEFULLY HAVE FOUND WHAT I NEEC FROM DRMARINE.COM.  I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THE PART FITS WHEN IT COMES IN.

While jibing, the connection that sticks out the end of the boom cap on my Suncat (Cam-pac Yachs) broke off.  That is the piece on the lower boom that furnishes a connection to the mast hardware at the tack of the sail. Any suggestions as to where I can get a new boom cap? The boom itself is fine. I understand that the Hutchins Company has closed.

The part is Dwyer Part # 355-1L.  Unfortunately Dwyer is out of business and its website has shut down.  The first photo shows the end of the boom. The end cap is intact but the "screw" that is supposed to stick out and connect somehow to the gooseneck has snapped off.  The second photo shows the gooseneck which seems ok except that one part into which this "screw" is supposed to be inserted is bent somewhat but is probably still usable.

If someone has a used Suncat Boom for sale I would be happy to buy that.  Or perhaps there is another sailboat still in production whose boom I could use. The length of the Suncat boom is 15ft 6in.  My alternative course of action seems to be to drill out the 2 rivits holding the end cap in the boom, try to get the end cap out of the boom, try to unscrew the broken off screw from the inside side of the end cap, find a new similarly sized stainless steel bolt to insert into the gooseneck and screw into the end cap, the put the end cap back on the end of the boom, and drill holes into it where the rivits were and screw the thing back on using stainless steel screws.  Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[Brian N.]

Welcome to the Forum. A picture might help to explain the connection you're describing. Do you mean the gooseneck connection?

[Roland of Macatawa]

pwright:

The Com-Pac SunCat boom was made for Com-Pac by the Dwyer Aluminum Mast Co.
Attached is an image of Dwyer's drawing of the SunCat boom. (Thanks, Bruce)
You cannot view this attachment.


The gooseneck assembly portion is Dwyer's part # 355-1L.
You cannot view this attachment.

Unfortunately, Com-Pac is now closed following the death of Gerry Hutchins.
Furthermore, Dywer has stopped the sale of parts. ( Dwyermast.com )

I suggest that you seek further assistance from the Com-Pac forum ( cpyoa.com )
Alternate part sources have been discussed there.


Regards, Roland

[Spot]

Welcome to the forum.

Roland, excellent post! Sad news that Dwyer is not retailing parts anymore.

My nature would be to call Zim and Dwyer to see if the parts are somewhere and could be gotten anyways.

If the above is a bust and the broken piece is the main casting, I may be able to help as a hobby aluminum foundry person.

[Bruce Mason]

Thanks, Roland.

No, Zim and Dwyer aren't interested in supporting several legacy models any more. If you go to their sites, they do list what they are supporting.

Assuming you're talking the boom gooseneck, the full gooseneck assembly is available a couple of places I've found. Here's one.
https://drmarine.com/product/gooseneck-complete/

The cast end cap only is available.
https://drmarine.com/product/gooseneck-casting-only-with-pin/

You can also attach the tack at the universal itself with this bracket, which includes a reef hook.
https://drmarine.com/product/gooseneck-tack-bracket-with-reef-hook/

Dwyer provided spars and fittings for a number of brands. These are listed on the DR site for the O'day Daysailer, and other O'day models. There may be other suppliers who have, or will, step in to provide popular parts. The existing stock of Dwyer parts will run out of course.

[Roland of Macatawa]

Follow-up:

The SunCat boom is a Dwyer Mast DM-275 aluminum extrusion.
Attached is a dimensioned diagram of its cross-section.

You cannot view this attachment.


Note the overall dimensions of: 1.75 x 2.75 inches
These match the size of the gooseneck casting which Bruce referenced at D&R Marine.

And, once I inquired of Dwyer what the extrusion wall thickness is.
They replied 3/32 inch.


Regards, Roland

[Noemi - Ensenada 20]

hobby aluminum foundry person

I'm continually amazed by the diversity of skills here.

[Spot]

t

hobby aluminum foundry person

I'm continually amazed by the diversity of skills here.

I needed a part for a boat and contacted the 'vendor', well known for not getting back to people, who elected to behave the same way with me. I decided not to throw effort or money at their bad business model. So now I have a new hobby and met a couple dozen interesting foundry people along the way, in person and online. My dealings with Dwyer were always good and even if they did not have a part, I felt better for having talked to them.

My boom might be the same section...

[Doug SC]

Bravo y'all! Like Noemi I am often amazed by the knowledge here.