Gooseneck/Boom Question

My boom has a pin on the mast end that is about 5/16 diameter. There is a flat spot with a hole at the end to pin it to the gooseneck and and a disk perpendicular to the shaft that keeps it from sliding into the boom.

My question is about the fact that the pin slides in and out of the boom about 2 inches. It something internal to the boom that keeps it from sliding all the way out.

I've never paid attention but I'm guessing it doesn't move much once you pull in the outhaul. Is it supposed to slide in and out of the boom like that and if so what is the purpose?

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The ox is slow but the earth is patient

Inside of the boom, near the end of the pin is a groove that holds an E-Clip, or a snap ring. That E-clip/snap ring keeps the pin from sliding out of the boom.

The reason the pin is allowed to slide in and out of the boom is that it makes it much easier to pin the boom to the mast when rigging the boat.

Once the sail is attached to the boom and the outhaul is tensioned, the boom no longer slides on the pin.

If as sometimes happens, the E-clip/snap ring comes off of the pin and allows the pin to slide out of the boom, I have been known to just leave the pin attached to the mast and when rigging the boat, just slide the hole in the boom over the pin.

While not the factory recommended method of rigging the boat, I have never had a problem, and it is actually a bit faster.

I hope that answers your questions.

Stephen
H-18

Stephen is correct,this also makes it easy to rotate the mast when unhooking your halyard ring up top.I have two recommendations for you if it is not already done.
1) Buy one of the supergoose aluminum billet goosenecks,they are way better than the stock stamped steel part.They won't bend or bind on the pin.
2) On the mast top hook assy. grind off the rivet that holds the latch to the
hook and toss it.You are better off with just the hook,it just takes a twist of the mast to unhook and you will get a solid hook every time you raise the main.
shawn
82 h18 #8211
div3

Thanks for the explanation.

I actually just bought the supergoose. My 18 didn't come with a gooseneck and I had actually been sailing it with just the retaining pin through the bracket on the mast and the pin I mentioned above! When I went to upgrade the downhaul the supergoose was on the same page and I realized i was missing something!

I've never had a problem catching the hook at the top but I did have a problem unhooking once. I finally learned to haul and rotate to free it.

_________________
The ox is slow but the earth is patient