Aha - that makes sense

Posted By: Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas
Date: 7/16/08 8:58a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: gaff slug (bob)

I once lost the nut on the bottom of the bolt in my boom gooseneck on our Horizon Cat. The nylon on the nut had never really gripped the stock bolt well, because the bolt was just long enough. A good idea, but I used a replacement bolt a 1/4 inch longer to get a better grip with the nylon part of the nut. Scrounging around out on the lake I found a spare nut in my toolbag, so that's how I got by that day. Incredibly the original bolt was still in the gooseneck. Just musing, I think a way to jury rig a repair for a lost gooseneck bolt at sea would be with a fastpin and a quick lash to keep it in place. I use fastpins to secure my cockpit seat latches, and there is also a quarter inch fastpin to set up a table in the cabin on the Horizon Cat. Hmmm... I had to re-do the lanyards on the fastpins on the forestay release, so there's another fastpin that's might be cannibalized. A constrictor knot (better, a double constrictor) would keep the forestay lever secured. I'd hate to cut the factory lanyards since they are so nice, but I replaced mine with a bit of 3/16 line to gain access to an adjustment hole. Anyway, if it's just the bolt you're in luck - it's probably a quarter-20 stainless with a nylon locknut and a couple of flat washers.