Gooseneck seems loose

[Tim Dranttel]

I've recently purchased an 86 Cat 30. When I removed the mainsail to clean it and repair some minor things I notice that the gooseneck to boom connection had some play in it. Thinking that there was a large nut on the other side of the boom-end plate I attempted to remove the boom from the goose neck. I undid the four screws around the outside of the boom thinking that surely these are what is holding the boom-end plate to the boom. With the four screws out I could not remove the end plate with light prying and some lube. With both the boom and the end plate being aluminum I am leary of getting too aggresive. First off do I have a problem or is some play (1/2") where the large goose neck pin fits into the boom normal? If not what to do?

 

[Richard Gresham]

GOOSENECK SLOP

TIM, I recently disassembled mine( 87') to replace the outhaul pulley. The fit is tight and you'll need to work at it. (The corrosion doesn't help either) I used a large screwdriver (phillips) thatl fit through the hole in the pin and beat it out evenly with a 2 x 4. Mine didn't have a 1/2" of play, that seems like a lot. The hole in the AL boom end is probably streached and deformed. You can get a new end from Catalina Direct. While your at it remove the other end and replace your outhaul line and pulley if needed and get new screws to reattach the ends. I used anti-seize on the screws because of the corrosion..Good luck!