Boom

After the rigging was in place the next job was to install the hardware on the boom. The boom was made last summer and it is solid sitka spruce as here we want the extra weight. Two halves glued up with the glue line vertically orientated.

The boom end casting. I made the pattern split with a 3" core. The PTF star was added on after casting.

Here the boom end is installed. One 1/2" bronze rod that also acts as an axle for the two sheaves holds the fitting on. The boom end was treated with the usual creosote varnish mix before the fitting was bedded on.

Black locust fairleads treated with linseed oil for the various lines. 

Anatomy of the reefing cheek blocks. I had the outer cheek cast, the inner plate is 1/8" bronze plate, the eye was cast and threaded onto the 1/2" rod and then TIG welded on for a seamless finish. The curved washer is 1/8" bronze cut out with a hole saw and hammered into shape. The #12 x 2" screw spacers I machined out of 3/8" bronze rod and the sheave was bought from R&W Rope. I had to drill the sheave out for 1/2" on the lathe. The acorn nut was bought from Port Townsend Foundry. So here you can see the number of steps and pieces all to make one piece of hardware. Now times that by how many bits on the boat.....?

The goose neck straps. I also made the pattern for these split and with a core so the inside faces would be flat and easier to fit to the boom. Four 1/2" flat head machine screws alternating fasten the straps to the boom.