Boom crutch

[kokko]

After a weekend of sailing my '68 DSI, the Truelove, I see a need to add a boom crutch. I think the easiest thing to do is make a crutch that straddles the centerboard locker just after the cuddy.

Since I left my boat at my inlaws and will not see it again for several weeks, can someone tell me the width of the centerboard locker and the nominal vertical length to the boom?

Also, if you have made such a crutch, I would like to hear of it.

[Roger]

I cut a couple of 1 x 1's 54" long and pivoted them with a ss bolt 6" from one end. I found that they sat better in the bottom aft corners of the cockpit.

[kokko]

I have the paddle, but it interferes with the tiller, The scissor type might work, but I think some the straddles the centerboard locker would work better

[beachboy46]

Kokko does your DS 1 have the wood slatted floor boards? The DS 1 originally came with floor boards, at the aft end on one side, I can't remember which there is a slot in the slats where the paddle was placed through, into a wood block that is fiberglassed to the hull. this is offset from the centerline to allow for the tiller. The handle of the paddle has a "U" notch to fit the boom. the main sheet is tightened to hold all in place. Wradith the main sail down I had a sunbrella tarp that made a nice tent when fit over the boom and secured at all four corners.
B

[kokko]

I do have the slotted footboards (painstakingly restored) and the original oar/boom crutch. The original oar/crutch was fine while raising the mast, but not very good as a boom crutch. I found that if the floorboards shifted, the oar would fall out of the slot, and it did interfere with the tiller and engine.

I built a new crutch that straddles the centerboard locker. My prototype worked ok, but needs to be about 4 inches longer. I'll keep the forum posted as version II is built and tested.

[adam aunins]

It might not be as pretty but you could use a piece of large PVC pipe, put a u-notch in one end to fit over the CB trunk and a V notch on the other end to take the boom. That is the set up I have on my boat for supporting the mast on the transom, it's simple, cheap, water proof and if you lose it (our your kids take off with it to use as a toy) it's no big deal.