Is it possible to straighten a bent boom and not loose too much strength or cause a weak spot? The bend isnt too severe this time and, as I cant afford a new boom at this point in time, I want to do what I can to save this one. Has anyone any success and if so, how did they bend it back without kinking it?
If the bend is not too bad you would be better off leaving it. When you try to straighten it you normally end up causing a weak spot which will break. If the initial impact that bent the boom wasn't enough to break it, attempting to manipulate it back into shape probably will. Sorry to rain on your parade, buy yourself a new arm if you are trying to save coin but breakage is most likely inevitable.
Pat, I usually leave the bent arm as is if it is not kinked. I always buy the same boom so from two new booms can usually make a third boom and then a spare arm by sleaving and joining the broken arms (3 usually can make 1) when the third boom breaks for a fourth boom. My last crash resulted in two broken boom arms and a bent tail piece so I am in for a new one.
Pat, I usually leave the bent arm as is if it is not kinked. I always buy the same boom so from two new booms can usually make a third boom and then a spare arm by sleaving and joining the broken arms (3 usually can make 1) when the third boom breaks for a fourth boom. My last crash resulted in two broken boom arms and a bent tail piece so I am in for a new one.
This boom was already made from 2 different booms I managed to trash a couple of months ago. I had to shim the boom head as the arms were of a slightly smaller diameter than the original. The bend is a little too much to sail with so I may just try to bend it back just a little to at least a point where I can use it, otherwise I wont be sailing for at least another month. Not sure I could cope with that! lol
Pat, I usually leave the bent arm as is if it is not kinked. I always buy the same boom so from two new booms can usually make a third boom and then a spare arm by sleaving and joining the broken arms (3 usually can make 1) when the third boom breaks for a fourth boom. My last crash resulted in two broken boom arms and a bent tail piece so I am in for a new one.
This boom was already made from 2 different booms I managed to trash a couple of months ago. I had to shim the boom head as the arms were of a slightly smaller diameter than the original. The bend is a little too much to sail with so I may just try to bend it back just a little to at least a point where I can use it, otherwise I wont be sailing for at least another month. Not sure I could cope with that! lol
I have still got one arm that has been sleeved from two. Boom was a 162cm so you can use that if it works and straightening doesn't.
1. Rig up with boom upside down and perform similar catapault on opposite tack.
2. (seriously) Gently bend in wheel arch of your van using the tyre as the fulcrum. I have done this twice successfully.1 boom still in use by mate I sold it to!
I bent a boom at near right angles! Sailed it back in with the sail flapping due to untying the outhaul (fear of battens breaking), anyways used a mates bull-bar to straighten and voila! near-straight boom.
I know what cold-forming aluminium tube does, so I'm not too confident it will last, luckily the bend was straight up, and not out or down, might give me some breathing space...
after a wonderfull cataloop
Sailed it back in with the sail flapping due to untying the outhaul (fear of battens breaking), anyways used a mates bull-bar to straighten and voila! near-straight boom.
