Really? One screw holds the boom to the mast?

I'm still a relatively new Ariel owner, so forgive any naivete in what follows.

Yesterday, when preparing to sail and tightening my boomvang, the boom itself broke loose from the mast and hit the deck. Upon closer inspection, it seems a single screw had fatigued until the point of failure. I replaced it on the spot (see photo), but am now wondering -- does so much really depend this one screw? Am I safe to sail again? It seem the one little screw would experience a lot of pressure and torque as the sole part that connects the boom to the mast.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Attachment 5248

BrianKay,
There really is not much stress on your goose neck, your mainsail takes most of the load.
You really should replace the bolt with a pin as the threads on the bolt will act like little files and egg out the bearing surfaces.

Thanks for the quick and authoritative answer, and for the peace of mind! This forum alone proves I made the right choice in getting an Ariel for my first sailboat!

Brian, I just removed my boom yesterday to get ready for hauling and wasn't happy with the pin just forward of your bolt. I'll have to take a closer look at things now!

Hey Brian

I agree you need a pin in there. This place may have a rigging pin long enough. I've bought from them

http://www.sailingservices.com/stand...hardw_pins.htm

You could throw some washers in there too.

Your gooseneck looks to be modified from original at the boom end, but sturdy

Agree, change the bolt out to a pin, or at least a bolt that comes as close to filling the holes as possble, and keep all the threads outside of the fittings.

Boom end is very different from mine, both the my Triton and Ariel have the same worm gear type roller setup. (except for being a foot or so longer and the outhaul, the triton's boom is identical to the Ariels)

ken.