Hi Everyone,
Just joined the yachting community for the first time (and this forum).
Our Cavalier 23 needs a new gooseneck and the local chandlery told me that they have to be custom made. Is this correct? I can't seem to find anything that looks similar online.
Thanks in advance
Assume you made a typo and meant Cav 32 as there was no Cav 23.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_Yachts
Allyacht Spars should have a standard one close enough or can do a custom one. Need to use the same fastening holes in the mast as your existing one, don't drill any new holes.
www.allyachtspars.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/B4-Goosenecks-Sail-Entries.pdf
I'm in the process of making a new one for my Ross 780.
Well just the part that goes on the mast, as the original was a bit lightly built and has bent.

This pic is not mine, but its the same fitting. I'm remaking the mast bit with the forks out of heavier stainless plate. Local sheet metal place rolled the flat stainless plate to the same curve as my mast. Now I just need to cut and shape the forks and get them welded to the mast plate....Then rivet the mast plate on with some yellow poo in between.
I'm struggling with ideas about a reefing hook tho ??
Assume you made a typo and meant Cav 32 as there was no Cav 23.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_Yachts
Allyacht Spars should have a standard one close enough or can do a custom one. Need to use the same fastening holes in the mast as your existing one, don't drill any new holes.
www.allyachtspars.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/B4-Goosenecks-Sail-Entries.pdf
Thanks r13, it was a typo. Was meant to be Cav 26.
Thanks for the link for Allyacht Spars. I'll have a look.![]()
keeleymarine.com.au
Try this mob in melbourne, they have just about everything under the sun. you might find the bits you need.
I'm in the process of making a new one for my Ross 780.
Well just the part that goes on the mast, as the original was a bit lightly built and has bent.

This pic is not mine, but its the same fitting. I'm remaking the mast bit with the forks out of heavier stainless plate. Local sheet metal place rolled the flat stainless plate to the same curve as my mast. Now I just need to cut and shape the forks and get them welded to the mast plate....Then rivet the mast plate on with some yellow poo in between.
I'm struggling with ideas about a reefing hook tho ??
Would use Tefgel white poo not Duralac yellow poo - Tefgel has replaced Duralac and it won't go brittle like Duralac. They both get over everything - suggest masking tape up the mast before applying.
As per Newmo's post for BlackWolf - I understood that Keeley Marine were not in the Cav26 size range but they certainly are as per this project link; see photo in this project where the reef horn is part of the main vertical pin - they would easily do one for your situation. Just cut the plates holding the tack pin back and secure the tack with a shackle off the reef horn.
www.keeleymarine.com.au/building-gooseneck-outhaul-plug-holland-25/
But if your terminology "reefing hook" means a hook similar to a cunningham eye hook then just use one of those hooks on a bit of spectra?
Would use Tefgel white poo not Duralac yellow poo - Tefgel has replaced Duralac and it won't go brittle like Duralac.
+1 for Tefgel. The yellow Duralac stains everything, too, especially your nice gel coat.
Yes but the designer was kiwi Bob Salthouse part of the family that had 11 boat designs in production over there until Piggy Muldoon torpedoed the industry in 1979 with his 20% tax
www.dbyboatsales.com.au/listing/cavalier-26-for-sale/
I would second the idea of using the cunningham, maybe with a saddle to keep it pulling forward. I had hooks and didn't like sweating the hard to grab luff into the hook. On my current boat I have a slide at the reef point and just use the downhaul which has a hook. Easy peasy. I make up composite fittings for my boats, because I hate paying the stainless guy to make custom fittings. If it was me I would wax the mast. Then layup some glass over the back of it. The I would take this home and put a composite tube on the back. Cover with filler, shape and then glass over again. Then you have a lovely, close fitting mast part of the gooseneck. I made my own composite mast crane and even did spreaders. All nice looking (I think) strong and cheap. Remember composite is the new wave so get on board. All you need is some tube, glass filler and resin. It skills you up for any holes in the boat too.
I still bolt them on to the mast. (The spreaders don't really need the bolts)
The first thing I did with the SS34 is cut off the reefing hooks. I installed a conventional cunningham eye set up and turning blocks for the two reefing lines. Reefing hooks are just downright dangerous!
The first thing I did with the SS34 is cut off the reefing hooks. I installed a conventional cunningham eye set up and turning blocks for the two reefing lines. Reefing hooks are just downright dangerous!
I did similar on Morning Bird. The cunningham worked very well for reefing.
On Havefun's Northshore 33 a couple of weeks ago the reefing hooks worked well. I think it might be a boat specific matter.
The first thing I did with the SS34 is cut off the reefing hooks. I installed a conventional cunningham eye set up and turning blocks for the two reefing lines. Reefing hooks are just downright dangerous!
I did similar on Morning Bird. The cunningham worked very well for reefing.
On Havefun's Northshore 33 a couple of weeks ago the reefing hooks worked well. I think it might be a boat specific matter.
I think it's more dependent on the number of people in the crew. Trying to use hooks when sailing solo is dangerous. I added the cunningham eye just for that job separate to the two reefing lines.