Crap'n Neal® scribbled thusly:
Yah Right! Take the thing off and get it x-rayed annually.


??? Where did you hear that?

OzOne wrote:
Oh no Cappy, a good visual inspection will quickly uncover any serious
corrosion.


Or even any not-yet-serious corrosion. Besides, an aluminum spar that's
had stainless steel fastenings through it for 30 years ought to be suspect.

Like any other piece of equipment on a boat, the boom needs regular
inspection.
It's a part of good seamanship....possibly not required for
'mooringmanship'


I bet the Crapton doesn't know any of the marks for the St Augustine
inlet anyway.

Why bother when you could insert unbreakable steel Joe would be
proud of and solve the problem once and for all times.


I can assure you that galvanised malleable iron water pipe is a long
long way from 'steel'


And subject to deformation under load as well, which is why his boom is
slowly getting more and more kinked.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King