boom when it was being towed in a catenary configuration ranged from 

 500 pounds at 0.2 k.'^ot to 1,455 pounds at 1.1 knots (1,455 pounds is 

 considered low as the boom had turned on its side at 1.1 knots). 



The measured catenary tow loads and the loads predicted by the 

 theoretical analysis in Appendix A are shown in Figure 24. 



CONCLUSIONS 



1. The boom connectors satisfactorily held the boom-skirt section 

 together and were simple and easy to connect, even while two men 

 worked from a small boat . 



2. The towing assembly provided a satisfactory method of towing the oil 

 boom in straight -line and catenary-tow configurations. This assembly was 

 easily connected to and disconnected from the connectors on the oil 

 boom. 



3. The boom-bulkhead connector assembly was easily installed on a pier 

 piling. An oil boom was quickly attached to the bulkhead connector, and 

 the connector allowed the attached boom to follow tidal variations. 



4. The boom towing loads measured during field tests confirmed the 

 validity of the theoretical towing load predictions. Appendix A, that 

 were used in the initial design of the hardware. 



5. Oil did not leak through the hinge area of assembled connectors 

 when a sufficient, and normally present, tensile force was applied to 

 the connector. Oil leakage, which occurred when a sufficient tensile 

 force was not present, was not significant; and a special gasket was 

 not needed. 



6. Galling and siezing of the bolts and nuts used to hold the oil 

 boom to the boom connectors was due in part by the use of fine screw 

 threads for the items. Coarse screw threads should be used instead. 



7. The number 5-44NF round -head screws used in the connector assemblies 

 stripped the threads tapped in the connectors because of the relative 

 softness of the aluminum connector compared to the steel screw and the 

 small size and therefore low strength of fine screw threads used. A 

 larger screw with coarse threads would not strip the aluminum threads 

 as easily. 



8. The towing assembly submerged at times during the field tests 

 because the towing load created a force couple in the assembly which 

 could not be counteracted until the front end of the assembly submerged. 

 This force couple could be counteracted by lowering the location of the 

 tow hole on the assembly. 



