So I have a situation with my Brower 800.  This didn't show up on the survey but I noticed the main support tube has been overloaded at some point in its lifetime.  See photos below.  I jumped into the Navigator owners group and received some replies below.  Nonetheless, it looks like I'll be fixing the stress point as soon as possible.  My biggest problem is the dinghy is in the water and now I'll have to pull it out via trailer until this is fixed.

It looks like Brower Systems is out of business.  I did find this post over at Yacht Forums and this post over at Trawler Forums.  According to my research, there aren't any replacement parts available so it looks like this may have to be custom fabrication.  Unless, of course, I can find an older 800 that can be parted out.

 

 

 

Here's a photo of a failed Brower crane on another boat (not mine).  This was likely a very scary moment.  Luckily nobody was hurt.

Notice how the failure point was the internal tube, which I thought was solid core.  Based on what I see here, the internal tube is also hollow.

 

Here are some photos from another member showing off his modifications (reinforcement welded to the sheave) and new gas strut.  I spoke with him and found out the top of his external shaft was bent when they let the crane down too far (you can see it in the photos).  He also noted the gas shock doesn't really need the tube installed.  The tube is shown separate from the assembly and merely to clean up the install.

 

 

Here are some photos of my support shaft disassembled.

Factory gas strut = SpringLift (Attwood) # SL-29-200