Carl,
What is meany by removing one boomkin at a time?
There are wooden beams, one port and one on starboard that make the boomkin with a stainless brace totally aft holding the backstay. I simply removed one board at a time leaving all other rigging in tact, slightly loosened. Ill add that my mast is wood - perhaps heaver than aluminum. I even left the pushpit intact only removing the wood beam.
Do you have a home made boomkin?
Well its boat-made, I made it out of dug fir using only a few tools, drill, router for looks, a circular saw, angle finder tool, sander, and tape measure. I even went so far as to cut the boomkin round using my circular saw. Just cut angles until the sander shape it smooth and round.
Also, living aboard meaning on the hook or wet slip?
We were moared at the marina here in Olympia WA, but that said there should be no reason one could not make this part on the hook. Since I made the boomkin last summer I have now found tools that would work without power. Coping saw is my new best friend.