Disaster Averted

[davidbagnall]

WOW scary story! I'm glad it didn't end in tears....
I also beefed up my forestay well beyond original as well as the side stays because I really want the pointy up thing (mast) to stay pointing up.
Every time I am motoring I always tie the jib halyard off to the pullpit for an extra security.

[delevi]

Irayone,

It's basically telling you not to dismantle the attachment bale which connects the mast raising rope and baby stays and bolts to the mast, not to leave the whole thing in place. You remove the entire bale. Just unscrew the nut, pull out the bolt from the mast and out it comes.

Leon

[irayone]

Thanks Leon

The guy I bought my boat from always left it in place so I wasn't sure, and the instructions are not conclusive. Got it now...back up for the forestay....remove the mast winch....

[delevi]

If you back up the forestay with a halyard, make sure it's set so the headsail doesn't furl around it. Test it when not sailing. I had this happen and it's rather unpleasant. I found that putting a bolt through the little holes on the anchor roller make a good attachment point where the halyard won't get in the way, but frankly I just don't do it anymore. The adjustable backstay would be limited with a secondary headstay in my case.

[Québec 1]

I hand test all my rigging and then stand on the bow and just look at everything for 1 minute or 2 before leaving the dock or slip. I've averted problems in this manner on my boats and campers for years. Takes 5 minutes and is worth as much as any piece of safety equipment available.
Q1