failure of front/bow standing rigging stay

[jstyers]

Hmm, attempting to attach link to photos.

Found the cause, as Seapup suggested it looks like the lower t-bolt backed out of the turnbuckle.

If there was a cotter pin on the lower t-bolt it is gone now. If it was installed like the upper cotter pin on the swaged fitting I'm not sure I trust it to keep the rig upright anyway. Does anyone have a photo of the "right" way to install the cotter pins? All I see in the CDI manual are instructions to install them but nothing as to how. I would expect that the cotter pins should keep the turnbuckle and the swaged fitting/lower t-bolt in the same position relative to one another. If true, then the cotter pin would need to wrap around the turnbuckle? CDI is closed now but I plan to call them tomorrow.

Seapup, we launch from the marina on Langley AFB. I keep the boat there with the mast up most of the time http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/p ... 74ed2c85b8#

<table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(https://www.gstatic.com/pwa/s/v/lightho ... ground.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1153821722 ... site"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-daEr ... ailure.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/1153821722 ... bedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Furling Failure</a></td></tr></table>

https://picasaweb.google.com/1153821722 ... directlink

[walt]

Thanks for posting that.. useful to me.

I would also be very interested to hear what you get from the manufacture.

I experimented with a ring (see the picture) but I dont think it would survive long inside the furler. Need something better given that this will be somewhat of a pain to inspect.

[Tempus]

I've got both a split pin and tie-wire in our turnbuckle. Hopefully between the two that'll keep it secure!

[mastreb]

Use these:

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/c-sherman ... P010071934

They're what the manufacturers are moving to because they have no failure modes.

[walt]

Another possible option to throw out..

This is 19 guage stainless steel wire in a "figure 8" so loops through the bolt hole twice. It seems very rigid..

[jstyers]

Walt, the figure 8 with stainless steel wire is just what I had in mind. I will keep all the twists tucked inside the turnbuckle to minimize the chance of the turnbuckle snagging the inside of the furling drum.

I did call CDI today but I think I may have spooked them when I mentioned that I dismasted when the T-bolt backed out. They didn't offer any details on cotter pin installation and just referred me to a rigger.

Matt, the reviews on WM for those cotter pin alternatives weren't overwhelming.

Jeff

[RobertB]

Understandable CDI did not get involved - they sell furlers, not forestays. Seems you had a forestay failure.

[Seapup]

Any reason closed body turnbuckles have a lock nut and open body does not (other than open body does not need one)

[Tomfoolery]

Any reason closed body turnbuckles have a lock nut and open body does not (other than open body does not need one)

I was thinking the same thing. My Hunter had open body on the stays, with locknuts and lock wire, and I don't see a reason nuts couldn't be added if desired. Left-handed aren't as readily available, like at the average hardware store with SS bits and pieces, but certainly easy to source online (McMaster).