Ill post here since Im wondering what Bob did with his Shaefer 500 install and also regarding the nicopress.
I ordered a new forestay from "rigging supply" (I think you can find a link in Sumners write up) with the turnbuckle hardware installed at the bottom of the wire but I had to install the nicopress at the top. I did this by taking the old forestay and pinning it on a fence with two 5/16 in diameter posts. I then just made the new forstay using the two posts with the new turnbuckle in the mid adjusted position.. The pictures show the top mast attachment including the toggle (I did not need to move the attachment point on the mast).
The question I have for Bob is how did you deal with the external halyard? I picked the Shaefer 500 because it has the external halyard but I understand you have to be careful or the halyard can get wrapped when you furl the sail - which of course would NOT be a good thing. The pictures show what I did and since doing this Ive seen two other installs where someone had used an internal (to the mast) halyard. I dont think I will have a problem with halyard wrap.. but as mentioned, I have not used this yet in any wind let alone high winds. Anyhow.. any pictures of what you did would be interesting. I really like that furler.. but its hard to get any advice on how to get that halyard right at the top especially with the fractional rig..
