Hey gang - I hope all of you are off to a good start to the New Year!
I am going to replace my shrouds. Currently they are different gauges of wire, and most likely original (1972). Plus, I can't get the shrouds to the proper tension. They are too loose when completely tightened. The shrouds that I need help with are the lower shrouds. The existing shrouds are a mixed bag, with different wire gauges, different size turnbuckles. There is even a difference in length on the port and starboard lowers. Nuts. All the other forward/back/uppers shrouds I can replace easily. For the lower shrouds, I know I should replace the spreader bars and brackets, but I don't want to tackle installing them at this point. It looks very difficult to get that compression post to line up inside the mast between the spreader bars.
I'm looking for a way to connect the new shrouds to the older spreader bracket. The existing shrouds have been swaged directly thru the spreader bracket. I'll need to a saw to remove them. The new shrouds (1/8 inch) have a swaged eye on one end and the turnbuckle on the other end. I am thinking about installing the lower shrouds with shackles to the spreader brackets. I'm not sure how else to attach the shroud to the spreader bracket. I want to keep the shackle size as small as possible:
4mm - breaking strength ~300 lbs with a working load of ~1200lbs
5mm - breaking strength ~550 lbs with a working load of ~2200lbs
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Kevin
I am going to replace my shrouds. Currently they are different gauges of wire, and most likely original (1972). Plus, I can't get the shrouds to the proper tension. They are too loose when completely tightened. The shrouds that I need help with are the lower shrouds. The existing shrouds are a mixed bag, with different wire gauges, different size turnbuckles. There is even a difference in length on the port and starboard lowers. Nuts. All the other forward/back/uppers shrouds I can replace easily. For the lower shrouds, I know I should replace the spreader bars and brackets, but I don't want to tackle installing them at this point. It looks very difficult to get that compression post to line up inside the mast between the spreader bars.
I'm looking for a way to connect the new shrouds to the older spreader bracket. The existing shrouds have been swaged directly thru the spreader bracket. I'll need to a saw to remove them. The new shrouds (1/8 inch) have a swaged eye on one end and the turnbuckle on the other end. I am thinking about installing the lower shrouds with shackles to the spreader brackets. I'm not sure how else to attach the shroud to the spreader bracket. I want to keep the shackle size as small as possible:
4mm - breaking strength ~300 lbs with a working load of ~1200lbs
5mm - breaking strength ~550 lbs with a working load of ~2200lbs
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Kevin