How are others handling this apparently common problem? I got one good idea for prevention from Sean Coerse, a 240 owner who duct tapes the shrouds to the lifelines during stepping. What about replacement? If there are no visible cracks, and enough good thread to tune the rig, are the bent toggles safe to use? Mine are 5/16" left-hand thread. Is this standard, and is there a source who sells toggles only? So far I've only found complete turnbuckles for sale from rigging catalogs and online. Thanks in advance, Tom Wootton
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
Dave Oberholtzer
toggles
West marine carrys them. Make sure you measure exactly the length of your toggle before you take it off so you just have to put the new one on without retensioning the rig. Dave Hydrotherapy
West marine carrys them. Make sure you measure exactly the length of your toggle before you take it off so you just have to put the new one on without retensioning the rig. Dave Hydrotherapy
T
Tom Wootton
Thanks Dave...
I also found, after more thoroughly searching the archive, several solutions to the binding-while-stepping problem, as well as the page # (914) in the West Marine catalog. At 9 bucks each, there's no excuse NOT to replace them. I should have searched more diligently before posting. Tom
I also found, after more thoroughly searching the archive, several solutions to the binding-while-stepping problem, as well as the page # (914) in the West Marine catalog. At 9 bucks each, there's no excuse NOT to replace them. I should have searched more diligently before posting. Tom
J
Joe R
scary
I had a bent toggle last 2 seasons then it failed under tension in high wind. The shroud when flying after a loud crack when the bolt broke. If it had hit me it would have hurt. If it hit me in the eye, I would look like a pirate. The bolts bent when stepping the mast and getting caught in the u-bolt. I use a short piece of sail tie or small diameter rope to keep the toggle up high in the "U" while stepping. I also asign the task of watching both sets while stepping to the 1st mate. Once the toggle bolt is bent, it is weak and will eventually fail. So replace any others that are bent. Joe
I had a bent toggle last 2 seasons then it failed under tension in high wind. The shroud when flying after a loud crack when the bolt broke. If it had hit me it would have hurt. If it hit me in the eye, I would look like a pirate. The bolts bent when stepping the mast and getting caught in the u-bolt. I use a short piece of sail tie or small diameter rope to keep the toggle up high in the "U" while stepping. I also asign the task of watching both sets while stepping to the 1st mate. Once the toggle bolt is bent, it is weak and will eventually fail. So replace any others that are bent. Joe
H
Harvey Small
Masking Tapw
First off, replace any bent toggle parts, including the slotted link between the threaded rod on the turnbuckle and the U fitting on the boat. If any of those are weakened, you will lose your mast and it will spoil your whole day. Before raising my mast, I use some paper masking tape around the lifelines and shrouds to hold the turnbuckles in the correct position. Right before the mast is fully raised, I check to see that everything is still in position before the final tug on the hoisting system. Then there is this satisfying "pop" as the tape breaks and the shrouds tension.
First off, replace any bent toggle parts, including the slotted link between the threaded rod on the turnbuckle and the U fitting on the boat. If any of those are weakened, you will lose your mast and it will spoil your whole day. Before raising my mast, I use some paper masking tape around the lifelines and shrouds to hold the turnbuckles in the correct position. Right before the mast is fully raised, I check to see that everything is still in position before the final tug on the hoisting system. Then there is this satisfying "pop" as the tape breaks and the shrouds tension.
S
Sean Coerse
Tom
Tom when I had to replace mine I called Hunter and they put me in touch with the rigger. I ordered 10. The total order including shipping was less than $30. The best way to ensure this doesn't happen again is to have a spare. I haven't bent one since.
Tom when I had to replace mine I called Hunter and they put me in touch with the rigger. I ordered 10. The total order including shipping was less than $30. The best way to ensure this doesn't happen again is to have a spare. I haven't bent one since.
N
Neil King
Help!
I have a '94 Hunter 26. What toggles are you referring to? Are these the adjustable turn buckle units that are on the mast raising bridle cables that attach from the mast to eyes on two life line stantions? I haven't been able to raise the mast yet, and the replacement bridle cable I ordered has a turnbuckle that is bent at an angle; looks like it's designed that way. What should I be looking out for? Also, is there a better way to raise the mast than using the main sheet?
I have a '94 Hunter 26. What toggles are you referring to? Are these the adjustable turn buckle units that are on the mast raising bridle cables that attach from the mast to eyes on two life line stantions? I haven't been able to raise the mast yet, and the replacement bridle cable I ordered has a turnbuckle that is bent at an angle; looks like it's designed that way. What should I be looking out for? Also, is there a better way to raise the mast than using the main sheet?
H
Harvey Small
Nomenclature
Relax, your mast raising bridle is just fine. The fitting that goes into the mast is angled, and that's a pelican hook at the other end. The toggles that are being discussed are the ones at the boat end of the shrouds, not the fittings (which I suppose could be called toggles, too) at the mast end. On my Hunter 26, the top threaded part of the turnbuckle is swaged to the shroud. It is threaded into the turnbuckle body, from whose bottom emerges the lower threaded part. The lower threaded part ends in a "T" which fits through a slot in a U shaped piece of flat stainless steel. There is a clevis pin through the arms of the U (which is upside down, so it looks more like a rounded A with the middle bar removed). The clevis pin also passes through a round upside down U which emerged from the hull and is presumably attached to the chain plates. The T and two U's act like a universal joint, permitting movement along two perpendicular axes. When you raise the mast, there is a satisfying moment when the mast seats and the shrouds pop into full tension. If any of these moving parts get jammed out of position, the final tensioning will warp or bend something. That something must be replaced or mast failure is inevitable. As for anything easier for raising the mast, let me know if you find anything -- maybe there's Viagra for spars!
Relax, your mast raising bridle is just fine. The fitting that goes into the mast is angled, and that's a pelican hook at the other end. The toggles that are being discussed are the ones at the boat end of the shrouds, not the fittings (which I suppose could be called toggles, too) at the mast end. On my Hunter 26, the top threaded part of the turnbuckle is swaged to the shroud. It is threaded into the turnbuckle body, from whose bottom emerges the lower threaded part. The lower threaded part ends in a "T" which fits through a slot in a U shaped piece of flat stainless steel. There is a clevis pin through the arms of the U (which is upside down, so it looks more like a rounded A with the middle bar removed). The clevis pin also passes through a round upside down U which emerged from the hull and is presumably attached to the chain plates. The T and two U's act like a universal joint, permitting movement along two perpendicular axes. When you raise the mast, there is a satisfying moment when the mast seats and the shrouds pop into full tension. If any of these moving parts get jammed out of position, the final tensioning will warp or bend something. That something must be replaced or mast failure is inevitable. As for anything easier for raising the mast, let me know if you find anything -- maybe there's Viagra for spars!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.