Forestay about to snap--please help!

[SaltySails]

Hi, my ODay daysailer forestay is hanging on by two wire threads! The others snapped at the bottom of the stay, at the tabernacle. What is the quickest way to replace the wire? Is there a place I can type in my hull and class number to find the size/length stay I need to buy to replace it? Is this something I can easily fix by myself?
Amy help would be appreciated,
Laura

 

[FastOlson]

Looks like, from a quick look at your general locale on the 'net, that you should be close to civilization and thus rigging shops. Time for you to google riggers in your area. Take your old stay in and have 'em swage up a new one. There's not that much to the rig on a DS. Probably about ten years overdue for new rigging all 'round.
Usually, broken strands in one one stay indicates that it's time to do 'em all.

All part of preventative maintenance -- and we're all glad that the spar did not come down on your head!

Those DS sloops are really great classics, so take care of it and it will take care of you.

Fair winds.

 

[caguy]

Hi, my ODay daysailer forestay is hanging on by two wire threads! The others snapped at the bottom of the stay, at the tabernacle. What is the quickest way to replace the wire? Is there a place I can type in my hull and class number to find the size/length stay I need to buy to replace it? Is this something I can easily fix by myself?
Amy help would be appreciated,
Laura

Use your jib halyard or topping lift to secure the mast to the pulpit or bow cleat.

 

[Merlin Clark]

You're going to have to take the mast down to remove the old and install the new, so take the old one to the rigger. He can get the correct length from it.

 

[kpgraci]

Length should match the old one, probaly no place to 'look it up'.

I replaced mine myself, if you do that I would use the Hi-mod or Navtec terminals. It cost me about $100 per stay (for 1/8" wire, terminals, and turnbucles). If in doubt use a rigger.

 

[RichBone]

Rudy makes them up also. And he's got dimensions

 

[Sunbird22358]

D&R Marine www.drmarine.com will have it or (slightly closer) contact Cape Cod Shipbuilding in Wareham, current builder of the Day Sailer, they have an excellant rigging department. www.capecodshipbuilding.com
Otherwise, WEST Marine will copy your old one. The price from CCSB is higher, but that is because they use a full (open-body) turnbuckle not the sort-of half turnbuckle used by O'DAY originally (mine has that style). D&R offers the same thing, price is $80 vs $81 at CCSB. D&R gets $58 for the one with the original style half turnbuckle. (shipping is extra for both, but Rudy is open almost every Saturday morning for walk-in and CCSB is open Monday-Friday 8-4:30.

One addition, does your Day Sailer still have the original size rigging? If it is 3/32" wire, you may want to upgrade to 1/8" wire since the 3/32" is really a bit too small for the DS. O'DAY must have been trying to cut costs when they used 3/32" originally ,but the common recommendation from the DSA and D&R as well as CCSB is to upgrade to 1/8" to increase the safety factor. Expensive perhaps ,but in hte long run much better. My boat's rigging was upgraded in 1985 and is still in good shape! (Bought rigging from CCSB).