Forestay Replacement

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Jun 10, 2006
79
Catalina 30 Boston MA
I want to first thank everyone for the help guideing me with my new furler questions. I am also going to replace the forestay with the new furler. Where can I purchase one to install myself. Or is this a task better do by a rigging company? I have a 1985 Catalina 30.
 
Jun 10, 2006
79
Catalina 30 Boston MA
I want to first thank everyone for the help guideing me with my new furler questions. I am also going to replace the forestay with the new furler. Where can I purchase one to install myself. Or is this a task better do by a rigging company? I have a 1985 Catalina 30.
 
Aug 18, 2007
28
CNSO Mikado Titusville, FL
I've had good luck on this sites Classified Ads

Jaydog, I just get a heck of a deal on a Facnor SD 80 furler and sail on this sites Classified Ads link. If there is currently not anything available, I would recommend that you post a WTB ad. Good luck, Jef
 
Aug 18, 2007
28
CNSO Mikado Titusville, FL
I've had good luck on this sites Classified Ads

Jaydog, I just get a heck of a deal on a Facnor SD 80 furler and sail on this sites Classified Ads link. If there is currently not anything available, I would recommend that you post a WTB ad. Good luck, Jef
 
Dec 2, 2003
480
Catalina C-320 Washington, NC
If you haven't purchased yet...

Look into Reef Rite furlers. I put one on our Cal 27-T/2. All the extras come in the purchase price including a new forestay. By the time youy price out all the stuff you have to buy with the other systems the prices become much more comparable. The system that I put on my Cal worked much easier for me and better features than the stock system on my Catalina. Here is a link, I have no interest in this company and get no benefit. It was a great system, easy to install and I wish I had it now. I didn't need a rigger, the instructions were easy enough to follow, I did need an extra set of hands for some of the tasks, so I had help. http://www.desktopwings.com/
 
Dec 2, 2003
480
Catalina C-320 Washington, NC
If you haven't purchased yet...

Look into Reef Rite furlers. I put one on our Cal 27-T/2. All the extras come in the purchase price including a new forestay. By the time youy price out all the stuff you have to buy with the other systems the prices become much more comparable. The system that I put on my Cal worked much easier for me and better features than the stock system on my Catalina. Here is a link, I have no interest in this company and get no benefit. It was a great system, easy to install and I wish I had it now. I didn't need a rigger, the instructions were easy enough to follow, I did need an extra set of hands for some of the tasks, so I had help. http://www.desktopwings.com/
 
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Its easy to do yourself

You can buy the materials at your local chandlery, Buy reuseabal fittings like a Nor Lock or similar and forget about swaging the cable. Just folow the directions to the letter. You will save your self a lot of money you would have had to pay the rigger. You need to learn how to go aloft anyway..:) This will pay for your Bosums chair! If you have never gone aloft befor have some one at your marina that has help you. They will also be able to show you how to rig up a temporary forstay , befor cutting loose your old one..We dont want your mast comming down...:)
 
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Its easy to do yourself

You can buy the materials at your local chandlery, Buy reuseabal fittings like a Nor Lock or similar and forget about swaging the cable. Just folow the directions to the letter. You will save your self a lot of money you would have had to pay the rigger. You need to learn how to go aloft anyway..:) This will pay for your Bosums chair! If you have never gone aloft befor have some one at your marina that has help you. They will also be able to show you how to rig up a temporary forstay , befor cutting loose your old one..We dont want your mast comming down...:)
 
G

Gary

forestay

I have used defender in the past, and found out they use secosouth in Florida. They will deal with you directly. You can send them you current rig or just give them measurements. What I have done in the past is have them swage a fitting on one end, provide me with an extra foot of length and I used a norseman fitting on the other end. Very simple.
 
W

Warren Milberg

You may want to look

into a Furlex 200 furler which, I think, would work well with your boat. I think all the Furlex kits come with a new head stay.
 
S

Scott

I would ...

get a rigger. That's my opinion because you had to ask the question and that's not a knock on you. Speaking for myself, when I don't know enough about something as important as a forestay on a 30' boat (if I had a 14' daysailer my opinion would be a lot different), I go to a reputable source (i.e. a source that has responsibility for handling the situation correctly) for peace of mind. I'm sure you are quite capable and can accomplish many tasks on your boat. I'm not sure that rigging a forestay for a furler assembly that you are not familiar with is something you would want to do if the safest solution is to spend a few extra dollars for the knowledge and responsibility of a professional.
 
A

Alex

Scotts right

Unless you really know what you are doing... and I mean, have done it before once or twice. Hire a professional rigger for the job. When you are out pounding away in 30 knots of wind and 8 foot sea you will be willing to pay anything for the rig not to buckle and fold. And unless you are a very very mechanically oriented and capable rigger you might not be able to guarantee that your weekend project holds up. Good luck, Alex.
 
Jun 12, 2004
1,181
Allied Mistress 39 Ketch Kemah,Tx.
Call Catalina or....

Call Catalina about the forestay. They may have one in stock. If not remove the old forestay and any rigging shop including West Marine can make nyou a new one. Use one of your halyards in place of the forestay for additional strength while removing and installing the forestay. The new furler should come with complete instructions either in the package or on the manufacturers website. Get on the Catalina owners website and ask someone their. Chances are you will do a better job than if you hire someone. I had a Catalina 30 and If i remember correctly, the forestays were held on by pins. Look at the bottom of your forestay where it attaches to the fitting. If you cant replace 2 pins, dont even attempt to learn sailing. This is not meant as a jab to jaydog, you are new at this and were asking. It is a jab at all the experts out there that can complicate just about anything. This is not rocket science. The forestay is one wire with 2 ends. Tony B
 
A

Alex

Mistress 39 is right

Call Catalina and they may have what you need. It might even cost you less than West Marine. Which in both cases is more than you could get it for somewhere else. Once you get it, still call a pro to do the job. The thing that lots of "newby Sailors" don't get is that when it all beaks loose, you can't pull over to the side and call for help. You are left with what you have created and you just have to deal with it. And it could be a very unpleasent and perhaps tragic event. If someone tells you.. "sure, okay, go ahead and do it yourself." Are they going to be there to fix what you screwed up. I am not promoting any particular business. But really... if someone came to me and said, " I've been told that I need a surgical procedure" would I say, "Oh my brother is a doctor, it's not that hard. Do it yourself. You can buy what you need on line." Rigging on an ocean going boat is just that "life na death". Now I'm not talking about installing a VHF or a refrigeration unit or anything like that. I am talking about the rig which has the potential to injure maim or kill people. Be smart where it counts.
 
Nov 28, 2004
209
Hunter 310 San Pedro
1st things 1st

First, have you made a decision on what furler to buy. Until you know the proper order of installation you can't decide to build or buy the stay. The fulex system for example comes with a new stay of the proper diameter and uses the lower bearing as part of the bottom fitting. All of the foils and foil bearings have to be assembled before the final fitting is attached. Good Luck Dennis W. S/V FullSailed
 
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Dont be fooled by a title

Both times I hired a so called profesional rigger I had to go back an redo half there work over again!! This is no joke. Buy Brian Toss's DVD set on Rigging,Going Aloft,and Stay-lock fittings. Then do it your self and get it done right. When I'm in 30 kts of wind "MINE" are the only ones I trust!! http://www.briontoss.com/index.html PS: That DVD will teach a competent 10 year old how to put togather a 100% strength Stay-lock fitting and be succsesful.
 

Alan

.
Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
I've done it...

...it's not hard, just use some common sense. Don't forget, if you make your own forestay, it needs to be made shorter than the original to allow for initial stretch. I had mine made up by my local marine shop and install it myself. Cost about $125 BTW I much prefer going aloft in a climbing harness over a bosuns chair.
 
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
I second that

but you need to spend enough to get a good one with cushining or its a killer. I tried my 30 year old rock climbing harness and couldnt walk for a week afterwards...;)
 
Jun 12, 2004
1,181
Allied Mistress 39 Ketch Kemah,Tx.
Working at heights

I have a rope grab (brake) that i attach to a spare halyard in the outside chance that your rope breaks. YOu probably dont have one so you can have 2 people raise you up. One to winch you up and one to tail and secure a safety line, just in case. Also.......If there is a Harbor Freight near by, they sell a canvass tool bag that mounts on a 5 gallon bucket. Great for sending parts back up and down. Dont forget to bring up a rope with you to drop down to the crew below to hook the bucket to. If no Harbor freight, just a 5 gallon bucket will do. Keep in mind, that you will almost always run into something at the top of the mast that will reuire a tool you forgot on the deck. IMHO Tony B
 
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