Frayed Shroud

[zpeteman]

We put our Mac 25 in the water yesterday and when I raised the mast I found a troubling problem. The port side lower shroud has a single strand that has somehow been severed about two feet above the chain plate. Yikes. The best I can figure, it must have been pinched somehow while the boat was in transit. There doesn't seem to be any other damage at all to the cable, but it's obviously going to need to be replaced soon. I know these cables are rated for WAY higher pressure than I put them under when sailing, but I certainly won't be going out in anything more than light wind until it's fixed.

Replacement seems like it should be easy enough. Stainless Steel cable with standard crimping. I used to rig massive speaker arrays to hang from ceilings in concert venues using the same stuff. Does anyone have a recommendation for where I might find the stainless cable at a reasonable price?

 

[Sumner]

I bought our rigging supplies from riggingonly.com. The info is all here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/rigging-24.html

...but the other option is to have them make up a new one from your old one if you don't have the right tools now or BWY probably has them in stock also. Also some WM stores had/have the wire and the swage tool that they let you use or at least they use to,

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

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[zpeteman]

I think the main problem is that it looks like the new cable has to be made on the mast. I don't see a way to disconnect the shroud from its mount point. So I'll imagine I'll have to do it on my own since I don't care to deliver the entire mast somewhere to have it done for me.

 

[Sumner]

I think the main problem is that it looks like the new cable has to be made on the mast. I don't see a way to disconnect the shroud from its mount point. So I'll imagine I'll have to do it on my own since I don't care to deliver the entire mast somewhere to have it done for me.

That doesn't sound right?? Has a previous owner done something other than what is stock? All the rigging should come off the mast and the boat,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[caguy]

I seem to remember that the shroud is connected to a tang that is attached to the mast. The tang can be removed and taken to a shop. I made mine up at West Marine. They have all of the SS cable and supplies you need. They also have the crimping tools. Prices aren't the best but you don't have to pay for shipping and they are convenient.

 

[zpeteman]

You're right. The tang probably comes off the mast. Hadn't thought of that.

 

[Timo42]

That's a sign of age, replace all the standing rigging at the same time, and replace the bolts holding it to the mast while you are at it. Good time to look at the blocks for the halyards as well. I switched to turnbuckles for the adjusters on the shrouds and forestay, added a Johnson lever to the forestay, and an adjustable backstay, I also used Navtec swageless eyes instead of the nicopress fittiongs, a bit more expensive, but you can assemble them at home and they are reusable and stronger.

 

[arknoah]

That's a sign of age, replace all the standing rigging at the same time, and replace the bolts holding it to the mast while you are at it. Good time to look at the blocks for the halyards as well.

Much as I hate to agree with spending more money than we already do as sailboat owners, it is certainly worth it and wise to think about replacing the standing rigging, given that the break may be an indication that it's reached the end of its life. Examining everything carefully makes sense to me.

I noticed during my last time out (fortunately after I was back at my slip) that there was an awful lot of flex in the shrouds. I've already alerted my friendly neighborhood marina that I want them (actually us) to check the rigging before launching in the spring. I'm hoping that it just needs to be adjusted, but if it needs replacement, I'm not going to take the chance and not replace it, resulting in my being out someday in just enough wind to cause a catastrophe.

 

[finding41]

I think there is a common problem with the way we look at our boats. We forget how old they are. There nice and shiny and white... Just like new.
Except there not any thing like new. And for the rigging... Same deal.
I think this problem exists with people selling there boats as well. They seem to want a few thousand less than what they paid for it 30+ years ago...

 

[crpdm]

I don't know that I would panic and replace all of the rigging. On a trailered boat, the wire rope can be easily kinked during travel and frequent stepping of the mast so the wire is not necessarily a sign of age. It may not even be original. The cable used on my 26D are rated for much more load than they will ever encounter while sailing, so one broken strand is not a sign of iminent failure.

I have replaced 2 shrouds and 2 forestays since 89, all due to damage while rigging/trailering. I replaced with 7x19 cable becasue it is more flexible than the OEM 7 x 7 and less likely to kink. For me, the biggest problemm with a broken strand is the painful puncture woound from grabbing the cable. (that's why they're called meat hooks!)
Many of you are much more conservative than I, and I respect you for it. But from my perspective I would replace the bad shroud (to save my fingers) and go sailing.