Furler Toggle

[r.oril]

In talking to Rigging Only, I mention that I had a fuller and he asked if I had a toggle at the top. The forces on the wire bending back and forth will cause it to fail down the line.

Question: How would I install a toggle on the top of this forestay? I have room to adjust the length at the Johnson end.

A photo/diagram would be great.

Thanks

 

[Joe]

You may have a problem getting one to fit the thimble eye shown in the picture... The toggle rotates the axis of the pin 90 degrees, and the fit is determined by the diameter of the pin at the mast end. I suggests you send that picture to the Rigging Only advisor, with the pin diameter and width of the thimble eye, to get his input. You may have to convert to a swaged marine eye so it will fit in the toggle's jaws. No offence, but that's a pretty rube goldberg setup you have there... you need to clean it up with some proper fittings and hardware. JMHO.

 

[DJN51]

Check out forestay failure by sesmith in forums.Had a swivel added to forestay like his,took alot of strain off furler.Had it done by Vermont Sailing Partners

 

[Ron20324]

The thimble will move fore and aft, and with the sloppiness in it, it probably already gyrates side to side, like the toggle would allow it to do. In a new setup, yes, there should be a toggle. I would put some spacers between the bracket and thimble (or toggle) to take the slop out.

 

[r.oril]

Thanks guys. Now I can see how 90 degrees will take the stress off the wire. It's a work in progress for sure. Thanks again.

 

[caguy]

Bob, many furlers do not have have a swivel at the top. That was one of the reasons you were instructed to only use a coupler at the top. The load is evenly distributed through out the length of the tube and forestay. If fatigue were a problem you would find the same fatigue with hanked-on sails.
Here is a diagram of the rigged aluminum furler on my C-27. There is no swivel at the top and it has lasted almost 30 years without detriment to the forestay.
I also suggested 1/2'' zip ties for the center grommets and 1/8'' nylon rope with several wraps for the head and tack grommets.

 

[r.oril]

Frank - OK, my bad! Remove the plug at the top, leaving just a coupler. Here I though I was being real inventive with the plug and a hole just the right size for the wire. Also , I ran out of 1/2" Zips but I will get more.
(my wife says I never listen) LOL!

Thanks

 

[Ed Schenck]

I think only you and Frank know that we are looking at a homemade PVC furler on a very light rig. The forces are not much and the thimble allows plenty of movement in all directions. So forestay failure should not be an issue. True that it would be cleaner and stronger with a real toggle instead of aluminum nicopressed sleeves.

 

[r.oril]

I did the mods on the top of the PVC Furler as per Franks original design and darn if it doesn't turn easier. Thanks Frank.
Might be warm enough to go out this weekend and give it another test hop and
I had up-sized the wire to 5/32 last year.