H 23.5 forestay

[Arturo DeVitalis]

In o0rder to get from my dock out to Pensacola the mast has to be lowered onto the crutch to get under the bridge gong over to NAS. That means the forestay turnbuckle has to be loosened (backed off), disconnected and later reconnected. (Don't try this with any wave action!!!) I'm sure some of you guys have already figured out a slick way to make the forestay disconnect/reconnect a simple proceedure, so lets hear it from you.I've got the latest Johnson catalog open to quick release levers and can't quite figure out if any of them would work on my 94. So far the calibrated turnbuckle (pp 26) looks like it might do the job. What say you?

 

[Sean Coerse]

mast

You shouldn't have to losen your forestay. Using the mast raising system take the tension up, disconect it lower the mast the raise it and pin it. No need to losen turnbuckles,

 

[Arturo DeVitalis]

For Sean

That works well when the boat isn't bouncing around in moderate or heavy wave action. I am hoping to eliminate the fumbling with one hand holding on to the bow pulpit and the other pulling and replacing a pin in a small hole. Theres got to be a quick relaease way kinda sorta like the pelican hooks used in the mast raising system. I sail 5 miles before reaching the low bridge; lower the mast then motor under the bridge for 60 feet, then the msst goes up PS - I keep my forestay tensioned to give the right rake and bend to the mast so turnbuckes have to be loosened then reset and to do this accurately if have to use both hands/pliers/etc.etc. Someone tell me a better way...please!!!

 

[Sean]

turnbuckle

They do make a quick release turnbuckle. Check in boat us or west marine catalouge. I dont remember the name of the manufacturer but it operates like a lever. When untensioned you get 3-4 inches of sag.