- Status
That's my fear
I recently posted an incident I had where the spreader bolt came loose. I'm looking for ideas to prevent such calamities. Has the cause of this been discovered yet? Aside from the obviously damaged mast, was there any damage to the boat or sail? How about the crew? Hopefully everyone was able to avoid injury when the mast came down. - John
I recently posted an incident I had where the spreader bolt came loose. I'm looking for ideas to prevent such calamities. Has the cause of this been discovered yet? Aside from the obviously damaged mast, was there any damage to the boat or sail? How about the crew? Hopefully everyone was able to avoid injury when the mast came down. - John
How to prevent
Best way to prevent these things from happening is to check everthing over not just once but twice. Make check lists so as to not miss anything. Think about replacing old standing rigging. Replace running rigging every several years. Although running rigging breaking usuallyy won't break things like having your standing rigging break. Loose shrouds impart much higher shock loads when you tack and jibe. No shrouds should be flopping in the wind even when not loaded. Check all fasteners on your mast when you raise it. They should be tight. Pinned or have lock nuts or lock tite on them. Even after checking everthing over several times your self, have some of your sailing friends check it over too. Help them by doing a double check on their rigs. Some times thing you over look are found by some one else that really doesn't even know what they are looking for. This doesn't mean that nothing will break after all this checking, or even replacing of rigging, but you will have reduced your chances of being the one setting out on the lake with a broken mast.
Best way to prevent these things from happening is to check everthing over not just once but twice. Make check lists so as to not miss anything. Think about replacing old standing rigging. Replace running rigging every several years. Although running rigging breaking usuallyy won't break things like having your standing rigging break. Loose shrouds impart much higher shock loads when you tack and jibe. No shrouds should be flopping in the wind even when not loaded. Check all fasteners on your mast when you raise it. They should be tight. Pinned or have lock nuts or lock tite on them. Even after checking everthing over several times your self, have some of your sailing friends check it over too. Help them by doing a double check on their rigs. Some times thing you over look are found by some one else that really doesn't even know what they are looking for. This doesn't mean that nothing will break after all this checking, or even replacing of rigging, but you will have reduced your chances of being the one setting out on the lake with a broken mast.
When to Replace
I have the original standing rigging on my 88 26d. It all looks fine, no broken wires, meat hooks or kinks. But this year, just to be on the safe side, I am going to replace it all with new. How many are using original standing rigging and do you think I would necessarily see a problem with routine inspections before something failed?
I have the original standing rigging on my 88 26d. It all looks fine, no broken wires, meat hooks or kinks. But this year, just to be on the safe side, I am going to replace it all with new. How many are using original standing rigging and do you think I would necessarily see a problem with routine inspections before something failed?
One surveyor's ruke of thumb about replacing rig
One circumnavigation of the planet, 30,000 miles of sailing or 10 years of constant berthing in the water. Most trailer sailors could go 20 years with no problem. Rig inspection every time before putting in the water is always best. One item I do for prevention of losing spreader bolts is use nylon jam nuts, and insert the bolt from the top of the spreader so even if the nut comes off under sail, the bolt will stay in place by gravity.
One circumnavigation of the planet, 30,000 miles of sailing or 10 years of constant berthing in the water. Most trailer sailors could go 20 years with no problem. Rig inspection every time before putting in the water is always best. One item I do for prevention of losing spreader bolts is use nylon jam nuts, and insert the bolt from the top of the spreader so even if the nut comes off under sail, the bolt will stay in place by gravity.
Not sunk yet
Well, my other post about disasters at sea was a disaster, of course I was meaning disasters like my mast bending ( by the way, sails down in the water 20 ft, jenekar, main, make a great sea anchor), unintentional groundings, leaving the cooler at home and such like that. On this mast bending exercise, I had taken off my fractional forstay in favor of using the mast head to fly the Jenekar but that forstay was too loose which allowed the mast to rake back a bit causing the shrouds to be too loose. As I was about to leave the dock, getting aboard, I noticed the shrouds were really loose but I thought Oh well the mast will just lean over a little more to leeward. Surprise and thats why I posted the pic--to show what can happen. Now, I tend to be somewhat disaster prone even thou I pride myself in being one of the best sailors evwerborne, making few mistakes and then if I do liberally forgiving myself while blaming the crew (dog). Now fortunatly this particular day, the dog was with and the mast toppled beautifully and slowly, the sails acting as a parachute on the way down, truly beautuful to behold, with no injury to anyone. However I did look around quick to see if anyone was around to witness my stupidity. (there was no one). By the way, this happpened last year in the winter--this year the lake has been frooze over since late Dec., in fact I hiked all over it yesterday as the ice must be a foot thick. I've never seen it like this in over 25 Yr. So parking lot sailing is all I've been able to do but it has been fine.
Well, my other post about disasters at sea was a disaster, of course I was meaning disasters like my mast bending ( by the way, sails down in the water 20 ft, jenekar, main, make a great sea anchor), unintentional groundings, leaving the cooler at home and such like that. On this mast bending exercise, I had taken off my fractional forstay in favor of using the mast head to fly the Jenekar but that forstay was too loose which allowed the mast to rake back a bit causing the shrouds to be too loose. As I was about to leave the dock, getting aboard, I noticed the shrouds were really loose but I thought Oh well the mast will just lean over a little more to leeward. Surprise and thats why I posted the pic--to show what can happen. Now, I tend to be somewhat disaster prone even thou I pride myself in being one of the best sailors evwerborne, making few mistakes and then if I do liberally forgiving myself while blaming the crew (dog). Now fortunatly this particular day, the dog was with and the mast toppled beautifully and slowly, the sails acting as a parachute on the way down, truly beautuful to behold, with no injury to anyone. However I did look around quick to see if anyone was around to witness my stupidity. (there was no one). By the way, this happpened last year in the winter--this year the lake has been frooze over since late Dec., in fact I hiked all over it yesterday as the ice must be a foot thick. I've never seen it like this in over 25 Yr. So parking lot sailing is all I've been able to do but it has been fine.
Tasker Main
Kunundrum, How do you like your Rolly Tasker Mains'l? I've got one on the way, should be here in another couple of weeks.
Kunundrum, How do you like your Rolly Tasker Mains'l? I've got one on the way, should be here in another couple of weeks.
tasker main
Abbey--I like the Tasker main very much. Seems to be of sturdy construction (thats it on the mast bend and it survived) I believe its the coastal variety with two reef points. I think you will like it. Sails away!
Abbey--I like the Tasker main very much. Seems to be of sturdy construction (thats it on the mast bend and it survived) I believe its the coastal variety with two reef points. I think you will like it. Sails away!
What's the cost??
Abby, What's the cost for your new main?? (Ballpark figure is fine).I am still running the original which is starting to, well, actually is, showing its age. I would like to add sail slugs so I can raise it a bit easier and I currently have no reef points. I'm thinking that it would make more sense to get those with a new sail as opposed to adding them to the current sail. If it isn't too costly I may suggest it to my wife as I do have a birthday coming. I'd like to rig for solo sailing but without the slugs it wouldn't be worth it as I pretty much have to guide the main into the slot which isn't alot of fun if there is no one at the helm. Maybe if I got that new sail...... -John
Abby, What's the cost for your new main?? (Ballpark figure is fine).I am still running the original which is starting to, well, actually is, showing its age. I would like to add sail slugs so I can raise it a bit easier and I currently have no reef points. I'm thinking that it would make more sense to get those with a new sail as opposed to adding them to the current sail. If it isn't too costly I may suggest it to my wife as I do have a birthday coming. I'd like to rig for solo sailing but without the slugs it wouldn't be worth it as I pretty much have to guide the main into the slot which isn't alot of fun if there is no one at the helm. Maybe if I got that new sail...... -John
- Status