Several years ago we replaced our original gold mast (corroded from the inside and broke) with a new mast from D&R. Since putting on the new mast attaching the forestry has been difficult even though we’ve extended the back stay turnbuckle to its limit. I have to have a strong person pull down hard on the forestay to get the pin inserted. I imagine that the new mast isn’t exactly the length of the original one. Our forestay has 5 threads left on the end of the turnbuckle and we have a CDI furler—no more extension. The back stay turnbuckle is extended to its limit as well. The stays are in great shape so I don’t want to replace them. What sort of fittings can I add to the forestay/backstay to get the extension I need to adjust the rigging? Thanks for your help.
Mariner 2+2 rigging issue
- Thread starter brhoads
- Start date
You could use a forestay lever. I can't imagine rigging a trailer sailor without one. If you have the correct fittings, I don't see why you couldnt use it on the backstay
I would add toggles to the ends of the forestay and backstay, even though there are most likely toggles built into those turnbuckles. The toggles will add about 1.5 to 2” to the rigging length, may be just enough.
My forestay already has a 1/4” rigging toggle on the turnbuckle toggle already. I need about 3/4”more to be able to adjust the forestay turnbuckle. Longer rigging toggle? Won’t the pin be too large for my stem fitting?
Toggles come in the same sizes as all swage fittings and turnbuckles, do yo ucan get one that matches the pin size of your rigging. I figured that your turnbuckles already had toggles built into the lower end, but there is no reason you could not still use one to extend the length of a piece of standing rigging. One of the shrouds on my old Widgeon must have had one of the end fittings replaced, so to compensate a toggle had been added between the turnbuckle and the chainplate.
There is already an eye and jaw toggle attached to the forestay turnbuckle toggle. I suppose that the owner before me added it When the furler was added. Despite having an additional toggle, the forestry is still very hard to attach to the stemhead fitting and I have no ability to lengthen the forestry. Is it possible to add an eye and jaw toggle to the tang on the mast to give me the more length?
A forestay lever will make it 100 times easier to attach and you wont have to retune every time you launch the boat
Hmm . I had the exact problem for years on our CDI equipped Oday25 . Last fall while taking the mast down ,I looked over the bottom of the forestay . What I realized was the strap that kept the drum from rotating was too shallow . I added about 3/8" when I made a replacement . Problem solved .. I was embarrassed that it took me so long to realize it .
Wow, didn’t think of the anti-rotation strap as a possible problem/solution. Thank you. Makes sense. Like you say, it’s kinda embarrassing not to have considered that—but it isn’t outwardly visible is it.