See the attached photos for the before and after of the failed piece.
I thought to post this experience for all that have older boats as I do. I bought my boat in 2007 with invoice evidence that the standing rigging had been replaced just a year (or so) before. And also I knew that the boat had been on the hard away from salt and sailing stress for almost the entire time since the work prior to my purchase.
I've read that standing rigging is supposed be good for a decade or so on average. But after some posts on SBO last year by Maine Sail and others about crevice corrosion to chain plates and other standing rigging connections to the actual boat, and also witnessing a boat returning from sea under power with it's mast dangling along the side, I soon thereafter commissioned a well-known SF area rigging firm to do an informal survey of my rig. A few items where highlighted ... but not the one that failed today.
Sailing on a close reach in strong winds that briefly had water over my port rail even though I already had the main on it's second reef point and a only 90% jib out, the wind suddenly shifted more towards a beam reach angle. (No real alarm about this though since instantaneous gusts and wind direction shifts are normal in the Hurricane Gulch area off Sausalito). About this same moment, a sound/shudder reverberated through the boat. Looking forward, I saw that the bottom of my furler drum/forestay turnbuckle was now trashing around on the leeward side of the boat forward of the forward lower shroud. After the initial "oh-crap-this-ain't-good" moment, but relieved that the mast was still standing, I changed course to a broad reach. Started the engine and throttled up to take some of the wind stress off the rig. Then engaged the auto pilot to maintain the broad reach course. I went forward to wrap my spare halyard around my bow sampson post. And got a line from my rope locker to tether the bottom of the forestay turnbuckle to the toe rail to stop the trashing. Then finally doused the main sail. Took a deep breath and hoped for the best while I made for my marina (or wherever safe anchorage). Closer to my berth, the wind calmed so I headed there and I was able to gather up a lot of the loose jib and wrap it more secure with a piece of line.
Doubt that I did it all right, but the boat made it back into the berth with the mast still up and a sense of the rig being safely secure.
I've attached a picture of the piece that failed. From an internet search, it's identified as a double jaw toggle. The smaller picture is a double jaw toggle in its normal state. This piece on my boat connects the lower turnbuckle bolt to the bow stem fitting. Several times over the years I did look hard at this piece. But only from the front. Where the break happened, on the back-side of the piece, both clean and rusted metal is evident. Sure indication of stress cracking and crevice corrosion.
My boat's wire rope and turnbuckles might have been new in 2005/2006 ... but it seems that other critical fittings were likely just assumed to be good without much inspection.
The only apparent damage to my boat is a slight bend in one of the furler extrusions and some scrapes along the cabin top into my just finished Interlux Perfection re-painting. (Maybe I should have spent just a fraction of the amount of time painting to instead inspecting my rig with crack detection dye!) After returning to my berth, I was able do a better job of securing the forestay in more-or-less its normal position using block and tackle led back to a primary winch to tension. I got the jib unfurled all the way out again. Upon which the sail did drop normally down the extrusion track and is now removed.
Guess my next step is to get my boat to a different rigger than I used before and have the entire rig taken apart and inspected per their protocol. Also demand that not only the standing rigging be checked but also every plate and connection and turnbuckle and bolt and pin, etc. (Ouch the $'s!) And today's new bend in the furler extrusion will need truing. Or likely time for a new furler anyway.
Returning home after this adventure, I added a strong gin tonic to my normal after-sail consumption of a couple of beers.
I thought to post this experience for all that have older boats as I do. I bought my boat in 2007 with invoice evidence that the standing rigging had been replaced just a year (or so) before. And also I knew that the boat had been on the hard away from salt and sailing stress for almost the entire time since the work prior to my purchase.
I've read that standing rigging is supposed be good for a decade or so on average. But after some posts on SBO last year by Maine Sail and others about crevice corrosion to chain plates and other standing rigging connections to the actual boat, and also witnessing a boat returning from sea under power with it's mast dangling along the side, I soon thereafter commissioned a well-known SF area rigging firm to do an informal survey of my rig. A few items where highlighted ... but not the one that failed today.
Sailing on a close reach in strong winds that briefly had water over my port rail even though I already had the main on it's second reef point and a only 90% jib out, the wind suddenly shifted more towards a beam reach angle. (No real alarm about this though since instantaneous gusts and wind direction shifts are normal in the Hurricane Gulch area off Sausalito). About this same moment, a sound/shudder reverberated through the boat. Looking forward, I saw that the bottom of my furler drum/forestay turnbuckle was now trashing around on the leeward side of the boat forward of the forward lower shroud. After the initial "oh-crap-this-ain't-good" moment, but relieved that the mast was still standing, I changed course to a broad reach. Started the engine and throttled up to take some of the wind stress off the rig. Then engaged the auto pilot to maintain the broad reach course. I went forward to wrap my spare halyard around my bow sampson post. And got a line from my rope locker to tether the bottom of the forestay turnbuckle to the toe rail to stop the trashing. Then finally doused the main sail. Took a deep breath and hoped for the best while I made for my marina (or wherever safe anchorage). Closer to my berth, the wind calmed so I headed there and I was able to gather up a lot of the loose jib and wrap it more secure with a piece of line.
Doubt that I did it all right, but the boat made it back into the berth with the mast still up and a sense of the rig being safely secure.
I've attached a picture of the piece that failed. From an internet search, it's identified as a double jaw toggle. The smaller picture is a double jaw toggle in its normal state. This piece on my boat connects the lower turnbuckle bolt to the bow stem fitting. Several times over the years I did look hard at this piece. But only from the front. Where the break happened, on the back-side of the piece, both clean and rusted metal is evident. Sure indication of stress cracking and crevice corrosion.
My boat's wire rope and turnbuckles might have been new in 2005/2006 ... but it seems that other critical fittings were likely just assumed to be good without much inspection.
The only apparent damage to my boat is a slight bend in one of the furler extrusions and some scrapes along the cabin top into my just finished Interlux Perfection re-painting. (Maybe I should have spent just a fraction of the amount of time painting to instead inspecting my rig with crack detection dye!) After returning to my berth, I was able do a better job of securing the forestay in more-or-less its normal position using block and tackle led back to a primary winch to tension. I got the jib unfurled all the way out again. Upon which the sail did drop normally down the extrusion track and is now removed.
Guess my next step is to get my boat to a different rigger than I used before and have the entire rig taken apart and inspected per their protocol. Also demand that not only the standing rigging be checked but also every plate and connection and turnbuckle and bolt and pin, etc. (Ouch the $'s!) And today's new bend in the furler extrusion will need truing. Or likely time for a new furler anyway.
Returning home after this adventure, I added a strong gin tonic to my normal after-sail consumption of a couple of beers.
