New shrouds are tight

[davidmhull]

Well I know that is not very descriptive but it is to the point. I lost my mast in a storm this summer and bought a new one from DR Marine. I raised it for the first time yesterday and had to loosen the turnbuckles until only a 1/4" of thread was showing to get the mast up. There is still room for a cotter in the turnbuckle and I suppose any thread is better then no thread. My question is twofold. Will the shrouds stretch a bit when first used and also what do you prefer to use in the turnbuckle "bolt" to keep it from rotating? My old rig had locknuts but the new one just has holes. Do you like rings, cotter pins or what? Thanks very much.

 

[Justin_NSA]

New rigging will stretch a bit so plan on readjusting them. Sounds like they may be long enough. I've used rings and cotter pins. Main thing is not to snag a sail or some skin. I have been itching to try wrap pins.

 

[jssailem]

Yes they will stretch a bit. You will also find that the boat will adjust a bit. Without the mast and shrouds your boats shape has adjusted to the no load condition. Check for leaks as they sometimes appear where caulking has gotten rigid under tension then shifted with no tension.
As you sail and feel the need to adjust, do it in small increments, keeping an eye on your new mast to keep it's shape. Quarter turns on the turnbuckles is the way to go at any one time.
I favor cotter pins with tape wrap covering the pin end on bigger boats where the mast stays rigged. If your a trailer sailor, constantly putting up and taking down the mast, than the rings make more sense.

 

[JRacer]

I use those Velcro "Wrap Pins" that have the cotter pin embedded in them. You put the pin through the hole in the turnbuckle bolt and then wrap the strap around the turnbuckle. Work well, the strap keeps the pin from being exposed and they can come off in a hurry for adjustment of the shrouds. A couple different sizes for various sized turnbuckles - C. S. Johnson Wrap C4-P Wrap Pin. Defender has them.

 

[davidmhull]

Thanks for the replies. I had never heard of wrap pins so I looked them up. Very clever little critters and not terribly pricey. I leave my mast up most of the year so rings or cotter pins would be okay for me. I just wanted to know what people prefer and why. When I do raise my mast I don't adjust the stays anyway. I just put it up and everything should be like it was when I put it down. That's how I discovered that the shrouds were so tight. I couldn't get it up without loosening the turnbuckles almost completely. As I said , there is still about 1/4" of threads so I don't see it as a safety issue. I would just like to see a bit more thread in the turnbuckle body and I don't really have a good technical reason for it. Thanks again.

 

[jssailem]

I would just like to see a bit more thread in the turnbuckle body

It is a comfort thing. Especially if you have seen other boats like that. It is of no consequence. It you can see the threads through the opening of the turnbuckle and you can insert the cotter pin to stop the turnbuckle from moving, you are golden. Assuming of course the turnbuckle is the proper size for your rig.

 

[dlochner]

When I do raise my mast I don't adjust the stays anyway. I just put it up and everything should be like it was when I put it down.

If you sail in any kind of wind, the stays will stretch even old ones. When the mast comes down, the stays relax and shorten a little. And as @jssailem said, the boat changes shape when it is on the hard. The keel pushes up and the boat gets a little wider and squatter. The change isn't necessarily large, just a few fractions of an inch, but it is enough to change the rig tuning.

When the boat goes back in the water the weight of the keel pulls the down and it becomes skinnier. This doesn't happen immediately, it takes a few days. This also changes the rig tune.

The short story is that the rig will need retuning during the season. A well tuned rig is a safer rig and the boat will sail better.

 

[davidmhull]

Thanks again guys.

 

[jibes138]

I use seizing wire for my turnbuckles. Then tape over it. You can tuck the end so there is minimal exposure to snag on compared to cotter pins or rings. Wire cutters take it off fast when needed.

 

[davidmhull]

Good idea Jibes.

 

[deltaten]

White, double-face velco with stainless steel siding trim nails pushed thru. Better than cotters or rings. Three years in and no worries

 

[agprice22]

Look up Scar Pins. You can get them cheap or expensive! They are based on turnbuckle size. That is another name for velcro wrapped pins. Totally awesome!