Safety Tip... Check Clevis Pins before you set sail!!!!

[Timo42]

Bolts

I replaced everything with 1/4" stainless bolts and elastic stop nuts. It just takes a pair of 7/16" wrenches and a few second to undo the front stay when dropping the mast. Better safe than sorry!

The problem with bolts is that the threads are wearing on the chain plates, causing high point loads, and accelerated wear, also bolts aren't as strong as pins, the nylock inserts can wear and come loose, and you can get corrosion in the threads causing the nuts to seize. The p/o on my boat had bolts and nuts everywhere, when I replaced them, a bunch snapped, some were fingertight, and I suspect one failed on him during his last time out, which caused his wife to force him to sell the boat. When I replaced the adjusters with turnbuckles, I noticed elongated holes, I will see if one is still lying around and I can get a pic. The Johnson adjuster makes setup a lot easier, as does taping everything. Tim

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Circular pins

My rig uses a circular pin and I have often wondered if it was the best solution. I noticed, however, that the slug(for want of a better term) that the pin attaches thru just barely makes it through the forestay/roller furling attachment. I actually use a small visegrip to press the jaws together enough to install the circle pin. This causes a lot of pressure on the cirular pin and pretty much prevents it from moving around unless something gets caught in it. If I wasn't a trailersailor, though, I'd simply use a regular cotter pin and bend it over. BTW, the CDI roller furler uses a VERY SMALL cotter pin to keep it from rotating on it's axis and I only recently started checking it at the end of each season for integrity since it cant be looked at easily with the mast up but could cause just as disastrous a failure.

 

[novelman17130]

Re: It has been recommended by some on this forum to use push pins

Frank,
My 22' Venture came with a push-pin and I used it UNTIL, in prep for raising the mast I engaged the pin as I always did and it just came apart in my hand. No more push pins for me, even though I hate putting circle cotter rings I grit my teeth and do it. You know as I age they seem to be getting smaller and less visible, I wonder why?
Duane "novelman"

 

[abk]

Re: Push Pins

As the original postor of this Cotter mania... Guess what? During an inspection before my last sail of the season I found a cotter pin gone from the side stay chain plate... I am going to replace the circles with straight cotters next season... Enough of this circle stuff... tape can work off when wet too!!!

 

[RNC725]

great info for sure

I'll be checking even more frequently than normal. Thanks to all for the great info, tips and motiviation to be safe.

Fairwinds

 

[caguy]

Re: Push Pins

The PO of my boat used them all over. the one holding the boom has a small hole drilled in the flange and it is lanyard to the boom. The ones on the Jonson bar are also lanyard on with a thin cable. I brought one home this weekend to drill out to attach it to the backstay. I still use clevis pins on the side stays with rings that I plan on replacing with cotter pins.
Frank

 

[abk]

Frank,
My 22' Venture came with a push-pin and I used it UNTIL, in prep for raising the mast I engaged the pin as I always did and it just came apart in my hand. No more push pins for me, even though I hate putting circle cotter rings I grit my teeth and do it. You know as I age they seem to be getting smaller and less visible, I wonder why?
Duane "novelman"

__________________________________________________
Geez, I can't see em either... not the push pins, the "O" cotters... I think they are making them smaller these days

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Once again - regardless of cotter solutions, tape over with vinyl electrical tape so there is nothing to catch or be caught.

I mentioned this earlier and the only comment was that "tape can come off".
But this IS the accepted practice on bigger boats - as is using regular cotters (and only using them once) on critical fittings (like a forestay).

I have taped with vinyl electrical tape for years. It stretches so it ends up being closer to heat shrink in appearance - and I have NEVER had it loosen (at all - nada).

Taping will also allow you to use the circular cotters with safety.

Chris

 

[Chris & Lenore]

Another tip for Mac's with roller furling.
Don't forget to visually inspect the upper terminal.
Here is what I found last year - accident waiting to happen!