When tensioning the rigging on our 25 Oday I found all of the adjustment gone on the upper port shroud.Common sense says to replace both. For several reasons I'd prefer not to drop the mast unless I absolutely have to. Can I disconnect the shrouds and take them in to be measured without jepordizing the mast?Is it safe to climb the mast without uppershrouds?
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yes, you can
use the extra halyards or some spare rope as temporary shrouds. I changed mine by just removing one, then measured for both. The lowers will hold the mast in place, and since you're at the dock and only going up vertically, there will be very little side to side strain on the mast.
use the extra halyards or some spare rope as temporary shrouds. I changed mine by just removing one, then measured for both. The lowers will hold the mast in place, and since you're at the dock and only going up vertically, there will be very little side to side strain on the mast.
Too Much
If ALL of the adjustment is gone, you probably have a problem with the chainplate. The shrouds should not stretch that much. However, if your bulkhead is rotting because of water intrusion, the chanplates will slowly pull up. I would immediately pull the chainplates and inspect the bulkheads.
If ALL of the adjustment is gone, you probably have a problem with the chainplate. The shrouds should not stretch that much. However, if your bulkhead is rotting because of water intrusion, the chanplates will slowly pull up. I would immediately pull the chainplates and inspect the bulkheads.
Don't be so quick to cry wolf. 
A typical 25 footer might have 3/16 uppers about 30 feet long. 20% tension will stretch the wire between 3/4" and 1 1/4" (depending on 302 or 316 alloy) A 5/16 turnbuckle might have 4" total adjustment from one extreme to the other. If the turnbuckle was 1/2 open with the wire loose, that leaves 2" for tension adjustment. It doesn't take the masthead to be very far off centre or wire built 1/2" long to begin with to almost run out of room to adjust on one shroud. If the wire is old and does not hold it's tension it is quite possible that the adjustment is gone over a period of years. Yes, it is good to check the compression post and chainplates, but I would not be surprised that there is nothing wrong with the boat. I've built 100's of stays that came off the boat with little to no adjustment left on the turnbuckles. I build a new wire that sets the turnbuckle about 2/3 open at the same length and put the new wire on the boat, no problem.
A typical 25 footer might have 3/16 uppers about 30 feet long. 20% tension will stretch the wire between 3/4" and 1 1/4" (depending on 302 or 316 alloy) A 5/16 turnbuckle might have 4" total adjustment from one extreme to the other. If the turnbuckle was 1/2 open with the wire loose, that leaves 2" for tension adjustment. It doesn't take the masthead to be very far off centre or wire built 1/2" long to begin with to almost run out of room to adjust on one shroud. If the wire is old and does not hold it's tension it is quite possible that the adjustment is gone over a period of years. Yes, it is good to check the compression post and chainplates, but I would not be surprised that there is nothing wrong with the boat. I've built 100's of stays that came off the boat with little to no adjustment left on the turnbuckles. I build a new wire that sets the turnbuckle about 2/3 open at the same length and put the new wire on the boat, no problem.
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