[Rhodes22-list] Forestay Wire Size Upgrade

[Bob Keller]

Roger & Rummy,
Could I super-size the stay by drilling a larger hole in the roller furler 
drums?  Or would it be better to leave well enough alone and keep the size 
the same.  I thought that I had 1/4" wire, but you (Roger) said that you 
increased the size up to 3/16"  I'm confused (as usual).
Bob K


>From: "John Tonjes" <johntonjes at earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: johntonjes at earthlink.net,The Rhodes 22 mail list 
><rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Forestay Wire Size Upgrade
>Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 08:54:33 -0400
>
>Roger,
>Thank you. We tried to convince Captain Bob that the wire broke due to
>operator error and you helped to reinforce our opinions. Sometimes it's
>hardest to see the forest through the trees.
>
>Rummy
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Roger Pihlaja <cen09402 at centurytel.net>
> > To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Date: 6/2/2003 7:43:57 AM
> > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Forestay Wire Size Upgrade
> >
> > Bob,
> >
> > When I upgraded my roller furler from the stock GBI unit to a Harken 
>Unit
>0,
> > I increased the forestay wire size from 5/32" OD up to 3/16" OD.  I made
> > this upgrade because 3/16" OD was the largest wire size that would fit 
>the
> > Harken Unit 0 and the differences in cost, weight, & windage were
> > negligible.  There was a significant upgrade in safety margin as the max
> > tensile breaking strength was increased by about 35%.  Just make certain
>the
> > end fittings use the same size pins as you have now.  Before you make 
>this
> > change in wire size, be certain your OEM roller furler can handle it.  
>My
> > guess is that it will not be able to work with the larger wire OD.  
>There
> > probably won't be sufficient clearance for the mechanism to turn easily.
> >
> > It is rare that a wire rope will simply fail W/O any warning in the 
>middle
> > of its length, especially in light air.  Most the time, progressive wire
> > rope degradation or imminent failure can be detected by inspecting the
>wire
> > visually & running your hand or a cloth along it.  Single strand 
>failures
>in
> > a wire rope usually show up as curled "meat hooks" that you will feel 
>with
> > your hand or will snag a rag.
> >
> > It is especially important to inspect the fittings at the ends of the 
>wire
> > rope.  Look for tiny cracks &/or discoloration (usually rust or black in
> > color) in the fitting or the wire near the fitting.  If you see any 
>cracks
> > or discoloration; then, immediately take the piece to a rigging shop or
>just
> > simply replace it.
> >
> > Your post implies you suspect your forestay was somehow getting 
>repeatedly
> > kinked just below the bottom of the furling drum as a result of the
> > trailering process.  If this is the case; then, you need to change your
> > trailering &/or mast stepping procedures.  In thousands of trailering
>miles
> > & dozens of mast steps since 1987, my forestay has never been kinked as 
>a
> > result of trailering or mast stepping.  If your forestay was getting
> > repeatedly kinked in the same spot, this would be very bad for the wire.
> > Upgading to a larger wire size will do little to fix this problem.
> > Stainless steel wire rope is not very tolerant of kinks.  So, if your
> > trailering &/or mast stepping procedures are causing the forestay to be
> > kinked; then, figure out some other way accomplish the same task W/O
>kinking
> > the wire.
> >
> > Good luck, Bob!
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bob Keller" <r22yankeeclipper at hotmail.com>
> > To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 11:32 PM
> > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Frigging Rigging
> >
> >
> > > While sailing today on a rather calm day on Lake Hartwell, my latest
> > > calamity was that my forestay broke.  Yep, it broke off right at the
> > bottom
> > > of the furler drum.  Could have been worse because Roger R shinnied up
>the
> > > mast (amazing thing to see) and tied a line just above the spreaders
>which
> > > we secured to the bow cleat to keep the mast from going too far.
> > Meanwhile,
> > > Rummy was mixing drinks below, oblivious to the goings-on up above.  
>We
> > > motored back from Big Water and dropped the mast.
> > >
> > > Looks like the forestay was bent too many times, possibly from
>trailering,
> > > and it finally gave way.
> > >
> > > It was recommended to me to upsize the forestay to 5/16" (by the same
> > people
> > > who told me to pull my diamondboard  down all the way unti lit is
> > > perpendicular to the boat!).  Does anyone have experience or knowledge
>of
> > > using a slightly larger stay?  Any problems to be aware of?  Sounds
>like a
> > > good idea to me, but I wanted to check the list to see if anyone has
>done
> > > this before?  Thanks.
> > > Bob K
> > > s/v Yankee Clipper
> > >
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> > >
> >
> >
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>
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