Conference unifix::sailing

>      I need to replace a stainless steel mast stay on my day-sailer
>    Does anybody know where I can get it done in the southern n.h.
>    area?
    
Are you sure it's not aluminum? What type of boat?

--RS    

    
    
    
      Actually ,, I'm not sure, but it *looks* like stainless steel.  
    (The mast itself appears to be aluminum, but  the cables seem,
    to be stainless.
    
      The boat is a 17' Mobjack 81.
    
      I tried a few places around the derry area, but all they do is
    power boats...  :^(
    
    

    Try CadCraft Marine they are off of exit 5 W you can see them from 3 N. 
    They are mostly power orientated but they are very helpful and will
    order stuff.  Another place is Wilderness Marine out bye the
    intersection of 101 and 101 A.  They sell power and sailboats and might
    be able to help.  
    
    
    Forrest

    To save you some perhaps unnecessary travel, you should probably
    call ahead to make sure the place you are going can do/provide what
    you need.
    
    You probably need a stay or shroud made up of 3/32" or 1/8" stainless 
    1x19 wire (1 major strand made up of 19 individual smaller strands).
    If your shroud has eye fittings at each end, you will need nicopress
    sleeves and stainless thimbles (eyes) installed.  If your fittings
    are swaged directly to the wire, you need to find someone who can
    swage new fittings on new wire in duplicate of your old shroud. 
    
    Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in So. N.H. who can do it.  But
    there are several rigging shops on Mass. North Shore and/or So.
    Maine.  Sometimes Sail Lofts will have the equipment to do light
    gauge stuff.
    
    I get all my needs through Zephyr Marine in Wareham, Mass., who
    will do business on a quick turnaround by mail/UPS.  Number is 508-
    295-3550.
    
    By the way, some manufacturers use 7x19 wire for shrouds (7 major
    strands made up of 19 strands each), so you should verify what you
    have before you call anyone.  7x19 is flexible, 1x19 much less so.
                                                                      
    Whoever does it will probably want to see the old shroud to verify
    length and diameters before making replacement, or you may not get
    any kind of guarantee as to fit.
    
    Good luck.

    
      Re -.1
    
      Thanks for the advice...  I called Wilderness Marine out in
    Amherst, and they said they can do it.  (Actually they send it
    out.)  I have the old stay, and am going to drop it off with
    instructions to simply copy it.  (The fittings are suaged onto
    each end btw.)    Hopefully it won't take more than a few days.
    If I suddenly drop out of this notes file, you'll know I got
    the boat in the water...  :^)
    
    						-al
    

    In case you are so excited about getting on the water again that
    you haven't thought of it, some suggestions:
    
    -	Before giving stay TO ANYONE, measure and draw it up yourself
    on paper exactly as it is.  Take care to specifically document where
    you measured from/to (i.e. edge of hole, center of hole, edge of
    fitting, etc.)
    
    -	Specifically request that the old stay be returned along with
    the new.
    
    -	Ask what kind of guarantee you will get with new stay.
                  
    This, of course, is all unnecessary as long as no one of the three
    vendors invloved (Wilderness, Post Office, Fabricator) loses the
    thing, or misplaces it among others (rigging shops can be notorious
    for this), or mismeasures when cutting wire for the replacement,
    or cracks the fitting(s) in the swaging process.
    
    Signed,
    
    Been There Years Ago But Ain't Forgot.
                                                    

    It's time for us to replace our main and jib halyards. Currently we
    have rope to wire (wire to rope?) - that is what was on the boat when
    we bought if used last year. We are wondering if we should replace it
    with the same thing or if just rope would be okay? We read (in Crusing
    World, I think) that the new low-stretch ropes today make rope to wire
    unnecessary in most cases.
    Do any of you have any experiences or opinions on this?
    If it figures in the consideration, we have a 30' O'day and we
    don't race or anything - strictly cruisers.
                                      

    I'd go to low stretch rope only.  Much easier on the hands and the
    sails.  Sta-Set or, better, Sta-SetX should do the trick.  If you
    aren't recing, even that may be too much expense for the performance. 
    Any low stretch dacron braid should do.  
    
    Wire to rope is of two types.  Galvanized wire which is soft, pliable
    and less likely to have "meathooks", but does corrode and stainless
    wire which looks nice but does break down into hooks which tear hands
    and sails equally well.  If you don't need it (and it doesn't look like
    you do) don't do it.
    
    Dave

    Yes, line such as Yale-Light is used for halyards because of
    its low stretch, lighter weight than cable, and low water absorbtion. In
    most cases, a short wire section is still used to handle the chafe
    on the halyard block. 
    
    This is something that makes sense for racers, the advantages for
    cruising are small. If you can reuse the wire section of your old 
    halyard, the cost will be about half that of a racing halyard.
    
    -Paul 

re .9:

>>> In most cases, a short wire section is still used to handle the chafe
>>> on the halyard block. 
    
Hmmmm, I've never heard of this being done. The general consensus is that the 
wire-to-rope splice is weaker than either the rope or the wire and can be 
unreliable (a worry if one uses halyards for going to the masthead).

We've happily used all rope halyards for ten years, and are currently using 
Yale Sta-Set. Stretch is quite low and is not really a problem. Sta-Set is 
rather less abrasion resistant that the Samson XLS yacht braid we used before. 
We bought the halyards about 10 feet longer than necessary. This allows 
cutting off the chafed portion near the shackle four or five times. By then 
the halyard is about ready for replacement. A well-designed masthead sheave
shouldn't chafe the halyard much. 

I have a tall Marconi-rigged 17' daysailer made by George O'Day after 
he sold his name that has a Proctor mast; the spreaders were torn off 
in a freak accident. Could someone refer me to a good rigger in 
Massachusetts that could replace the spreaders without trying to sell 
a major refit?

Every other year I pull the stick during the off season.  It makes the
inspection at the masthead easier and gives me a chance to inspect all the 
rigging elements as well as the furling gear.


I have heard of liquid, "brush-on" product(s) that highlight cracks in swages
that may not normally be found.  I have had no luck in finding this item in the
local marine supply stores (Boat U.s., Waltham and Marine speculator, Salem).


Am I all wet? Or does such a product exist?  Is it reliable?


bc - Who just HATES going up the mast in the "diaper"!

re .12:

Yes, there is a three-part spray process for finding cracks. I got it at 
Boat/US a couple of years ago.

re .earlier:

Rig-Rite in Rhode Island builds and repairs masts. 401-739-1140. 

    Bill,
    
    Try Speculators again, they had it a coupla weeks ago when I was in
    the store.
    
    JC