Kudos for Alado

[kbyte]

Last week, while flying along, double reefed, in 25 knots of wind, my forestay parted. Having the mast come down in conditions like that is no fun at all. Using sheets, halyards, and cables, we were able to secure everything with a spider web of lines and motor home.

Later, at the dock, trying to organize the mess, we found everything pretty much intact. Nothing was broken (except the forestay). It all just folded together without any real damage.

Only things missing were the Windex and a small bracket from the Alado furler.

I called Dave Davenport, the Alado rep, and told him what happened, and asked if they could get me a replacement bracket. He said no problem, they would mail me one.

This morning FedEx knocked on my door. It was the bracket- shipped from the Alado factory ...in Brazil ...intl priority ...Saturday delivery ...on their nickel ...no charge to me.

What a class act! A small but very bright spot in an otherwise very bad situation.


K

[sailingdog]

Ouch... sorry to hear about your rig... how bad is the damage??

[Keldee]

Why did the forestay break.Why I ask is that maybe there is a lesson there for us to learn.

[kbyte]

No real damage other than the forestay. The mast came down very slowly, (I thought I was in a kung fu movie) and came to rest on the stern pulpit cushioned by lines and sails. It did take out the loran antenna, but I tossed the loran unit a year ago and had been meaning to throw out the antenna anyway.

The boat is a 1978 Cal 2-27, and it's possible those were the original cables. The stay was sheared right at the turnbuckle- slow corrosion at the weakest point. The lesson I learned is to replace all your standing rigging at least every 30 years on the dot, and don't procrastinate.

[Keldee]

How often do you check your rigging? Due to the salt water element( we dont have that consideration up here)do you spray a water repellant into your turnbuckles to displace the water? I cant remember what it's called but we used it when in salt water and seemed to work well.

[kbyte]

Originally Posted by Keldee

How often do you check your rigging?

Obviously not often enough.

Our water here in Pamlico Sound is only a little bit salty- not even enough to taste. It varies a little depending on wind direction and if there has been rain lately, but, on the whole, we don't have any of the real salt water problems you see closer to the ocean.

My inclination would be not to use any kind of treatment other than to hose off obvious salt deposits with fresh water and let things air dry.

There was a tiny little spec of rust at the very end of the cable where it broke. I don't think anyone who is not a professional rigger would have spotted it on casual inspection.

I think the only way to prevent this sort of thing from happening is to know the age of your standing (and running) rigging, and to replace it regularly. How often that would be depends on your location and how you use your boat. BFS enthusiasts like me probably need to do it more often than most. Your local rigger or sailmaker would probably be the one to ask.

[Keldee]

Kbyte what the heck is BFS?
I forgot that Your area isn't that salty.We too had a 25kn double reefed sail in your area,from Broad Creek to Adams Creek I think in the 4 times we went past there only once was there not a lot of wind.We liked to anchor in Jonaquin(is that how its spelt?) Creek.Nice and quiet no boats roaring through.
Just love your whole area.Do you ever get to Downey Creek? They are such lovely people at that marina.I just loved her voice over the VHF.Mind you that is a fair distance from you I think.
Take care and have fun
Ellinor

[kbyte]

Originally Posted by Keldee

Kbyte what the heck is BFS?

For more than you ever cared to know about BFS see:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/genera...kin-sails.html

[Keldee]

Thank You on the info.I call it being terrified but loving every minute!
Ellinor

[sailingdog]

Yeah, BFS= being terrified but loving every minute on alot of boats.

Originally Posted by Keldee

Thank You on the info.I call it being terrified but loving every minute!
Ellinor