How much of a problem is this? (bent turnbuckle on forestay)

smp · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011

Hi all. I bought my (our) Mirage 24 last year and since then have been busy learning to sail her more than learning the technicalities of rigging. It's for this reason that this season's mast stepping didn't go so well. At our club our main dock surface is steel grill. When the mast was going up the forestay turnbuckle must have snagged in the grill and got bent. The picture (click for full res) shows what it looks like after being "bent back" (the tension did most of that) but I'm very nervous about it as some of the guys around the club told me that a bent turnbuckle is big trouble. I'm no expert but it seems to me that the tension on this thing is ... vertical? (not an engineer either) rather than lateral. Anyway, should I be looking at replacing the forestay? We have a furler on the boat (came with) and I'm not sure I even rigged that thing properly though it works as it should. Any honest input appreciated, I know the easy answer is "when in doubt buy a new one" but right now I'm saving up for a new main so unless it's really warranted I'de rather not. Someone at the club mentioned that we can just replace the .. swage (is it?) and crimp it on the existing stay but I have no idea about any of that.
Much appreciated!

click here for big

edit: the deck there has been cleaned and waxed since! Much nicer now. The furler has nice line on it, not that terrible mess you see in the picture. That was scrap rope we had lying around and I even forget why it was up there.

Gary M · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011

It should only cost about $150-200 to get a new forestay made up, probably a good investment. I had hull number 213 once upon a time, fun boat.

jrd22 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011

I would replace it if it was my boat.

smp · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011

Thanks Gary. So, any of my local marine shops will be able to outfit this? How do the logistics work? Do they just look at the specs of the boat and make one up or do they come out and measure?
The mast is off of a C&C of very similar specs but probably not identical.

mitiempo · #5 (**permalink**) 06-29-2011

A shop that specializes in rigging is the place to go, not just a marine store.
The least expensive way is to remove it and take it to them. Makes for an accurate measurement and less labour charge. Wire of the correct length, end fittings, and $15 or $20 for each swage.

Gary M · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2011

What mitiempo said, unfortunately that means taking your mast down. that is not a bigger if you are used to it, but if not look for someone that is. Then take the old forestay to a rigger and get them to replace it.

Good luck

Gary

knothead · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2011

The question is is not if the stud will break, but when.
Depending on how old the headstay is, you could either replace the whole thing or possibly, if the stay is fairly new, just cut the bent stud off and install a mechanical fitting such as an extra long Sta-Lok.

mike dryver · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2011

are you sure that is the forestay swag end that is bent or is that the upper bolt of the turn buckle if it is the bolt you only have to fine a replacement for it and not even have to drop the stick again.

sawingknots · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2011

i seriously doubt it will be a problem,stainless is extremely tough,but your the one to make that decision,btw even brand new products,chain,cable etc can be structurally flawed

jjablonowski · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2011

A completed new forestay---with studs swaged onto the wire at each end---may or may not fit through the hole in the furler foil that surrounds it. Mine didn't.

It was only after I ordered a completed new forestay that I realized that the foil on a Schaefer SnapFurl will only accept the appropriately sized 1x19 wire. Had to return the forestay to the mail-order house and get a "semi-completed" one: Fitting at the top end is a mechanical one (not swaged); installed after the wire went through the foil.