[Petar]

Hi

I've seen some boats fitted with about 3-4 ft long approximately 1-1.5 inch PVC pipes around shrouds and i guess for ease of jib/genoa sheets sliding across them.

i was planning on fitting same on my boat but am unsure whether to cut the pipes along the length of pipe and slide them on or remove the shroud from the deck shroud fitting and insert the shroud into the pipe. I am somewhat reluctant loosening the rigging? would this affect the mast integrity? i will of course fit the top cap on the pipe to center the shroud wire inside the pipe and keep the bottom open to allow draining and prevent the dirt from accumulating.

Any suggestions are welcome and any other alternatives to improve tacking / jibing to prevent sheets from getting stuck.

petar

 

[knothead]

I am somewhat reluctant loosening the rigging? would this affect the mast integrity?

Petar, yes, loosening the rigging will definitely affect the mast integrity. Assuming that integrity means keeping it upright.

It actually is a good idea to exercise, clean and lubricate the turnbuckle threads once in a while. So it would be a good thing to get used to it.

With most rigs, you can remove a single shroud at a time without too much problem. Use halyards to temporarily replace the shrouds you remove.

Tape or mark the threads where they abut the turnbuckle body and you should have no problem returning the mast to the same position it's in now.

 

[scottyt]

they are not really pvc they are specific covers west marine sells em link below

West Marine: Turnbuckle Boots Product Display

 

[jimq26]

You can also buy them on this site.

they are not really pvc they are specific covers west marine sells em link below

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...true&storeNum=130&subdeptNum=265&classNum=265http://shop.sailnet.com/advanced_se...s&s=&do=process&sortby=lastpost&forumchoice=0

 

[Faster]

they are not really pvc they are specific covers west marine sells em link below

The OP was referring to "covers" 3-4 feet long - I think they probably were PVC or ABS pipe as the turnbuckle covers don't come that long. The larger diameter pipe sections do a better job of avoiding hangups on shrouds and especially babystays and also the sheets generally contact these areas above the height of the normal turnbuckle covers mentioned above during tacks.

I'd leave the pipe sections in one piece, and as KH suggests, exercise your turnbuckles while you're at it. You'll have to decide whether you'd prefer white or black plastic pipe... sometimes black is a bit less obviously visible. For a cleaner look you can use solvent to remove the markings usually printed on these types of pipes. Another (lighter but less strong) option might be the pipe sections used in central vacuum systems for homes.

 

[Petar]

Faster and Knothead

Thank you both for above advice. Doing one by one with keeping the mast upright with halyards should do he trick. I am looking into 3-4 ft length so WM turnbuckle boots might not be the best choice.

regds/petar

 

[paulk]

I think you will find that PVC pipe - usually buried or inside a house- may tend to get brittle when subjected to UV rays from the sun. A couple of slaps from the genoa sheets, and brittle PVC may crack and/or shatter. I think the plastic shroud/turnbuckle covers sold by marine stores are made of something else - like vinyl- for this reason.

 

[scottyt]

i did look on sailnet but did not find them, sorry, and i prefer defender over west marine. i have them on my boat but its not for chafe reasons its for foot reasons... my stays are attached to the toe rail so if not careful i could catch a toe. although i think they do help with the jib sheets

 

[Faster]

I think you will find that PVC pipe - usually buried or inside a house- may tend to get brittle when subjected to UV rays from the sun. A couple of slaps from the genoa sheets, and brittle PVC may crack and/or shatter. I think the plastic shroud/turnbuckle covers sold by marine stores are made of something else - like vinyl- for this reason.

That's probably true, Paul, they likely are vinyl - but we've used standard black (ABSor PVC - can never remember which is which) plastic plumbing pipe on a babystay - and after nearly 20 years it's still doing the trick.. very thick walled.

 

[timebandit]

Wood is good and can be made any length and no need to remove the shrouds.

 

[AllThumbs]

Not sure about ABS but PVC used as electrical conduit is UV resistant and is used outdoors all the time. Comes in many sizes at home depot.

 

[Valiente]

Wood is nice indeed and it's not that hard to split a length of dowling, router out a bigger than the stay's diameter groove on both sides and to lash them as pictured with cut-down cable ties or small stuff.

The only caveat is that they need to rotate and this means they can't swell, so you will have to seal them inside and out and then varnish the outsides against UV. Also, wooden stuff here might look odd on more modern, "no exterior wood" designs.

 

[Joesaila]

Duh!

Can't say how many times I had to run forward and unsnag the bowlin holding my jib. So I will put these on. PVC seems a lot more practical. I don't see the $40-+ value on the ads.

 

[xort]

our boat came with simple PVC pipe. it's been in tropical sun for a while. No deterioration of the PVC.
If you have a keel stepped mast, I would think you could pull one shroud at a time with no problem, especially in calm conditions

 

[gaha_1]

use the pvc.You don't tune the rigg every year.You should drop the mast for the winter when the boat is on the hard

 

[Giulietta]

When I was young and had no money for boat parts, we used clear and coloured water hose to protect US, from the shrouds..especailly the guy on the trapeze, as sometimes we would nose dive and he was thrown into the shrouds...

We used thin diameter garden hose, and one season even clear tubing...

Personally, now..I don't really need it, because my shrouds are away from the sails, and I prefer the exposed shroud.

 

[grampaB]

I think you will find that PVC pipe - usually buried or inside a house- may tend to get brittle when subjected to UV rays from the sun. A couple of slaps from the genoa sheets, and brittle PVC may crack and/or shatter. I think the plastic shroud/turnbuckle covers sold by marine stores are made of something else - like vinyl- for this reason.

I read another blog site regarding using PVC rigid tube, and someone claimed the UV resistance integrity could be enhanced by spraying the tubes with a plastic friendly spray as sold in almost any paint or hardware store, or even Walmart ! I don't think the PVC will break down that quickly unless in a very y climate down south, shouldn't be a problem in most of North America. The white spray for plastics would likely be your best choice.

 

[paulk]

We used PVC piping to create a frame for our winter cover. It got brittle and did not last three seasons before it developed multiple cracks and breaks which left sharp ends to poke and tear holes in our covers. We threw it out. The ABS pipe that Faster suggests seems to hold up better.

 

[roverhi]

PVC lasts a loooonnnnggg time exposed to the sun. We ran our 1, 000' PVC water line on the surface and it's survived for more than 30 years with over 150# pressure. Painting it will block the UV rays and virtually end any UV worries. ABS, the black stuff, seems to be a bit more forgiving of physical abuse. Haven't tried the gray conduit but might be better as a dark color seems to retard UV deterioration of plastics so even better if it's got built in UV protection.

Your mast won't fall over if you disconnect one shroud at a time. No need to back-up with a halyard unless you plan on climbing the stick with a cap shroud undone.